The federal government has revealed a new short-term graduate work visa– accepting applications later on this year– and an extension to existing post-study work visa eligibility as it seeks to “to better align graduate pathways with New Zealand’s skills needs”.
A statement from Migration New Zealand checked out: “We will quickly be launching a new visa and making modifications to the post-study work visa. These changes will support growth in international education, while guaranteeing graduates are well placed to move into work that satisfies New Zealand’s skills needs.”
The changes include a brand-new short-term graduate work visa and an extension of post-study work visa eligibility to finish diplomas at NZQCF level 7. The graduate must likewise hold a bachelor’s degree, finished in New Zealand or overseas.New Zealand is
increasingly seeking to “retain global graduates with important skills, while keeping education quality and protecting New Zealand’s global track record as a great place to live and work”.
From late 2026, qualified international graduates who have completed their research studies in New Zealand will be able to apply for the new short-term graduate work visa.
The visa will supply as much as 6 months of open work rights “permitting time to search for work and, where appropriate, shift to an accredited employer work visa”.
“To be qualified, candidates should have at least NZD $5,000 readily available to support themselves and need to not formerly been approved a short-term graduate work visa or post-study work visa, in addition to other requirements,” detailed Immigration New Zealand.
Successful candidates need to also hold a qualification at NZQCF level 5 to 7, studied full-time for a minimum of 24 weeks in New Zealand, that is not an English language, structure, or bridging qualification and does not make them eligible for a post-study work visa.
The federal government likewise validated that eligibility for the country’s existing post-study work visa will be expanded from late 2026, along with the intro of the new short-term graduate work visa.Graduates who complete a Level 7 Graduate Diploma in New Zealand will be able to access the existing visa route, provided they already hold a bachelor’s degree from either a New Zealand or abroad organization. The visa will be given for the duration of the graduate diploma research study, approximately a maximum of one year. Both visas cost NZD$ 1,670, comprised of a NZD$320
application cost and a NZD $1,350 immigration levy. Siân Roguski, general supervisor work,
skills & migration policy at the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment, said the expansion permits graduates”to gain pertinent work experience and evaluate their skills in New Zealand’s labour market “.” The visas supply graduates with a chance to either
get a further visa for a knowledgeable function where a company has been unable to hire New Zealanders (such as through an accredited employer work visa), or to leave New Zealand with their enhanced skills and work experience, “added Roguski. Roguski said these visas “support New Zealand’s appearance as a research study destination”
while likewise”supporting the government’s objective of doubling the financial contribution of international education by 2034″. Education New Zealand invited the modifications, with acting president, Linda Sisson, stating the broadened post-study work visa options will “strengthen New Zealand’s global education offering and support the sector’s long‑term, sustainable development “. By supporting international graduates with valuable abilities while keeping high education quality, these changes make New Zealand more competitive internationally and strengthen our track record as a destination of choice Linda Sisson, Education New Zealand”By supporting worldwide graduates with important skills while preserving high education quality, these modifications make New Zealand more competitive worldwide and
reinforce our credibility as a location of option,”she included. In 2025, New Zealand’s International Education Opting for Growth strategy laid out an ambitious vision of development, preparing to raise international enrolments by 35,000 and nearly double the sector’s value to NZD$7.2 billion by 2034. It likewise increased allowed work hours for eligible study visa holders from 20 to 25 hours each week, and extended in-study work rights to all tertiary trainees registered in authorized exchange or research study abroad programs, including those
on one-semester courses. The nation continues to welcome increasing varieties of international students in line with its”stable and balanced” growth objectives. Trainee enrolments increased 14%in the January-August 2025 duration compared with the same period in 2024, currently surpassing in 2015’s
full-year overall, comprehensive Roguski. On the other hand, research highlights the sector’s substantial economic impact.”International education is one of New Zealand’s top ten exports, contributing NZD$4.52 bn in the year ended September 2025, up from NZD$3.6 bn in the year ended December 2024,” Roguski informed The PIE News.< img src="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%200%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E"/ >