Archive · 13 Sep 2026
New Zealand Expands Graduate Work Visa Options for Students
New Zealand is changing how international students can work after finishing their studies.
A new visa will let some graduates work for six months while they look for a longer-term job visa.
It is mainly for people with certain Level 5 to 7 qualifications.
Some graduates will also newly qualify for the existing Post-Study Work Visa.
Graduate diplomas can lead to up to one year of work rights, while master’s degrees can lead to up to three years.
Applicants must follow rules about how long and how they studied.
The new short-term visa requires at least NZD 5,000 in funds and cannot be used twice.
Applications for both visas open on November 16, 2026, through Immigration New Zealand’s Enhanced Immigration Online system.
From November 16, 2026, New Zealand will introduce a six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa for eligible graduates.
The new visa targets graduates with full-time NZQCF Level 5 to 7 qualifications studied in New Zealand for at least 24 weeks.
Eligibility for the existing Post-Study Work Visa will expand to certain Level 7 graduate diploma holders with a bachelor’s degree.
Level 8 postgraduate diplomas may qualify for one year of post-study work, while Level 9 master’s degrees may qualify for three years.
Both pathways are generally single-use, and applications must meet specific timing, study, documentation, and financial requirements.
- Who
- Immigration New Zealand and international graduates in New Zealand.
- What
- New Zealand is introducing a six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa and expanding eligibility for the Post-Study Work Visa.
- When
- The changes were announced on September 9, and applications for both visas open November 16, 2026.
- Where
- The qualifications must generally be studied full-time in New Zealand, with applications submitted through Enhanced Immigration Online.
- Why
- The changes are intended to provide eligible graduates with work rights after study and a possible route toward an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
- New visa
- The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa provides six months of open work rights.
- Qualification range
- Eligible applicants generally need an NZQCF Level 5 to 7 qualification studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 24 weeks.
- Financial requirement
- Applicants for the short-term visa must show at least NZD 5,000 in funds.
- Post-study expansion
- Level 7 graduate diploma holders may qualify if they also hold a bachelor’s degree and completed the diploma full-time in New Zealand.
- Visa duration
- A Level 8 postgraduate diploma may lead to one year, while a Level 9 master’s degree may lead to three years of post-study work rights.
- Application deadline
- Short-Term Graduate Work Visa applications must be submitted within three months of the student visa expiring.
- Family support
- Short-Term Graduate Work Visa holders cannot support a partner’s work visa or a dependent child’s student visa, while eligible Post-Study Work Visa holders can support family applications subject to requirements.