ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
In a first major announcement on immigration changes, the Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway had proposed to take away the requirement of having the post study work visa sponsored by any particular employer.
Earlier, on Wednesday, May 31, the Minister had in an exclusive interview with the Indian Weekender hinted that massive changes around international student visas, employer-assisted work visas are coming.
Keeping that promise, the Minister had made this announcement today on Saturday, June 2 to take away the requirement of getting post-study work visas sponsored by any particular employer.
Recently the Minister has told the Indian Weekender that Immigration New Zealand had identified employer-assisted work visas as the biggest source of exploitation.
Proposals to change student post-study work rights announced today will help eliminate migrant exploitation and make sure that migrants granted residency contribute the skills that New Zealand needs, says Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.
“Too many students are being sold a false dream in New Zealand that the current post-study work rights can put students on a fast track to residency here.
“This has led to a decline in the general skill level of migrants granted permanent residency and fraudulent and frankly unethical behaviour from some agents, employers and education providers has led to students being exploited.
“The proposed changes remove the requirement for post-study work visas to be sponsored by a particular employer. There have been too many cases where migrant workers have been subject to exploitation because they are dependent on a particular employer to stay in the country.
Although more details are awaited on what exactly this will mean, it appears that the announcement means annulling of employer-assisted post-study work visas, thus implying that applicants have to go through the normal labour-market test to get their visa extended.
Although more details are awaited on what exactly this will mean, it appears that the announcement means annulling of employer-assisted post-study work visas, thus implying that applicants have to go through the normal labour-market test to get their visa extended.
Further information about the consultation can be found at MBIE’s website.
In a first major announcement on immigration changes, the Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway had proposed to take away the requirement of having the post study work visa sponsored by any particular employer.
Earlier, on Wednesday, May 31, the Minister had in an exclusive interview with the...
In a first major announcement on immigration changes, the Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway had proposed to take away the requirement of having the post study work visa sponsored by any particular employer.
Earlier, on Wednesday, May 31, the Minister had in an exclusive interview with the Indian Weekender hinted that massive changes around international student visas, employer-assisted work visas are coming.
Keeping that promise, the Minister had made this announcement today on Saturday, June 2 to take away the requirement of getting post-study work visas sponsored by any particular employer.
Recently the Minister has told the Indian Weekender that Immigration New Zealand had identified employer-assisted work visas as the biggest source of exploitation.
Proposals to change student post-study work rights announced today will help eliminate migrant exploitation and make sure that migrants granted residency contribute the skills that New Zealand needs, says Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.
“Too many students are being sold a false dream in New Zealand that the current post-study work rights can put students on a fast track to residency here.
“This has led to a decline in the general skill level of migrants granted permanent residency and fraudulent and frankly unethical behaviour from some agents, employers and education providers has led to students being exploited.
“The proposed changes remove the requirement for post-study work visas to be sponsored by a particular employer. There have been too many cases where migrant workers have been subject to exploitation because they are dependent on a particular employer to stay in the country.
Although more details are awaited on what exactly this will mean, it appears that the announcement means annulling of employer-assisted post-study work visas, thus implying that applicants have to go through the normal labour-market test to get their visa extended.
Although more details are awaited on what exactly this will mean, it appears that the announcement means annulling of employer-assisted post-study work visas, thus implying that applicants have to go through the normal labour-market test to get their visa extended.
Further information about the consultation can be found at MBIE’s website.
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