Who can apply for a Post Study Work Visa?
- Those who have completed a Master’s degree (Level 9) or received a PhD (Level 10) are able to apply for a 3-year work visa. This applies to any speciality.
- Those who complete a Postgraduate Diploma (Level 8), will receive a visa for the same period as the duration of their studies. Most often this is 1 year of study or a little less. Respectively, and the work visa will be of the same duration. There are no restrictions on specialities.
- Graduates of Bachelor Degree Level 7 can also count on a work visa for a duration equal to their studies. Usually, it is 3 years if you study from scratch although some Bachelor programmes take longer. It is also possible to make a Cross Credit, that is, to credit some of the subjects from your previous education and reduce your study period in New Zealand. There are also no restrictions on specialties.
- Graduates of the Graduate Diploma (Level 7) can apply for a Post Study Work Visa only for a number of in-demand specialities from the Green List. These are usually annual programs, so the work visa will be for the same period. And it will be possible to work only according to the speciality acquired.
- For those who have completed a Diploma course (Level 4-6), it is necessary to link to the Green List. The duration of the work visa will be equal to the study period, which is usually 1-2 years. And it will also be possible to work only according to the speciality acquired.
A Post Study Work visa is issued only once. It means that it is impossible to get this visa again even if you complete another course.
List of programmes from the Green List
These are a number of specialities that are on the Green List and are suitable for Diplomas level 4-6 and Graduate Diplomas level 7 available for international students:
- Graduate Diploma Level 7 in Highways Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Construction Project Management, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Secondary School Teaching and Early Childhood Teaching.
- Diploma Level 4-6 in areas such as Highways Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Construction Project Management, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Farm Management, Agriculture, Dairy Technology and Dairy Farming.
More about levels and the education system.
Student partners
Those can apply for an open work visa, which allows them to work in almost any speciality (except for sex services) for the duration of the main applicant’s studies:
- Partners of Level 9 Master’s and Level 10 PhD students in any speciality
- Partners of students of level 7 and 8 programmes gaining a speciality from the Green List
Partners of students enrolled in other professional programmes, can only rely on a visitor visa, which does not allow official employment.
Partners of anyone who has received a Post Study Work Visa can also apply for an open work visa for the same period.
Children of students
Children with at least one parent on a work visa are entitled to free schooling. In New Zealand, pupils go to school from the age of 5-6 years.
Kindergartens in New Zealand are partially subsidised by the government, which pays up to 20 hours per week for children aged 3 to 5 years regardless of the parents’ visa. Without subsidies, kindergartens cost from 7 to 12 NZD per hour.
Required documents
- Work Visa Application Form and Passport
- Educational documents suitable for the conditions of obtaining a visa
- Bank statement with NZ $ 5000 in the account
- X-ray and medical examination result, if not provided earlier
- Certificate of no criminal record, if not provided earlier
It is important to remember that you must submit the documents within 3 months after your student visa expiration.
This information is based on materials from Immigration New Zealand. Read more about the Post Study Work Visa on the official INZ website.
