Navigating international hiring often means navigating international bureaucracy. For Indian professionals looking to work in New Zealand, one of the most time-consuming hurdles was the International Qualification Assessment (IQA) — a formal process to determine if their degrees were equivalent to New Zealand’s academic standards.
For years, this added an extra layer of complexity and cost both for job-seekers and for employers trying to efficiently onboard them. But now, in a landmark immigration update, New Zealand has made a policy shift that will simplify and accelerate skilled migration from India, a country that consistently ranks among the top sources of international talent.
New rules for hiring Indian talent in New Zealand
Effective June 23, 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has added India to its List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA). This means Indian degree-holders from recognized institutions no longer need to undergo the IQA process to apply for skilled visas.
This change is part of a broader recalibration of New Zealand’s immigration policy — one that aligns with the country’s goals of attracting high-quality international talent and boosting economic competitiveness. India now joins a list of other exempt countries, including:
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
The IQA required applicants to map their academic credentials to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, often leading to delays and uncertainty. By scrapping this requirement for Indian nationals, INZ is signaling that it now recognizes the quality and credibility of Indian higher education.
Simultaneously, INZ has stated that it will reassess and harmonize exemption rules for countries like the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and Malaysia. This signals a more unified, transparent approach to migration policy in the near future.
India’s role in New Zealand’s global talent strategy
India is not new to New Zealand’s immigration ecosystem. With over 22,000 Indian students enrolled in New Zealand institutions in recent years, the country has consistently ranked among the top four source markets for international education.
But education is only one part of the equation. The post-study work rights available in New Zealand, which allow graduates to stay for up to three years, create a natural bridge to the workforce. Now, with the removal of IQA, that bridge just became a highway.
New Zealand is also offering initiatives like the New Zealand Excellence Awards 2025, which provides up to NZ$20,000 per student in funding for bachelor’s and master’s programs. Along with competitive visa fees and streamlined application procedures, New Zealand is actively trying to attract more Indian talent.
From a hiring standpoint, this creates a compelling opportunity for companies. Whether you’re sourcing STEM graduates for a startup or relocating experienced talent into a New Zealand branch office, the process just got easier, faster, and more predictable.
What this means for skilled workers
For skilled professionals from India, this policy change significantly lowers the entry barrier to building a life and career in New Zealand. With the removal of the IQA requirement, Indian degree-holders can now apply directly under fast-track migration categories, without needing to validate their qualifications through a lengthy assessment process.
This means smoother visa applications, shorter timelines, and fewer uncertainties for candidates pursuing roles in sectors like IT, healthcare, engineering, and finance. The change is especially meaningful for recent graduates and early-career professionals, who often struggle with international credential recognition despite holding relevant degrees from accredited Indian universities.
Beyond visas, the opportunity is long-term. Indian applicants can leverage New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category, Green List roles, and Accredited Employer Work Visas to build residency pathways and career mobility in a country known for its work-life balance, safety, and education standards.
What do the new rules mean for employers
For employers in New Zealand relocating Indian talent, this move is a game-changer.
Removing the IQA bottleneck simplifies hiring from India considerably. Talent acquisition teams can now access a deep pool of qualified professionals without the delays of credential verification, making onboarding faster and more efficient. This is a great step in bridging the talent gap, especially in sectors experiencing skill shortages like tech, healthcare, and construction.
Hiring Indian talent in New Zealand just got easier, but it doesn’t have to stop there.
With an Employer of Record (EOR) platform like Multiplier, businesses can go even further. Whether you’re hiring Indian professionals into your New Zealand workforce or expanding your remote team internationally, Multiplier makes it simple to hire, manage, and pay talent in over 150 countries — without setting up legal entities.
This means New Zealand employers aren’t limited to domestic or exempt-country hires. They can now unlock access to a truly global talent pool, supported by localized compliance, benefits, and payroll.
Ready to hire globally?
For global employers, especially those leveraging distributed teams or exploring entity-free hiring, the timing is ideal. With Multiplier, you can hire, pay, and manage global talent in 150+ countries, without setting up a local entity.
Ready to run global teams without the friction?
Explore Multiplier or book a demo today.
FAQs
What is the International Qualification Assessment (IQA)?
The International Qualification Assessment (IQA) is a service provided by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to evaluate how an overseas qualification compares to a New Zealand one. This assessment is often a mandatory step for individuals applying for certain New Zealand work or residence visas to prove their academic credentials. The IQA can take weeks or even months to complete and costs several hundred dollars.
Which Indian degrees are now exempt from the IQA in New Zealand?
As of June 23, 2025, degrees from India are now on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA). This means Indian degree-holders from recognized institutions are no longer required to undergo the IQA process for certain skilled visas. This policy change positions India alongside other countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Which New Zealand visas are affected by this new visa rule?
This change streamlines the visa application process for Indian professionals applying for skilled visa categories such as the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and the Accredited Employer Work Visa. The policy aims to make it easier for New Zealand employers to hire skilled migrants for jobs on the country's Green List, which includes occupations in high-demand sectors like healthcare, engineering, and ICT.
How do the new visa rules in New Zealand benefit skilled workers and employers?
For skilled workers, the new policy removes a significant barrier, leading to a faster, less expensive, and more predictable visa application process. It can save them months of time and hundreds of dollars in fees. For employers, this change streamlines hiring from a large talent pool, making it easier to fill critical skill shortages in key sectors and accelerate their onboarding processes.
Can an Employer of Record (EOR) help with hiring Indian talent for New Zealand?
Yes, an Employer of Record (EOR) can be a great asset. While the new rule simplifies the visa application process for Indian professionals, an EOR like Multiplier helps New Zealand employers hire and manage remote or relocated talent from India — and over 150 other countries — without the need to set up a local entity. Multiplier handles the complexities of global payroll, benefits, and local compliance, allowing companies to focus on their core business.
