Studying in New Zealand now grants you the opportunity to gain useful work experience immediately after you graduate from studying.

For students who aspire for great career ambitions, New Zealand is an exceptional study destination. In 2018, The Economist Intelligence Unit considered it the best English-speaking country globally, known for how it prepares and trains students for the future.

More than that, New Zealand is also a place equally great for working. Here, students can start building the career that they long to pursue. Because of these things, many people consider the country as an ideal place where they could better strengthen their skill sets and make their dream careers come true.

The great thing is this is not only true for New Zealand residents but international students as well. So, if you’re an international student wanting to gain study and work experience in New Zealand — worry not. Recent changes in New Zealand post study work visas’ duration and conditions have made it relatively easier for international students to work in the country right after they graduate.

However, before anything else, it’s important that you first know what a New Zealand post study work visa is, the specific qualifications it requires, and the kinds of visa options you can explore to pursue work in the country after completing your studies.

Post Study Work Visa

The post study work visa enables you to work in New Zealand once you finish your studies. If you’ve gained an acceptable qualification throughout your stay, you’re now eligible to apply for a New Zealand post study visa. This grants you the opportunity to work up to three years in the country after you graduate, depending on your study preferences.

Furthermore, the New Zealand post study work visa can be allowed for either one, two, or three years depending on your qualification level. In addition, the recent change stipulates that all post study work visas are now granted with ‘open-work’ conditions, which means you won’t be needing a job offer to obtain work. In the same way, you also get the chance to work for any employer within New Zealand and apply for almost any kind of job.

This change in visa conditions allows international students to receive considerable post study work rights, especially those who have pursued higher-level qualifications in New Zealand. It also helps ensure that the country’s career paths help in benefitting both employers and international students by contributing certain skill sets that the country needs.

Even so, you can only apply for the New Zealand post study work visa once — that is, unless you complete a second higher qualification, either a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a duration of 30 weeks study period or more.

Who is qualified to apply for a New Zealand post study work visa?

An international student who has already finished their studies can choose to stay and pursue work in New Zealand for a three-year duration through their post study visa.

However, specific criteria need to be met before doing so.

The New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQA) requires a level 4 or higher qualification for students. Qualifications with levels 4-6 are acceptable given that students have completed it within 60 weeks or more. Otherwise, they can also either have two qualifications only that each involved 30 weeks of study and the last qualification’s level is higher compared to the first one. A level 7 qualification is also allowable if the course has persisted for 30 weeks or more. Your level of qualification helps determine the validity of the post study work visa. You can learn more about specific visa qualifications and eligibility here.

Post Study Work Visa Options

Current International Students

Transitional arrangements are available for students who already possess a student visa by August 8, 2018. However, it should be that the course you’re currently studying leads to a qualification that makes it possible for you to apply for a New Zealand post study visa.

Future International Students

Recent changes in visa policies and conditions will be in effect if you want to study in New Zealand or if you have applied for a student visa after August 8, 2018. If so, your post study work visa will be granted for up to three years depending on qualification and grants you open-work conditions as well.

International Stuents with Partners

Even while studying, you can now support your partner’s work visa, especially if you obtain level 9 or 10 qualifications or level 7 or 8 on the Long Term Skill Shortage List. If not, they can also apply for a Work Visa in their own right. On the other hand, if you have dependent children, they can also study as domestic students without paying additional international student fees. The post study work visa is also beneficial such that it enables you to acquire a skilled job and eventually clear a pathway for you to obtain resident status, which is excellent for those who are planning to settle in the country permanently.

If you applied for a post study visa before November 26, 2019

Suppose you currently possess an open post study work visa. In that case, you’re eligible to apply for an additional two-year open post study work visa, especially when it’s nearing the expiry date.

For those who have employer-assisted visas, you can apply to have the employer conditions removed from your visa. However, if you only plan to stay in the same job, there isn’t a need to change your visa.

Settling in New Zealand after post-study work visa

When your post study work visa has already reached its maximum years, you may still be able to apply for further work and may also be granted a residence visa.

How to apply for a New Zealand Post Study Work Visa

Before applying for a visa, you must first make sure that you’ve met all the requirements. Go carefully through the criteria, or consult help from Licensed Immigration Advisers who can assess if you’re a perfect fit for the visa. Moreover, they can also make recommendations and identify certain roadblocks, which can help escalate the chances of your visa being approved. Afterward, you can now go through the application process. You also get to receive your New Zealand Post Study Visa in the subsequent days, where it allows you to work for up to three years in New Zealand with any kind of job for any employer.

Applying for a work visa

If you’re planning to work in New Zealand and you’re not a citizen or permanent resident of NZ or Australia, you’ll need a visa that lets you work.

Visa extensions during COVID-19

For information about visa extensions during COVID-19, visit the Immigration NZ website.

COVID-19: Key updates — Immigration NZ

Who needs a visa

You can apply for a visa to work here temporarily if you:

• have a job offer from a New Zealand employer
• are coming for a specific work-related purpose or event
• have a partner here, and you want to join them and work
• are from a country that has a special work scheme, or
• have been studying here and want work here.

Some work visas can also lead to residence — that is, the right to live, study and work here indefinitely. To apply you need to have skills, experience and qualifications that are needed for the New Zealand workforce.

Work visas that lead to residence

New Zealand residence

Note: If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can work, live and study in New Zealand — you’ll get a resident visa when you arrive in New Zealand.

Choosing the right visa

There are more than 80 visas that let you work in New Zealand. Before you apply, decide which visa is right for you.

Explore visa options to work

Application fees

Find out how much it costs to apply, where to send your application or your passport, and how long it will take to get your visa.

Fees, decision times and where to apply

Before you apply

You need to gather information about yourself and your plans for your time in New Zealand. What you need to provide depends on the visa you apply for. For all visas, you need to provide proof of your identity and good character. You may also need to provide information about your health.

Tools and information for meeting visa criteria

For many visas you need to find a job in New Zealand first.

Finding and applying for jobs

Job hunting

Note: Check the criteria for the visa you’re applying for. If you do not provide all the documents you’re asked for, your application takes longer to process.

Proving your identity and good character

You have to provide a photo, passport and other identity information.

Acceptable visa photos

Character and identity

Depending on the visa you’re applying for and how long you intend to stay in New Zealand, you have to provide police certificates from countries you’ve lived in for more than 5 years since you turned 17. These help to prove that you’re of good character.

When you need to provide a police certificate

How to obtain a police certificate

Getting medical certificates

Depending on how long you’re staying here and where you’re from, you may have to provide medical certificates or get a chest X-ray from a doctor approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Health information

Find a radiologist or doctor near you

Healthcare if you’re on a work visa

Translations of documents into English

If you have to provide police or medical certificates and they’re not in English, you need to provide certified translations. INZ can also ask you to provide translations of any other documents that are not in English.

English translations must be done by:

• the translation service of New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)
• an embassy or high commission, or
• a private or official translation business.

DIA’s translation service — citizenship and immigration

Translations cannot be done by:

• you — that is, the person applying for the visa
• a member of your family
• an immigration adviser helping with your application.

How to apply

You can apply online for most work visas. There are a few visas that you need to fill in a printed application form for, including some country-specific work visas.

Work visa forms and guides

Applying online

For most work visas, you need to set up a New Zealand Government RealMe account before you start your application.

What is RealMe?

You do not need a RealMe account if you’re applying for:

• a working holiday visa, or
• a Silver Fern Job Search Visa.

Before you start your online application, have all your supporting documents ready to upload.

Apply for a visa

Getting a tax number

Once you have your visa, apply for an IRD number from Inland Revenue. You give this number to your employer when you start work and use it for all your New Zealand tax matters.

Applying for an IRD number if you’re in NZ as a permanent migrant or visa holder

Utility links and page information

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