New Post Study Work Visa Requirements are Announced

Changes have been made to the Post Study Work Visa requirements and visa conditions as part of the Immigration Rebalance.

As of 7 September, the changes detailed below will go into effect. They apply to any new students who submit a Student Visa application after 11 May 2022. Changes include:

• The duration of post study work visas being the same as the duration of study in New Zealand for level 8 and below students. Master’s and doctoral students are eligible for 3 year visas.
• Conditions of post study work visas that are dependent on the qualification that the applicant has gained in New Zealand. People who studied at non-degree levels 4-7 may only work in a field directly linked to their area of study.

New eligibility requirements for people who studied non-degree levels 4-7. To be eligible, their qualification must be on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list.

Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa

You are eligible for a Post Study Work Visa if:

• you studied a degree level 7 or above qualification, or
• you studied a non-degree level 7 or below qualification, and your qualification is on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list.
• You must also take a job that is related to what you studied, if you studied a non-degree level 7 or below qualification.

If you applied for your Student Visa on or before 11 May 2022 you may be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa, even if your qualification is not on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list. However, you must have an acceptable qualification.

There are also transitional arrangements for students who applied for their student visa on or before 11 May 2022, and for students who have been granted a Student Visa as part of the border exception for 5,000 students (cohort 4). In both cases students must have studied an acceptable qualification.

Acceptable qualifications for a Post Study Work Visa (pre 12 May 2022)

To be acceptable:

• you must have studied in New Zealand, and
• your qualification must be Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework
• Changes have also been made to the eligibility criteria of partners of student work visa holders to replace references to the Long-Term Skill Shortage List with the Green List

Your qualification is Level 7 or higher

Your qualification at level 7 or higher is acceptable if your course lasted 30 weeks or more.

You studied at Levels 4 to 6

Your Level 4, 5 or 6 qualification is acceptable if you:

• completed it after study of 60 weeks or more, or
• gained 2 qualifications that:
• each involved at least 30 weeks' study, and
• the level of your last qualification was higher than the first.

Qualification requirements if you were studying, or had applied for a student visa, by 8 August 2018.

You studied English language

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications are not acceptable.

You want to work for longer

You may be able to apply for another Post Study Work Visa, but only if you complete another qualification in New Zealand that:

• you studied for 30 weeks or more
• is a bachelor's degree or post-graduate qualification
• is at a higher level than the qualification you used to get your previous visa, and
• you applied for your second student visa on or before 11 May 2022.

If you applied after 11 May 2022

If you applied for your Student Visa after 11 May 2022 there are new requirements for a Post Study Work Visa. Go to the staying to work after study page to find out more.

Our Opinion

The new visa requirements for post study work visas are a positive step in making sure that international students are able to gain the appropriate work experience in New Zealand after completing their studies. This will help to better prepare them for the workforce and make them more attractive candidates for employers. However, it is important to note that these changes will only come into effect for students who applied for their student visa on or before 11 May 2022.

For those who applied after this date, the new requirements will apply. It is also worth noting that partners of student work visa holders will now be required to meet the eligibility criteria of the Green List in order to be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. This is a positive change as it will ensure that only those with the necessary skills and experience are able to gain access to New Zealand's workforce.

A deep analysis article of the changes is being produced by our team and will be published soon.