Indian students have faced similar scrutiny, with their visa refusal rate climbing to 39 per cent during the same quarter—nearly double the historical average for applicants from the country. These figures were revealed in an investigative report published on Thursday by Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

According to data cited in the report, Immigration New Zealand rejected 6,273 full fee-paying student visa applications globally during the three months from July to September 2026. To put this figure into perspective, the authority rejected 7,503 applications across the entire 2025–26 financial year. This spike has pushed the global refusal rate for full fee-paying student visas to 34 per cent, a dramatic increase from the 13 per cent rejection rate recorded in the previous financial period.

Official sources within Immigration New Zealand informed RNZ that fraudulent documentation and sophisticated misrepresentation in visa applications have become increasingly prevalent. The agency highlighted that instances of falsified records were particularly rampant among postgraduate applicants, where fraudulent financial proof and bank solvency statements were frequently uncovered during background verification drives.

Immigration advisers attribute part of the crisis to the widespread reliance on sub-agents by education consultancies in Bangladesh and India. Unregistered intermediary agents often supply prospective students with forged papers or inflated financial proof to clear immigration thresholds. This practice previously raised alarms among New Zealand officials, leading directly to the current strict enforcement measures.

Immigration experts now urge New Zealand authorities to balance fraud prevention with fair processing. Whilst rigorous vetting is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the visa system, experts stress that policies should not unduly penalise genuine, qualified international students seeking legitimate academic pursuits.