Fresh post-study work visa options announced — check your eligibility
New Zealand is introducing a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and extending eligibility for the Post Study Work Visa to better align graduate pathways with the country’s skills needs.
Immigration New Zealand said the changes are aimed at supporting growth in international education while helping graduates move into work that meets New Zealand’s workforce demands.
The changes include a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and an extension of Post Study Work Visa eligibility to graduate diplomas at New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Level 7. Graduates must also hold a bachelor’s degree completed either in New Zealand or overseas.
People who have previously been granted a Post Study Work Visa will not be eligible for a second Post Study Work Visa or a Short-term Graduate Work Visa.
New Short-term Graduate Work Visa
Eligible international graduates who completed study in New Zealand will be able to apply for the new Short-term Graduate Work Visa from Monday, November 16, 2026.
The visa will provide six months of open work rights, allowing graduates time to look for work and, where appropriate, transition to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
To be eligible, applicants must hold a qualification at NZQCF Level 5 to 7 that was studied full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand. The qualification must not be an English language, foundation, or bridging qualification, and must not already make the applicant eligible for a Post Study Work Visa.
Applicants must also have at least NZD $5,000 available to support themselves, meet medical and chest X-ray requirements depending on their intended length of stay, and must not have previously held either a Short-term Graduate Work Visa or a Post Study Work Visa.
Applicants whose study was supported under the New Zealand Scholarship Programme must also provide written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Education New Zealand.
Applications must be submitted within three months of the expiry of the applicant’s New Zealand student visa.
Work undertaken on the Short-term Graduate Work Visa must be for an employer under an employment agreement or contract for services. Business ownership will not be allowed.
Visa holders will not be able to support a partner for a work visa or children for a Dependent Child Student Visa. However, partners and children may still be able to apply for visas independently if they meet requirements.
An individual can only be granted one Short-term Graduate Work Visa and it cannot be extended.
People who have held a Short-term Graduate Work Visa may later apply for another student visa if the proposed study is at bachelor’s degree level or higher than the qualification the visa was based on, and if the new qualification makes them eligible for a Post Study Work Visa.
Students who previously held a Short-term Graduate Work Visa will not be able to change their programme of study or education provider unless they continue to meet these requirements.
Further details about the visa are expected to be released closer to its launch date.
Post Study Work Visa eligibility extended
From Monday, November 16, 2026, eligibility for a Post Study Work Visa will also be extended to graduates who have completed a graduate diploma at NZQCF Level 7.
To qualify, graduates must have studied full-time in New Zealand for the full duration of the qualification and must have been enrolled in the qualification for its full duration. Cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning will not be eligible.
Applicants must also hold a bachelor’s degree completed either in New Zealand or overseas, with no time limit on when the degree was awarded.
Applicants will need to provide a copy of their bachelor’s degree certificate and an official academic transcript along with evidence of the graduate diploma.
An International Qualification Assessment will not be required for overseas bachelor’s degrees, although qualifications may still be checked for authenticity for immigration purposes.
The Post Study Work Visa can be issued for the length of time the student spent studying the graduate diploma in New Zealand, up to a maximum of one year.
An individual can only be granted one Post Study Work Visa. People who have previously held a Post Study Work Visa will not be eligible for another, even if they complete study at the same or higher level.
People holding a Fresh Post-Study Work Visa Changes Announced Study Work Visa can support partners and dependent children for visitor, work, or dependent child student visas if requirements are met.
Graduate diploma holders who also hold a bachelor’s degree may receive a visa with open work conditions.
Graduate diploma holders without a bachelor’s degree may still qualify for a Post Study Work Visa if their qualification is listed in Appendix 13 of the Immigration Operational Manual. However, they will be required to work in the occupation specified in Appendix 13 for the duration of their visa.
Those without a bachelor’s degree whose graduate diploma is not listed in Appendix 13 will not be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa, but may instead apply for the six-month Short-term Graduate Work Visa.
For more information, visit Post Study Work Visa pages.
New Zealand is introducing a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and extending eligibility for the Post Study Work Visa to better align graduate pathways with the country’s skills needs.Immigration New Zealand said the changes are aimed at supporting growth in international education while helping...
New Zealand is introducing a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and extending eligibility for the Post Study Work Visa to better align graduate pathways with the country’s skills needs.
Immigration New Zealand said the changes are aimed at supporting growth in international education while helping graduates move into work that meets New Zealand’s workforce demands.
The changes include a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and an extension of Post Study Work Visa eligibility to graduate diplomas at New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Level 7. Graduates must also hold a bachelor’s degree completed either in New Zealand or overseas.
People who have previously been granted a Post Study Work Visa will not be eligible for a second Post Study Work Visa or a Short-term Graduate Work Visa.
New Short-term Graduate Work Visa
Eligible international graduates who completed study in New Zealand will be able to apply for the new Short-term Graduate Work Visa from Monday, November 16, 2026.
The visa will provide six months of open work rights, allowing graduates time to look for work and, where appropriate, transition to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
To be eligible, applicants must hold a qualification at NZQCF Level 5 to 7 that was studied full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand. The qualification must not be an English language, foundation, or bridging qualification, and must not already make the applicant eligible for a Post Study Work Visa.
Applicants must also have at least NZD $5,000 available to support themselves, meet medical and chest X-ray requirements depending on their intended length of stay, and must not have previously held either a Short-term Graduate Work Visa or a Post Study Work Visa.
Applicants whose study was supported under the New Zealand Scholarship Programme must also provide written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Education New Zealand.
Applications must be submitted within three months of the expiry of the applicant’s New Zealand student visa.
Work undertaken on the Short-term Graduate Work Visa must be for an employer under an employment agreement or contract for services. Business ownership will not be allowed.
Visa holders will not be able to support a partner for a work visa or children for a Dependent Child Student Visa. However, partners and children may still be able to apply for visas independently if they meet requirements.
An individual can only be granted one Short-term Graduate Work Visa and it cannot be extended.
People who have held a Short-term Graduate Work Visa may later apply for another student visa if the proposed study is at bachelor’s degree level or higher than the qualification the visa was based on, and if the new qualification makes them eligible for a Post Study Work Visa.
Students who previously held a Short-term Graduate Work Visa will not be able to change their programme of study or education provider unless they continue to meet these requirements.
Further details about the visa are expected to be released closer to its launch date.
Post Study Work Visa eligibility extended
From Monday, November 16, 2026, eligibility for a Post Study Work Visa will also be extended to graduates who have completed a graduate diploma at NZQCF Level 7.
To qualify, graduates must have studied full-time in New Zealand for the full duration of the qualification and must have been enrolled in the qualification for its full duration. Cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning will not be eligible.
Applicants must also hold a bachelor’s degree completed either in New Zealand or overseas, with no time limit on when the degree was awarded.
Applicants will need to provide a copy of their bachelor’s degree certificate and an official academic transcript along with evidence of the graduate diploma.
An International Qualification Assessment will not be required for overseas bachelor’s degrees, although qualifications may still be checked for authenticity for immigration purposes.
The Post Study Work Visa can be issued for the length of time the student spent studying the graduate diploma in New Zealand, up to a maximum of one year.
An individual can only be granted one Post Study Work Visa. People who have previously held a Post Study Work Visa will not be eligible for another, even if they complete study at the same or higher level.
People holding a Fresh Post-Study Work Visa Changes Announced Study Work Visa can support partners and dependent children for visitor, work, or dependent child student visas if requirements are met.
Graduate diploma holders who also hold a bachelor’s degree may receive a visa with open work conditions.
Graduate diploma holders without a bachelor’s degree may still qualify for a Post Study Work Visa if their qualification is listed in Appendix 13 of the Immigration Operational Manual. However, they will be required to work in the occupation specified in Appendix 13 for the duration of their visa.
Those without a bachelor’s degree whose graduate diploma is not listed in Appendix 13 will not be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa, but may instead apply for the six-month Short-term Graduate Work Visa.
For more information, visit Post Study Work Visa pages.
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