Study
Post-Study Work Visa NZ
The Post-Study Work Visa in New Zealand lets international graduates stay and work after finishing their studies here, for up to 3 years depending on what they studied. This page explains how Immigration New Zealand's Post-Study Work Visa works and what changes on 16 November 2026. It describes the visa; it does not assess anyone's eligibility.
Last checked against Immigration New Zealand:
- Length of stay
- Up to 3 years, depending on the qualification
- How many times
- Once only
- Residence
- INZ lists it as a visa that can lead to a resident visa
What the Post-Study Work Visa is
INZ says applicants must have recently finished studying in New Zealand for an approved qualification, and apply within 3, 6 or 12 months of their student visa expiring, depending on what they studied and the visa they held. INZ also sets a requirement for funds to cover living expenses, along with health and character requirements.
With a degree-level qualification at level 7 or higher, INZ says you can work in New Zealand; with a non-degree qualification at level 7 or lower that is on INZ's list, the work must be related to what you studied.
Post-study work visa requirements: study and qualification
INZ says degree-level qualifications at level 7 or higher must have been studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand. Non-degree qualifications must be on INZ's list of qualifications eligible for the visa, studied full-time in New Zealand for the full duration.
New rules from 16 November 2026
INZ has announced that from 16 November 2026, Post-Study Work Visa eligibility extends to graduates with an NZQCF level 7 graduate diploma, studied full-time in New Zealand for its full duration, who also hold a bachelor's degree completed in New Zealand or overseas. INZ says that visa can be issued for the time spent studying the graduate diploma, up to a maximum of 1 year.
INZ also says an eligible Postgraduate Diploma (level 8) may lead to a 1-year visa and an eligible Master's degree (level 9) to a 3-year visa, with at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the qualification itself. From the same date, INZ is launching a separate Short-Term Graduate Work Visa with 6 months of open work rights for some level 5 to 7 graduates who are not eligible for the Post-Study Work Visa.
Partner of a post-study work visa holder
INZ says Post-Study Work Visa holders can support visas for their partner and dependent children: a partner can apply for a work visa, and children can apply for student visas. Holders of the new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa cannot support a partner for a work visa, according to INZ.
Documents typically involved
INZ tells each applicant exactly what it needs. These are the kinds of documents usually involved:
- A copy of your New Zealand qualification, your academic transcript, or a letter from your provider confirming completion
- From 16 November 2026, for the graduate diploma route: your bachelor's degree certificate and an official transcript
- Evidence of funds for living expenses, as INZ requires
- Identity, health and character documents
The process, step by step
- Check the qualification. Its level, whether it is on INZ's list, and how long it was studied full-time in New Zealand.
- Watch the deadline. INZ's application window runs from when your student visa expires.
- Documents. Qualification evidence, transcript and funds.
- Application. Lodged online; from 16 November 2026 through enhanced Immigration Online.
- INZ assesses it. INZ may ask for more information before it decides.
Fees and processing times change, so we do not quote them. Check the current figures on INZ's fee finder and processing times.
How we help
Our Licensed Immigration Adviser can talk through your situation, explain the requirements that apply, help you gather and organise the evidence, and review the application for consistency before it is lodged. Every decision is Immigration New Zealand's to make, and we never promise an outcome.
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Post-Study Work Visa: questions
INZ is extending eligibility to graduates with a level 7 graduate diploma, studied full-time in New Zealand, who also hold a bachelor's degree from New Zealand or overseas. INZ is also launching a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa on the same date.
INZ says a person can be granted only 1 Post-Study Work Visa, even if later study is at the same or a higher level.
INZ says Post-Study Work Visa holders can support a work visa for their partner and student visas for dependent children, as long as the requirements are met.
A new visa INZ is launching on 16 November 2026. INZ says it gives 6 months of open work rights to some graduates of level 5 to 7 qualifications who are not eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa, and must be applied for within 3 months of the student visa expiring.
We do not publish Immigration New Zealand's fees on this site, because they change. INZ's fee and decision-time finder shows the current fee for each visa and where to apply.
Processing times change, so we do not quote them. INZ publishes current processing times for each visa type, and they are the figures to plan around.
Official sources
Every fact on this page was last checked against these Immigration New Zealand pages in September 2026. Rules change; INZ's pages are the authority.
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