Telugu students turn to New Zealand and Germany amid US, UK visa curbs

With the US, UK and Canada tightening visa rules and costs rising, Indian students, especially from Telugu States, are exploring new study destinations like New Zealand, Germany, and Italy that offer easier visa policies, affordability and better post-study work opportunities

Hyderabad: With traditional higher education destinations such as the US, UK and Canada introducing restrictive visa policies and facing economic challenges, Indian students, particularly from the Telugu-speaking States, are looking at alternative countries like New Zealand, Germany and Italy.

Recent developments, including a rise in the H1B visa fee to 100,000 dollars for new applications, plans to cap international student enrolment at 15 per cent, and a drop in visa issuance to 44 per cent in August 2025, have raised serious concerns among Telugu students. In the UK, high inflation and tighter immigration rules have made the cost of education and living a growing concern.

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These changes, along with uncertainty over post-study opportunities, have prompted several students to reconsider their plans for higher education in the US, UK and Canada. Many are now heading to countries like New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, which have gained traction for their affordability, visa-friendly policies and work opportunities after study.

The New Zealand government has recently introduced new rules, allowing international students to work full-time during university vacations and part-time during semesters from November this year. In addition, hourly work limits have been removed for degree students.

Germany has also witnessed a steady rise in the number of Indian students, not only for the quality of education but also for post-study opportunities. The number of Indian students opting for Germany rose from 4.4 lakh in 2016 to over 1.4 million in 2023. The German government has also decided to issue free visas for Indian students opting for short-term academic programmes.

“The recent changes have made me rethink my plans to pursue an MS in the US. Apart from quality education, I am also looking for post-study opportunities to build a better life. I am planning to pursue a master’s degree in a German or New Zealand university,” said Akash Kumar, a CSE final-year student.

According to overseas education experts, New Zealand is emerging as a preferred study-abroad destination among Indian students, especially after the government eased norms for work permits.

“Students look for affordability, safety, quality education and post-study job opportunities. Malaysia is also being preferred as the country has campuses of foreign universities. Given the current policies, I feel the downward trend for the US will continue for a couple of years but it will rebound,” said Ajaya Kumar Vemulapati, Director, IMFS.

Further, eastern European countries such as Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Romania have opened their doors to international students in medical, science and technology streams. “Several students are learning the language and opting for Japan and South Korea given the opportunities these countries offer for international students,” said Durga Prasad, an overseas education counsellor.