You can apply for a visa to work in New Zealand for up to 3 years after you finish your study if you have an acceptable qualification. This visa is for the students to work after completion of their accredited Qualification in the same area of qualification to gain practical work experience. This visa lasts for 1, 2 or 3 years. The duration of stay depends on the level of your qualification and where you studied. From the end of November 2018, it replaces 2 previous visas:
- Post Study Work Visa (Open)
- Post Study Work Visa (employer-assisted).
What you can do on a Post-study work visa
It allows you to work for any employer and in almost any job. Your partner can apply for a work visa and your dependent children can study fee-free as domestic students. If you plan to live in New Zealand permanently getting a skilled job in an occupation where there’s a shortage could improve your chances of getting a residence visa.
You already have Post Study Work Visa (open)
If you already have a Post Study Work Visa (open) or we accepted your application for one before 26 November 2018, before your current visa expires you can apply to extend your visa for up to 2 more years.
You already have a Post Study Work Visa (employer-assisted)
If you already have a Post Study Work Visa (employer-assisted) or we accepted your application for one before 26 November 2018, you can choose to have the job, employer and location removed. You can then work for any employer, in any location and in almost any job.
Staying longer
You can apply for a further Post-study work visa if you complete another qualification in New Zealand that:
- is at least a Level 7 Bachelor’s degree
- lasted for a minimum of 30 weeks, and
- is higher than the qualification you submitted for your previous visa.
Depending on your situation, there may be other visas you can apply for if you want to work in New Zealand – for example, an Essential Skills work visa.
Finding a job
New Zealand’s job market might be different from what you are used to. The New Zealand Now website has information that can help you prepare for finding a job in New Zealand. Studying for qualifications in an occupation that has skill shortages may increase your chances of getting a job.
Who can Apply: Those who are on a Student visa and studying accredited qualification can apply for this visa provided a job offer is there from an accredited employer.
Eligibility criteria: To apply for this visa, one must study completed accredited qualification in New Zealand. The applicant should have a full-time job offer from an accredited employer for not less than 2 years. The job should be related to the area of qualification.
When can apply: It can apply before 3 months on completion of student visa.
Duration of visa: With this visa one can stay for 1 – 3 years, those who are working for Occupational registration.
Benefits: The student can have practical work experience in the area of study and can apply for another kind of work visa.
Process time: up to 2 months
Family: Partner or dependent children cannot be included with visa.
New Post-Study Work Right Rules
Level 4 to 6 and non-degree Level 7 qualifications:
- Earlier: Prior to the changes, students who studied for 24 months were entitled to a one-year open work visa and then a two-year employer-assisted work visa.
- After Change: Now, two-year employer-assisted work visa has been removed and a one-year open work visa is retained. However, those who pursue their education outside Auckland can get a two-year open work visa.
Bachelor level qualifications:
- Earlier: After 12 months of study students were entitled to a one-year open work visa and a two-year employer-assisted work visa.
- After Change: One-year open and two-year employer-assisted visa is replaced with a three-year open work visa.
Post-graduate level qualifications:
- Earlier: After pursuing 12 months study, students were entitled to a one-year open work visa and after that, a two-year employer-assisted work visa.
- After Change: One-year open and two-year employer-assisted visa is replaced with a three-year open work visa.