Long wait times for international student visas have local flight training schools on the brink of collapse, Aviation New Zealand says.

Chief executive Simon Wallace says ahead of the pandemic, about 650 international students pumped more than $200 million into the economy each year.

But since then, enrolment numbers have plummeted to less than 100 overseas students in 2023.

He says Immigration New Zealand is typically taking 30 working days to process applications which in some circumstances could extend to 60 or more.

In Australia, a similar approval could be gained in three to five days.

Wallace says the delays are diverting large numbers of students to overseas competitors.

"Our competitors, Australia but also the USA, Canada are processing those visas in a much lesser time and aviation students from these markets like Vietnam, India and the Middle East they're just not coming to New Zealand. We're not providing the certainty that they need."

He says only two students have come to New Zealand from Vietnam in 2023 and a group of flight training schools visiting the country late last year was told New Zealand had the slowest application process in the world.

Wallace says the Immigration New Zealand website, which only accepted applications in English, is not user friendly and is confusing for any international student who has English as a second language.

"We know this interaction is putting students off coming here, they are not even applying. Australian applications are accepted in Vietnamese, making the process much easier. Our flight training schools did it tough through Covid, with some having to close completely. But as we emerge from the pandemic, the 'open for business sign' is in jeopardy simply because our immigration system can't respond quickly enough."

He says Aviation New Zealand has appealed to Immigration New Zealand and Education Minister Erica Stanford for urgent action.

A spokesperson for Immigration New Zealand says they have "engaged extensively" with Aviation New Zealand.

They say of the 81 student visas applications for aviation students submitted last year, 79 per cent have been processed within "the standard processing time" of 30 working days.

They say applications missing key information can take longer to process.

Wallace says the cumbersome nature of New Zealand's visa processing is letting down a once highly regarded part of the country's education sector.

He says one major aviation trainer had shut down its New Zealand operations in 2021 and set up overseas.

"They are really struggling, our flight training schools, they are on the brink of closure and this needs to be fixed. It can be fixed if there's a will to do it. We have to process those visas much faster to maintain the interest in what is now a very competitive market."

Stanford had been approached for comment.

-Bill Hickman/RNZ.