Michael Woodhouse
Wellington, August 2, 2107
More than 250,000 visa applications have been made online since the service became available in August 2014.
Immigration ONLINE is helping to transform the immigration system by delivering more efficient visa services and a better customer experience.
A rapid uptake in the last year has seen the number of ONLINE applications reach 261,000 – an increase of more than 80,000 in the last year.
In Budget 2015, the Government invested $28.4 million to improve the technology to extend Immigration ONLINE.
We are now seeing the benefit of that investment with 60 per cent of visa applicants able to apply online now, expanding to 80 per cent of all visa applicants from early next year.
Immigration ONLINE is more efficient and often less expensive for applicants, which is why it is now the preferred channel for submitting temporary work and student visa applications.
Immigration ONLINE is an example of the government’s commitment to deliver better public services by making greater use of technology.
Michael Woodhouse is Immigration Minister of New Zealand.
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