New Zealand International Education Exports Reach Nearly NZ$5 Billion

Summary

New Zealand’s international education export earnings reached nearly NZ$5 billion in the year to June 2026, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. International enrolments are also recovering, with the Government forecasting about 99,000 students in 2026. The results increase pressure on immigration and education providers to maintain competitive visa settings while supporting sustainable sector growth.

Our Analysis

• We see renewed student demand strengthening the pipeline for education-linked immigration services.
• Competitive visa processing will be essential if New Zealand wants to convert enrolment growth into long-term migration value.
• Providers should prepare for higher application volumes across student, family and post-study work pathways.

Full Story

New Zealand’s international education sector has recovered beyond its pre-pandemic export performance, with earnings reaching nearly NZ$5 billion in the year to June 2026, the Government announced on 4 September.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said international education generated NZ$4.98 billion, compared with NZ$4.4 billion in the year to June 2019. The sector’s earnings have risen sharply from NZ$3.5 billion in 2024 and NZ$4.3 billion in 2025, signalling a strong rebound after COVID-19 border restrictions severely disrupted international student recruitment.

For immigration service providers, the figures highlight the continuing importance of student visa demand to New Zealand’s education and migration ecosystem. The Government said it has focused on maintaining internationally competitive immigration settings while protecting the integrity of the visa system and supporting education providers’ overseas recruitment efforts.

International enrolments reached 92,580 in 2025, up from 69,140 in 2023. Although the total remains below the 115,705 recorded in 2019, the Government expects approximately 99,000 international students in 2026. University enrolments increased 14 percent compared with the previous year, while school enrolments rose 9 percent, including a 22 percent increase in primary-school participation.

The Government said the sector is generating greater economic value with fewer students than before the pandemic. In 2019, approximately 116,000 students generated NZ$4.4 billion, while the projected 2026 cohort is expected to contribute almost NZ$5 billion.

The recovery supports New Zealand’s wider international education strategy, which targets 105,000 enrolments by 2027 and export earnings of NZ$7.2 billion by 2034. Continued growth will depend on competitive visa pathways, reliable processing, provider capacity and sustained demand in priority international markets.