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Immigration New Zealand will widen the Post-Study Work Visa on 16 November 2026 and launch a new six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa on the same day. The agency announced both changes on 10 September 2026. Graduates who finish a Level 7 graduate diploma can now qualify for the longer visa, and every application moves online.
Quick guide
- Who qualifies from 16 November
- The dates in one place
- Visa length by qualification
- The new six-month visa
- How to apply
- Your next move
- New Zealand graduate visa questions answered
Who qualifies for the Post-Study Work Visa from 16 November
The agency notice extends eligibility to graduates with a Level 7 graduate diploma on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework. Three conditions apply. The graduate must have studied full time in New Zealand for the whole qualification. They must have been enrolled for its full duration, and cross-credits or recognition of prior learning do not count. They must also hold a bachelor’s degree, from New Zealand or overseas, awarded at any time.
Applicants must provide their bachelor’s certificate and an official transcript. Immigration New Zealand says an International Qualification Assessment is not needed for an overseas bachelor’s degree, although the agency can still verify the document.
Visa length by qualification
Length depends on the level of the qualification. A graduate diploma holder can receive a visa covering the length of their study in New Zealand, up to a maximum of one year. A postgraduate diploma at Level 8 may earn a one-year visa. A master’s degree at Level 9 may earn a three-year visa. For either of the last two, the graduate must complete at least 30 weeks of full-time study in that qualification.
The agency assesses a master’s separately. Transferred credits, cross-credits and prior learning do not count toward it. Each person can receive only one Post-Study Work Visa, even if they later complete a higher qualification.
The new six-month visa for shorter courses
Graduates who miss the Post-Study Work Visa have another route. The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa gives six months of open work rights. Applicants need a Level 5 to 7 qualification studied full time in New Zealand for at least 24 weeks. They must not hold an English-language, foundation or bridging qualification, and they must show NZ$5,000 in available funds.
The window is tight. Applications must arrive within three months of the student visa expiring. The agency gives an example: a student visa that expired before 16 August 2026 would not qualify when applications open on 16 November. A holder can receive this visa only once and cannot extend it. Business ownership is not allowed on it.
How to apply from 16 November
From 16 November, international students apply online through enhanced Immigration Online, using the Login button on the agency’s website. A law-firm recap by Clark Hill adds that paper applications for the Post-Study Work Visa filed by 15 November will still be processed. Treat that detail as secondary and confirm it with the agency.
Take a hypothetical case. Linh is a Vietnamese graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree from Hanoi and is finishing a Level 7 graduate diploma in Auckland. Before this change, she may not have qualified for the longer visa. Under the new rule, she needs her degree certificate, her transcript and proof of full-time study. Linh is an illustration only.
The dates in one place
The agency announced both changes on 10 September 2026. Both take effect on Monday 16 November 2026. The agency’s example sets the cut-off for the six-month visa: a student visa that ended before 16 August 2026 falls outside the three-month window when applications open. If your student visa ends close to that line, check your exact expiry date before you do anything else.
Employers also have a stake. Graduates on the six-month visa can look for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, according to the agency, so hiring managers should expect more applicants with short-term permissions. Students should keep job-search evidence from the first week, because six months passes quickly. Mark both dates now. Do not wait. Have your documents ready before the portal opens.
Your next move
Check your qualification level and your student visa expiry date first. Then match them to the right visa. If your course is shorter than 30 weeks at Level 8 or 9, or sits below Level 7, the six-month visa may be the better fit. Partners and dependent children follow separate rules, so read the agency’s Post-Study Work Visa page before you book flights.
Students comparing destinations can see how another country handles the same question in our guide to the UK Graduate Route. You can also test your own profile with our visa eligibility checker.
New Zealand graduate visa questions answered
What changes on 16 November 2026?
Level 7 graduate diploma holders with a bachelor’s degree can qualify for the Post-Study Work Visa, a six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa launches, and applications move online.
How long can a master’s graduate work?
A Level 9 master’s graduate may receive a three-year visa if they complete at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the master’s itself.
Can I get the Post-Study Work Visa twice?
No. Each person can receive only one, even after a higher qualification.
Who needs the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa?
Graduates with a Level 5 to 7 qualification who do not qualify for the Post-Study Work Visa, studied at least 24 weeks full time, and hold NZ$5,000 in funds.
Where do I apply?
Online, through enhanced Immigration Online, from 16 November 2026.
Sources
- Immigration New Zealand — Post Study Work Visa eligibility extended from 16 November 2026. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/post-study-work-visa-eligibility-extended-from-16-november-2026/
- Immigration New Zealand — New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa launching on 16 November 2026. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/new-short-term-graduate-work-visa-launching-on-16-november-2026/
- Immigration New Zealand — Post Study Work Visa. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/post-study-work-visa/
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