New Zealand will introduce a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa on 16 November 2026, giving eligible international graduates up to six months to work and search for longer-term employment.
The visa is aimed at students who complete certain New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework qualifications at Levels 5 to 7 but do not qualify for the country’s existing Post-Study Work Visa.
Successful applicants will receive open work rights, meaning they can work in different jobs for almost any employer. The six-month period may also give graduates time to secure suitable employment and, where appropriate, move to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
This is a confirmed immigration change rather than a proposal. Applications will open through Immigration New Zealand’s Enhanced Immigration Online system on 16 November 2026. Immigration New Zealand announced the new route on 10 September 2026.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must have successfully completed an eligible NZQCF Level 5, 6 or 7 qualification in New Zealand.
The programme must have been studied full-time for at least 24 weeks. It cannot be:
- An English-language qualification
- A foundation or bridging programme
- A study-preparation course
- A certificate of proficiency
- A micro-credential
- A qualification already eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa
This distinction is important. Graduates who qualify for the main Post-Study Work Visa cannot choose the new short-term route instead.
Applicants will need to provide a qualification certificate, academic transcript or confirmation from their education provider showing that they have completed the programme or are eligible to graduate.
| Requirement | Confirmed rule |
| Launch date | 16 November 2026 |
| Visa duration | Up to six months |
| Qualification level | NZQCF Levels 5–7 |
| Minimum study | 24 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand |
| Financial requirement | At least NZD $5,000 |
| Application deadline | Within three months after the student visa expires |
| Work rights | Open work rights |
| Extension | Not permitted |
| Number allowed | One visa per person |
Strict Application Deadline
Graduates must submit their applications no later than three months after the expiry date of the student visa connected to the qualification being used.
This creates an important transitional deadline for students whose visas expire before applications open. Immigration New Zealand gives the example of a student visa expiring before 16 August 2026. That person would fall outside the three-month application period by 16 November and would therefore not qualify when the new route opens.
Students should check the exact expiry date printed on their current eVisa rather than relying only on their graduation date.
Anyone remaining in New Zealand must also hold a valid visa while waiting for a decision. Immigration New Zealand states that an Interim Visa will normally be issued when an eligible applicant’s current temporary visa expires while another application is being processed.
Six Months to Work
The visa will allow its holder to work in any legal job for any employer. Employment must be covered by an employment agreement or a contract for services.
However, visa holders will not be permitted to operate a business as an owner. They must also hold any professional or occupational registration required for their job.
The open conditions make the route more flexible than an employer-specific work visa. Graduates can use the six-month period to gain experience, approach accredited employers and search for a position that could support a longer-term immigration pathway.
The visa does not itself guarantee an Accredited Employer Work Visa or residence. Graduates seeking to remain beyond six months will have to satisfy the requirements of another visa category and obtain that visa before the short-term permission expires.
Financial Requirements
Every applicant must demonstrate access to at least NZD $5,000 to support themselves.
A recent bank statement showing the applicant’s name and account balance may be used as evidence. Immigration New Zealand says screenshots will not be accepted.
Applicants must also meet normal health, character and genuine-intention requirements. Depending on their circumstances and intended stay, they may be asked to provide a medical examination, chest X-ray or police certificates.
Police certificates may be required when the applicant is at least 17 years old and their total time in New Zealand, including previous stays, will reach 24 months or more.
A passport or identity document must generally remain valid for at least three months beyond the date on which the applicant intends to leave New Zealand.
Family Conditions
Partners and dependent children cannot be included in the graduate’s application. Visa holders will not be able to support a partner for a work visa or a child for a Dependent Child Student Visa based on this status. They may, however, be able to support visitor visa applications for their family members.
Partners may apply for work visas in their own right if they independently meet the relevant requirements. Dependent children may also apply to study as fee-paying international students.
Families should therefore study the financial and practical consequences carefully before relying on this new route.
One Visa Only
A person can receive the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa only once. It cannot be extended, and a second application will not be permitted.
The rules also restrict further study pathways. After holding this visa, a person may apply for another student visa only if the proposed programme is:
- A bachelor’s degree or a programme at a higher NZQCF level than the earlier qualification; and
- A qualification that leads to eligibility for a Post-Study Work Visa.
A former holder who returns to study under these conditions cannot freely change their programme or education provider unless the new arrangement continues to meet the rules.
What Students Should Do
Potential applicants should prepare before applications open by:
- Checking whether their qualification is excluded from the Post-Study Work Visa.
- Confirming that they studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 24 weeks.
- Checking the expiry date of their student visa.
- Obtaining their certificate, transcript or completion letter.
- Preparing acceptable evidence of at least NZD $5,000.
- Arranging police, medical or translation documents if required.
- Exploring employment opportunities with accredited employers.
Applications will be submitted online through the Enhanced Immigration Online system. Immigration New Zealand has not stated one universal fee in the announcement, so applicants should check the amount shown in the online system when applications open.
A Limited but Useful Route
The new visa closes part of the gap faced by international graduates who have completed substantial study in New Zealand but cannot access the main Post-Study Work Visa.
Six months is a relatively short period, and the visa offers no automatic extension. Nevertheless, its open work conditions could provide graduates with valuable time to enter the labour market and demonstrate their skills to prospective employers.
Its usefulness will depend heavily on preparation. Graduates who wait until their student visas expire, overlook the three-month deadline or fail to prepare financial and qualification evidence could lose the opportunity entirely.