This update primarily affects applicants for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and some Work Visas that require recognized qualifications. It helps fast-track the visa process.

Not necessarily. Only specific qualifications from approved institutions in these countries are included in the LQEA. You must check if both your qualification and institution appear on the list.

If your qualification or institution is not listed, you will still need to apply for an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

As of 23 June 2025, most Indian applicants no longer need to submit an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) when applying for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, provided their qualification and university are listed on New Zealand’s List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).

✅ Recognised Indian Qualifications Include:

• Bachelor’s Degrees (e.g., B.Sc, B.Com, B.A., B.Tech, B.E.)
• Master’s Degrees (e.g., M.Sc, MBA, M.Tech, M.Com)
• Doctoral Degrees (PhD)

🎓 Examples of Approved Indian Universities:

• University of Delhi
• University of Mumbai
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
• Anna University
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
• University of Calcutta
  (and other UGC/NAAC-recognised institutions listed by INZ)

📌 To be exempt, both your degree and institution must be listed in the official LQEA.

🔗 Check the full list here

You can check the latest LQEA list directly on Immigration New Zealand’s website or speak to an authorised consultant to verify your qualification and eligibility.

For Indian applicants, this means that qualifications from approved Indian universities are now automatically recognised, eliminating the time-consuming IQA process. It makes applying under the Skilled Migrant Category faster and easier.