Student visa approval rates for 2016 and Rule 18

The student visa approval rates are used to determine what evidence of English language ability an education provider can accept when enrolling a first-time international student. Students from a country with a student visa approval rate of less than 80 per cent have fewer options for evidencing their English language ability.

The 2016 approval rates show that some countries’ rates have shifted. Where a country has changed to above or below 80 per cent, the evidence of English language ability that an education provider can accept will change from 24 February 2017 (one month after the approval rates were published by Immigration New Zealand). Education providers have until this date to adjust their enrolment policies. This requirement is set out in Rule 18 of the New Zealand Qualification Authority’s New Zealand Qualifications Framework Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules.