A New Zealand degree is often chosen with the years after it in mind, and the Post-Study Work Visa is what makes those years possible. It is also a visa you get only once, and the length depends on your qualification more than most students expect. This guide uses Immigration New Zealand (INZ) pages to explain the length, eligibility, cost, deadlines and how to apply, including the rule changes that start on 16 November.
- INZ currently lists the visa from NZD 1,670 with NZD 5,000 in funds
- From 16 November, a level 7 graduate diploma can qualify with conditions, a new six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens, and paper applications stop.
What Is the NZ Post Study Work Visa?
The nz post study work visa lets international students who recently finished an approved New Zealand qualification stay and work for up to three years. It suits Indian students who want local experience after graduating. INZ says it can lead to a resident visa, but you can hold it only once.
There is no separate route for Indian students. The same INZ rules apply to every nationality, and your position depends on your qualification, your study history and when your student visa ends. INZ's list of requirements does not include a job offer, so you can apply before you find work.
How Long Can You Stay on This Visa?
Master's and doctoral graduates who studied at least 30 weeks in New Zealand get three years. For qualifications below that, the visa generally matches your study length as shown on your offer of place. INZ gives the example of a 32-week course leading to a 32-week visa. A failed paper adds nothing.
| Qualification completed in New Zealand | Study needed | Visa length |
|---|---|---|
| Master's (level 9) or doctoral (level 10) | At least 30 weeks full time | 3 years |
| Postgraduate diploma (level 8) | At least 30 weeks full time | INZ says may qualify for 1 year |
| Bachelor's degree (level 7) | At least 30 weeks full time | Same length as your study, up to 3 years |
| Graduate diploma (level 7), from 16 November | Full time for the whole diploma, plus conditions below | Time spent studying, up to 1 year |
| Non-degree on INZ's eligible list (level 4 to 7) | Full time for the full required duration | Same length as your study |
Some guides quote a flat one to two years for a bachelor's degree. INZ does not put it that way, so rely on your offer of place. Failing a course, or taking longer than the offer of place states, does not extend the visa. If your actual study length differs, INZ may ask your provider for more information.
Which Qualifications Make You Eligible?
INZ accepts a degree at level 7 or higher studied full time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand. Non-degree qualifications at level 7 or below must be on its eligible list and studied for their full required duration. Check this before you choose a course, not after you finish it.
A few details catch students out:
- Master's study: the 30 weeks must be completed within the master's programme itself.
- Postgraduate diploma followed by a master's using transferred credits: you may still qualify for one year through the diploma.
- Doctoral study: you can apply once your thesis has been submitted.
- Incomplete study: if you did not finish the qualification recorded on your student visa, the application may not be approved.
- Eligible list: entries are tied to occupations, such as Quantity Surveying leading to Quantity Surveyor.
What Changes From 16 November?
From 16 November, an NZQCF level 7 graduate diploma studied full time in New Zealand can qualify if you also hold a bachelor's degree, from New Zealand or overseas. That is useful for many Indian graduates. The diploma must be taken in full, with no cross-credits or recognition of prior learning.
INZ says there is no time limit on when the bachelor's was awarded, and an overseas degree does not need an International Qualification Assessment, though INZ may check that it is genuine. You would provide the degree certificate and an official transcript. Holders of both may get open work conditions. Without a bachelor's, a diploma on the eligible list can still qualify, but you must work in the listed occupation. Applications also move to INZ's enhanced Immigration Online system from that date.
Can You Work in Any Job on This Visa?
With a degree at level 7 or higher, INZ says you may work in any legal job anywhere in New Zealand, with any registration the job requires. With a non-degree qualification at level 7 or below, you must work in a job related to your study, and this is written into your visa.
Sole traders and business owners on this visa may not employ other people. You may also study for up to three months in any 12-month period, and longer study needs a variation of conditions. Courses required by your employer may be allowed.
When Must You Apply for the Visa?
INZ's deadline runs from the end of your student visa. Most graduates must apply within three months after it expires, and doctoral graduates within six months. If you finished one qualification and then took a shorter higher one, a 12-month window can apply. Keep a valid visa while you remain in New Zealand.
| Your situation | Apply within |
|---|---|
| Most qualifications | 3 months after your student visa expires |
| Bachelor's, then straight into honours or a postgraduate diploma on consecutive student visas | 3 months after the second visa ends |
| Doctoral degree | 6 months after your student visa expires |
| First qualification, then a higher one taking under 30 weeks | 12 months after the first qualification's student visa expires |
How Much Does It Cost and What Funds Do You Need?
INZ currently lists this visa from NZD 1,670, and you need at least NZD 5,000 for living costs. INZ says that same amount applies whether you apply for one, two or three years. It also says 80 percent of applications are decided within three weeks, so apply with time to spare.
INZ gives the fee as a starting figure, so see the exact amount in the online application. Funds are shown through bank statements in your name, and officers may ask to see them on arrival. If you are in New Zealand and your visa expires while you wait, you will normally be given an Interim Visa.
Which Documents and Checks Will You Need?
You need your qualification, academic transcript or a provider letter confirming completion, plus bank statements, a passport and a photo. Your passport must stay valid for three months past your planned departure. INZ may also ask for a chest X-ray, a medical certificate and police certificates, depending on your stay.
- Chest X-ray: usually required for stays over six months unless you come from a country on INZ's low TB incidence list.
- Medical certificate: usually needed for stays of 12 months or more.
- Police certificates: needed if you are 17 or older and will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand in total, from countries of citizenship or where you lived over five years since age 17.
- Translations: certificates not in English need certified translations.
If you already gave certificates issued in the last 24 months with an earlier application, you normally do not need new ones, though INZ can ask again during processing.
How Do You Apply for the Visa?
Apply online through your Immigration New Zealand account, complete the form, upload your documents and pay the fee. INZ says paper applications will no longer be accepted from 16 November. Ask your university early for the letter or transcript confirming completion, as this can take time once results are out.
The University of Auckland, for example, tells students below doctoral level to ask for an eligibility-to-graduate letter or certified digital transcript after results are confirmed. Doctoral candidates use a thesis submission letter. Your own university may do this differently. AdmitKard counsellors can help you shortlist courses with this visa in mind.
Can Your Partner and Children Join You?
INZ says that if you hold this visa, your partner can apply for a work visa and your dependent children can apply for student visas, provided they meet the requirements. The new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa does not give those same rights, so the choice of visa matters for families.
What If You Do Not Qualify for This Visa?
From 16 November, INZ offers a six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa for full-time qualifications at level 5 to 7 lasting at least 24 weeks. English, foundation and bridging courses do not count. You need NZD 5,000, must apply within three months of your student visa expiring, and cannot extend it.
You must not already qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa, or have held one before. Work must be for an employer, and business ownership is not allowed. INZ describes this visa as time to look for work and possibly move to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
Does This Visa Lead to Residence in New Zealand?
It can, but not automatically. INZ says the visa can lead to a resident visa. Whether it does depends on your job and the residence rules at that time. Because you only get this visa once, plan your job search around its end date, and do not leave residence planning until late.
Which Mistakes Can Cost You This Visa?
The common mistakes are choosing a course that does not qualify, missing the deadline after your student visa ends, and assuming a one-year course earns three years. Also remember that a second Post-Study Work Visa is not available, even if you later complete a higher qualification, so choose your timing carefully.
Before you pay any tuition, compare your course level and length with the table above. If the course is below degree level, look for it on INZ's eligible list. These rules can change, so check the INZ page again when you are close to applying.