Migratio New Zealand · Guides · Find advisers · For advisers

Post-Study Work Visa NZ: The Rules and the 16 November 2026 Changes

The Post-Study Work Visa lets eligible graduates of New Zealand study work for up to 3 years. From 16 November 2026 INZ extends eligibility to level 7 graduate diplomas held with a bachelor's degree; INZ showed NZD 1,670 and 80% within 5 weeks on 9 October 2026.

The Post-Study Work Visa is the main route by which graduates of New Zealand study stay on to work. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced on 29 May 2026 that eligibility will widen from 16 November 2026 to include some level 7 graduate diplomas, and that a separate, shorter visa will open on the same day for graduates who do not qualify for this one. People often mix the two up, so this guide covers the current Post-Study Work Visa in full and then the dated change. The new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa has its own guide.

All of what follows is taken from INZ's Post-Study Work Visa page, its announcement, its "Staying to work after finishing your study" page and its fee finder, read on 9 October 2026. This guide explains how the rules work. It does not say whether any qualification meets them, whether a graduate is in time, or what a graduate should apply for. Applying the rules to a person's own study is immigration advice, and in New Zealand only a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer can give it.

What the visa is and what it allows

INZ's summary lists a stay of up to 3 years, a cost from NZD 1,670, processing of 80% within 5 weeks, and a residence option listed as "Yes" (INZ's label is "Can lead to a resident visa"). The visa is for people who have recently finished studying in New Zealand. INZ says a person "can only have this visa once".

How long the visa lasts and what work it allows depend on the qualification:

  • a degree at level 7 or higher (the page lists a level 8 postgraduate diploma, a level 9 master's degree and a level 10 doctorate): open work rights, meaning any legal job anywhere in New Zealand, provided the work is legal, does not involve commercial sexual services and the person holds any occupational registration needed;
  • a non-degree qualification at level 7 or lower that is on INZ's list of eligible qualifications: work only in a job related to what was studied, which INZ records in the visa conditions.

A holder with open work rights can be a sole trader or own a business. INZ states that an owner "cannot employ other people", either directly or indirectly (for example, through a business manager who does the hiring).

INZ also says the length of the visa follows the study. A person who completed a master's or doctoral qualification and studied in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks can work for 3 years. For qualifications at level 8 or below, the visa is "equal to the time you spent studying for the qualification", as confirmed by the education provider. Failing a course or taking longer than the offer of place states does not extend the visa.

The visa lets the holder support a partner's work visa and dependent children's student visas, according to the summary on INZ's page.

The study requirement: 30 weeks and the full-time rule

The qualification must have been gained in New Zealand. For a degree at level 7 or higher, INZ says the person must have studied it "full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand". For a non-degree qualification at level 7 or lower, the qualification must be on the eligible list, the study must have been full-time in New Zealand, and it must have been for the full duration required to gain the qualification.

Evidence is a copy of the qualification, an academic transcript, or a letter from the tertiary education provider confirming completion. For a doctorate, INZ says a graduate can apply after submitting the thesis.

One rule covers back-to-back study. If a person follows a first qualification straight away with a higher qualification that was studied for less than 30 weeks and so does not meet the requirements, INZ says the person can apply based on the first qualification. The person does not lose eligibility by having started the higher study. INZ's example is a full-time postgraduate diploma of at least 30 weeks followed straight away by a master's completed in under 30 weeks.

INZ also stresses a completion point: "If you did not complete the qualification recorded on your student visa, we may not approve your Post-Study Work Visa application."

When to apply: the 3-, 6- and 12-month windows

Timing is the rule that most often decides whether an otherwise eligible graduate can apply. INZ's page says an application must be made no later than 3 months after the student visa expires, with these variations:

  • where a person held consecutive student visas for a bachelor's degree followed immediately by an honours or postgraduate diploma, the 3 months run from the end date of the visa for the second qualification;
  • for a doctoral degree, no later than 6 months after the student visa expires;
  • where a person completed an eligible qualification and immediately afterwards completed a higher-level qualification in less than 30 weeks, the application can be based on the first qualification and must be made no later than 12 months after the student visa for the first qualification expires.

INZ says it checks its own records to confirm the person is applying in time. The page summarises the rule as applying "no later than 3, 6 or 12 months after your student visa expires, depending on what you studied and what visa you had". Which window applies to a given course sequence is a question for a licensed adviser, because it depends on the exact visas held.

A person already in New Zealand must hold a valid visa while waiting. INZ says that if the current temporary visa is going to expire while the application is being decided, it will normally issue an Interim Visa so the person can stay lawfully.

Money, health and character

Money. The applicant must provide documents, such as bank statements in their own name, showing at least NZD 5,000 in total for the stay. INZ says this applies to visas for 1, 2 or 3 years, and that it may ask to see the documents at the border.

Health. INZ may ask for a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both, and says it will tell the applicant by email if it needs them. For stays under 6 months a chest X-ray is not normally needed, and under 12 months a medical certificate is not normally needed. For stays over 6 months, a chest X-ray is needed for citizens of, or people who have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in, a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis.

Character. Police certificates, less than 6 months old, are needed from applicants aged 17 or older whose total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, counting past stays. They must come from countries of citizenship and from countries where the person has spent more than 5 years since turning 17. A conviction or security risk may mean a visa is not granted.

Genuine intentions. INZ considers the information supplied with the application, what it knows about the person's circumstances and what the person has told it before.

Passport. It must be valid for at least 3 months after the date the person plans to leave. Citizens of China applying from China, Hong Kong or Macau must provide a supplementary form, INZ 1027.

Fee and processing time

INZ's fee finder, queried on 9 October 2026 for Indian, UK and Philippines passport holders applying from their own countries, and for an Indian passport holder resident in New Zealand, showed an online application cost of NZD 1,670 and 80% of applications completed within 5 weeks. INZ states that the cost is a processing charge that is not refunded if the application is declined, and that a non-refundable immigration levy is included. A paper application is also available; for a UK passport holder applying on paper from the UK, the finder showed a different currency and amount, so the finder should be checked for the person's own passport and location rather than assuming the NZD figure applies to everyone.

The online steps INZ describes are: successfully complete the qualification, gather documents, submit and pay, wait for the decision, and check the application status. The paper route uses the Work Visa Application form (INZ 1015) and the Work Visa Guide (INZ 1016). Documents include a passport copy, a photo, proof of the New Zealand qualification and, where required, police certificates.

What changes on 16 November 2026

INZ's announcement of 29 May 2026 says that from Monday 16 November 2026, Post-Study Work Visa eligibility is extended to graduates who:

  • have completed a graduate diploma at level 7 of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF);
  • studied full-time in New Zealand for the full duration of the qualification;
  • were enrolled in that qualification for the full duration, because "cross crediting or recognition of prior learning is not eligible"; and
  • hold a bachelor's degree, completed in New Zealand or overseas, with no time limit on when it was awarded.

Beyond the graduate diploma evidence, applicants will need a copy of the bachelor's degree certificate showing the qualification type and awarding institution, and an official academic transcript. INZ says an International Qualification Assessment is not required for an overseas bachelor's degree, but that it can check authenticity for immigration purposes.

For this group the visa "can be issued for the duration the student spent studying the graduate diploma in New Zealand, up to a maximum of 1 year". INZ says graduate diploma holders with a bachelor's degree may be granted a visa with open work conditions. A graduate diploma holder without a bachelor's degree is treated in one of two ways: if the diploma is listed in Appendix 13 of the Immigration Operational Manual, a Post-Study Work Visa may still be granted, but the holder must work in the occupation specified there for the whole visa; if it is not listed, the person is not eligible for this visa and INZ says the 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is the route to look at.

INZ also says that people with a Post-Study Work Visa can support partners and dependent children for visitor, work or dependent child student visas, as long as requirements are met, and repeats that "People who have previously been granted a Post-Study Work Visa are not eligible for a second Post-Study Work Visa or a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa." INZ's own pages describe the change as applying from 16 November 2026, although an older line on its "Staying to work" page still says "from late 2026"; the date on the visa page and announcement is the specific one.

How the Post-Study Work Visa fits with the new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa

The two visas are mutually exclusive. INZ's Short-Term Graduate Work Visa page says that a qualification which makes the graduate eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa rules out the shorter visa, and that a person cannot have had either visa before. Put together with the Post-Study Work Visa rules above, that gives the following structure, all from INZ's wording:

  • a degree at level 7 or higher with 30 weeks of full-time study falls under the Post-Study Work Visa;
  • an eligible lower-level qualification on INZ's list falls under the Post-Study Work Visa, with work tied to a related job;
  • from 16 November 2026, a level 7 graduate diploma held with a bachelor's degree falls under the Post-Study Work Visa for up to 1 year;
  • other qualifications at levels 5 to 7 studied full-time for at least 24 weeks, which are not eligible for the Post-Study Work Visa, can fall under the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa.

Which side of this line a particular qualification falls on is something INZ decides from the qualification and the study record. The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is covered in its own guide in this series, including its eligibility rules and the work conditions that apply to it.

One practical point from INZ's staying-to-work page: a person who completed an eligible qualification and then achieved a higher qualification in under 30 weeks can still apply based on the first one, within the 12-month window described above.

Work after the visa: where it can lead

INZ's pages describe the Post-Study Work Visa as a visa that "can lead to a resident visa", but they do not promise a particular outcome. They point holders to other routes: the Green List, which INZ describes as a list of occupations in demand, where a person who holds the listed role with the required qualification, registration or experience may be able to get residence immediately or after 2 years of work; and other work visas that depend on skills and a job offer.

INZ also says that studying for a qualification in an occupation with a skill shortage "may increase your chances of getting a job". That is INZ's statement about the labour market, not a rule of eligibility, and it does not say which occupations those are.

The Post-Study Work Visa is a temporary work visa with a fixed end date. A holder who wants to stay beyond it needs another visa before it expires, and the options depend on the person's circumstances, skills and job offer. A licensed immigration adviser can explain them and assess a person's case.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio lists licensed immigration advisers so you can compare them and contact one directly. Every listing shows the adviser's licence number, which you can check on the Immigration Advisers Authority's public register before you book. We don't assess cases and don't tell anyone which visa or pathway fits them; that is the adviser's job.

Questions people ask

How long is the NZ Post-Study Work Visa?

INZ says up to 3 years, depending on the qualification and the length of study. A master's or doctoral graduate who studied in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks can work for 3 years; for qualifications at level 8 or below the visa equals the time spent studying.

What changes on 16 November 2026?

INZ says Post-Study Work Visa eligibility extends to graduates with a full-time NZQCF level 7 graduate diploma who also hold a bachelor's degree from New Zealand or overseas. For that group the visa can run for the time studied, up to 1 year. A new 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa also opens.

How long after the student visa ends can someone apply?

INZ says no later than 3 months after the student visa expires, 6 months for a doctoral degree, and up to 12 months in the case where a higher qualification was completed in under 30 weeks straight after an eligible one. INZ checks its records.

How much does the Post-Study Work Visa cost?

INZ's fee finder showed NZD 1,670 for an online application on 9 October 2026, with a non-refundable immigration levy included. Fees vary by passport and country, so check the finder.

Can someone have a second Post-Study Work Visa?

INZ says no. A person can only have the visa once, and anyone who has held one is not eligible for another Post-Study Work Visa or for a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa.

How much money does the applicant need to show?

INZ says at least NZD 5,000 in total for the stay, shown by documents such as bank statements in the applicant's name. INZ says this applies to visas for 1, 2 or 3 years.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • Short-Term Graduate Work Visa NZ: The Rules for the 6-Month Visa — The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa gives eligible graduates 6 months of open work rights from applications opening on 16 November 2026. INZ requires a level 5–7 qualification studied full-time for at least 24 weeks, NZD 5,000 in funds and an application within 3 months of the student visa ending; INZ had not published a fee on 9 October 2026.
  • NZ Student Visa: Fees, Funds and Work Hours — The Fee Paying Student Visa lets international students study in New Zealand for up to 4 years. INZ showed NZD 850 and 80% within 7 weeks on 9 October 2026, requires living-cost funds of NZD 20,000 a year for most tertiary study, and allows part-time work of up to 25 hours a week only where the visa conditions say so.
  • Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): The 2026 Rules — The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. The job must be full-time (30+ hours), with an accredited employer holding an approved job check, and paid at least the required rate. INZ showed a fee of NZD 1,540 and 80% of applications within 5 weeks on 9 October 2026. The longest continuous stay is 5 years, or 3 years for skill level 4 or 5 jobs.
  • Work to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 2): How It Works — The Work to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger who have worked 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job in New Zealand within the 30 months before applying, and who hold or are offered a job with an accredited employer. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 on 9 October 2026. The wage rate that counts is the one in force when the work experience started.
  • NZ Interim Visas: When They Start and What They Allow — INZ normally grants an Interim Visa automatically, for no fee, if a temporary visa expires while a new temporary visa application is being assessed. It starts the day after the old visa expires, lasts up to 6 months, ends if the holder leaves New Zealand, and its work and study conditions depend on the old and new visa types.