POST-STUDY-WORK
The Post-Study Work Visa (PSW) is the bridge between studying in New Zealand and working here long-term. A once-in-a-lifetime visa with open work rights for degree holders. The second stage in the study → PSW → AEWV → residence pipeline.
Route A — Degree Level 7 or higher (Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma, Master's, Doctorate) studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in NZ. Open work rights — any job, any employer, anywhere. Route B — Non-degree Level 4 to 7 on INZ's PSW-eligible list, studied full-time for the full duration required to gain the qualification. Work restricted to jobs related to the qualification (visa condition).
Most qualifications: within 3 months of student visa expiry. Doctoral degrees: within 6 months. Nested qualifications (first PSW-eligible qualification followed by a shorter higher-level qualification under 30 weeks): within 12 months of the first student visa expiry. Doctoral special case: you can apply after submitting your thesis — no need to wait for the formal award.
You can only hold a Post-Study Work Visa once. No renewals, no second PSW even if you pursue further study afterwards. The PSW is a single transition between study and work — plan accordingly.
You must have successfully completed the qualification recorded on your student visa. Failing or withdrawing breaks PSW eligibility. INZ may request further information from your education provider if your actual study length differs from your offer of place. Financial requirement: at least NZD $5,000 in bank statements in your name, regardless of visa length.
Master's or Doctorate (30+ weeks of study): up to 3 years. Below Master's: same length as the study itself — a 32-week qualification grants a 32-week PSW. Duration matters for the downstream pipeline — building enough skilled work experience to support AEWV and then residence usually needs a longer PSW window.
Route A (degree Level 7+): open work rights — any job, any employer, anywhere in NZ, with limited exceptions. Route B (non-degree Level 7 or lower): work must be in a job related to your qualification — a visa condition restriction. Study rights on PSW: up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Partner and dependents can be supported separately via partner work visa or student visas.
INZ application fee: Post-Study Work Visa: from NZD $1,670. Downstream visas in the pipeline have separate fees — AEWV from NZD $1,540; SMC6 residence from NZD $6,450.
ProVisas advisory fee: Fixed-fee per case where the pathway is standard; time-based for complex matters (including late lodgement, provider issues, or pipeline planning across multiple stages). Specific fees disclosed at consultation and confirmed in your engagement letter.
INZ government fees are passed through at cost. We don't mark up government charges.
Lodgement window: within 3 months of student visa expiry (6 months for Doctorate; 12 months for nested qualifications). INZ processing: 80% within 5 weeks. PSW duration: same as study length for below-Master's qualifications; up to 3 years for Master's or Doctorate. End-to-end study-to-residence journey via this pipeline typically takes 4 to 7 years (study programme + PSW + AEWV + SMC6 residence).
No. The Post-Study Work Visa is a once-in-a-lifetime visa. Even if you complete another qualification afterwards, you can't get a second PSW. Plan your PSW around the qualification and work pathway you actually want to pursue.
Eligibility expanded. From late 2026, applicants who hold both a NZQCF Level 7 Graduate Diploma studied full-time in NZ AND a Bachelor's degree (completed in NZ or overseas) become eligible for PSW. This materially widens the pool — particularly for offshore Bachelor's holders who complete a NZ Graduate Diploma. If your situation matches this combination, talk to a licensed adviser about timing.
Conditionally. Time worked during your PSW counts toward residence pathway points only if it's at the right ANZSCO level AND wage compliance matches the residence pathway's wage rules. A lower-ANZSCO-level role during PSW, or wage non-compliance, may not count. Plan your PSW employment with the downstream residence pathway in mind.
Late PSW lodgement is one of the most common ways this pathway breaks. The lodgement window after student visa expiry is 3 months for most qualifications, 6 months for Doctorate. Missing the window may make you ineligible for PSW — talk to a licensed adviser about alternative pathways or whether a Section 61 discretionary request is viable.
Lodge your AEWV before your PSW expires. Where you hold an existing work visa (like PSW) and lodge AEWV before its expiry, you may keep interim work rights while AEWV is processed. Interim time now counts toward both total continuous stay and work experience for residence (per the April 2025 AEWV changes). Your employer must already hold AEWV accreditation at the time of the AEWV decision — not just at the time of lodgement.
Stage 1: student visa for your course. Stage 2: PSW after completing your qualification. Stage 3: AEWV with an accredited employer in your skilled field. Stage 4: residence via SMC6 or work-to-residence after accumulating qualifying experience. End-to-end takes 4 to 7 years depending on study length, sector, and how well each stage's eligibility is set up. The pipeline only works if each stage is planned for the next; talk to a licensed adviser before you start.
policy updates
INZ updated PSWV rules effective 19 November 2024 — more flexibility for students pursuing consecutive qualifications, three new field categories added, and clearer 3-year-duration eligibility.
Read articleLast reviewed 2026-05-24. Source of truth: Immigration New Zealand →
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