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You're probably looking around deciding on your study destination. Post-study work visa plays an important part in most students’ decision making as it allows students to gain that international working experience after completing their overseas education.
The New Zealand Government had recently made changes to their post-study work rights for international students ensuring that post-study pathways will benefit international students and employers. With the changes, international students like you may be granted up to 3 years of post-study work visa depending on your qualification! This is a year longer than other popular study destinations like Australia .Please refer to the table below on the summary of the changes.
New Visa Applicants
This table applies if, on 8 August 2018, you did not hold a student visa and you did not have a student visa application accepted for processing by Immigration New Zealand.
| If you’re planning to study towards the following qualification(s): | And: | On successful completion of your qualification(s) you may be eligible for a: |
| Level 7 Bachelor’s degree qualification or higher | You study that qualification for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand | Three-year open post-study work visa |
| Level 7 Graduate Diploma | You study that qualification for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand | One-year open post-study work visa, if you study in Auckland, and one additional year if you are working towards registration with a professional or trade body & Two-year open post-study work visa, if you study outside Auckland (excluding distance learning) * |
| Other non-degree Level 7 qualification | You study that qualification for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand | One-year open post-study work visa, if you study in Auckland & Two-year open post-study work visa, if you study outside Auckland (excluding distance learning) * |
| One qualification at Level 4-6 of a two-year duration | You study that qualification for at least 60 weeks in New Zealand | One-year open post-study work visa, if you study in Auckland & Two-year open post-study work visa, if you study outside Auckland (excluding distance learning) * |
| Two qualifications at Levels 4-6 | You study each qualification for 30 weeks in New Zealand (60 weeks in total) and the second qualification is at a higher level than the first | One-year open post-study work visa, if you study in Auckland & Two-year open post-study work visa, if you study outside Auckland (excluding distance learning) * |
From 2022, international students who complete qualifications at Levels 4 to 6, after two years’ study, or non-degree Level 7 qualifications will be eligible for a one-year post-study work visa, and if they have completed a Graduate Diploma that is used for registration with a professional or trade body, an additional one-year post-study work visa.
Students completing Level 7 degree qualifications or above will continue to be eligible for three-year post study work visas.
Existing Student Visa Holders
This table applies if, on 8 August 2018, you held a student visa or your student visa application had been accepted for processing by Immigration New Zealand.
| If you’re currently studying in New Zealand towards a: | And: | On successful completion of your qualification(s) from 26 November 2018 you may be eligible for a: |
| Level 7 Bachelor’s degree or above | You study that qualification for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand | Three-year open work visa |
| Non-degree Level 7 qualification | You study that qualification for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand | Three-year open work visa |
| One qualification at Level 4-6 | You study that qualification for at least 60 weeks in New Zealand | Three-year open work visa |
| Two qualifications at Levels 4-6 | You study each qualification for 30 weeks in New Zealand (60 weeks in total) and the second qualification is at a higher level than the first | Three-year open work visa |
Existing Post-Study Work Visa Holders
The following table applies if you hold a post-study work visa on 8 August 2018, or are granted a post-study work visa when these changes come into effect on 26 November 2018.
| If you hold a: | Then from 26 November 2018, you may be eligible: |
| One-year open post-study work visa | For a further two-year open work visa |
| Two-year employer-assisted post-study work visa | To have the job and employer stated on your work visa removed, so you do not have to contact Immigration New Zealand if you change jobs or employers in the future. If you prefer, you can choose to keep your visa as it is. |
Who is eligible for post-study work visa?
To be eligible for a post-study work visa, you must have studied in New Zealand and meet the following qualification criteria (according to New Zealand Qualifications Framework):-
| Level of study | Duration of course |
| Level 7 or higher | 30 weeks or more |
| Level 4-6 | 60 weeks or more |
| Level 4-6 | Completed 2 qualifications, each involved 30 weeks of study |
