Updated 12 November 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice. Check Immigration New Zealand (immigration.govt.nz) before you apply.
Summary
A new Short Term Graduate Work Visa opens on Monday 16 November 2026 – it gives eligible graduates who studied in New Zealand up to six months to work while they look for a job; holders must work for an employer under an employment agreement or contract for services, cannot support a partner or children, and cannot extend the visa or apply for a second one. These changes are part of the broader New Zealand visa changes 2026.
The Post-Study Work Visa is widened, and paper applications end – from 16 November, graduates with a Level 7 graduate diploma studied full-time in New Zealand, plus a bachelor’s degree completed in New Zealand or overseas, become eligible for a visa lasting up to one year, and all Post-Study Work Visa applications must be made online as part of the New Zealand visa changes 2026.
Family visas move online, and Indian PhD graduates get longer work rights – four temporary visas for partners and children of New Zealand citizens and residents move to enhanced Immigration Online, and Indian graduates with a New Zealand PhD become eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa of up to four years instead of three, under the India-New Zealand free trade agreement, reflecting the New Zealand visa changes 2026.
What changes on 16 November 2026
| Change | Who it affects | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| New Short Term Graduate Work Visa | Eligible graduates of New Zealand study who don’t qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa | Up to six months of work rights, one-time only |
| Post-Study Work Visa eligibility widens | Graduates with a Level 7 graduate diploma and a bachelor’s degree | Visa for the length of the graduate diploma study, up to one year |
| Paper Post-Study Work Visa applications end | All Post-Study Work Visa applicants | Apply online from 16 November |
| Four family visas move to enhanced Immigration Online | Partners and children of New Zealand citizens and residents | Applications move to the new system |
| New student visa for children | Dependent children whose residence or citizenship application is being considered | A 12-month student visa |
| Longer post-study work for Indian PhD graduates | Indian citizens with a New Zealand PhD | Up to four years, up from three |
The new Short Term Graduate Work Visa
Immigration New Zealand’s own information says that eligible international graduates who completed study in New Zealand can apply for the new visa. According to Immigration New Zealand:
- Applicants must not have been granted a Short Term Graduate Work Visa or a Post-Study Work Visa before.
- Holders must work for an employer under an employment agreement or contract for services.
- Holders cannot support a partner for a work visa or children for a dependent child student visa.
- Holders cannot apply for a second visa or extend the first one.
- Holders won’t be granted a later student visa unless the new study is a bachelor’s degree or a programme at a higher level than the qualification the visa was based on.
Immigration advisers’ and New Zealand media summaries of Immigration New Zealand’s requirements add that applicants need:
- a Level 5, 6 or 7 qualification studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 24 weeks (not an English language, foundation or bridging programme)
- to have held a student visa within the three months before applying
- at least NZD $5,000 in available funds, shown by a recent bank statement (screenshots are not accepted)
- to meet health and character requirements
Business ownership and self-employment are not allowed on the visa. Check Immigration New Zealand’s visa page for the current requirements.
Post-Study Work Visa: who is newly eligible
From 16 November 2026, Immigration New Zealand will extend Post-Study Work Visa eligibility to applicants who have:
- a New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Level 7 graduate diploma that they studied full-time for in New Zealand, and
- a bachelor’s degree that they completed in New Zealand or overseas.
The visa can be issued for the duration the student spent studying the graduate diploma in New Zealand, up to a maximum of one year. You can only have a Post-Study Work Visa once.
Paper applications end. From 16 November, Immigration New Zealand will no longer accept paper applications for the Post-Study Work Visa. All applications must be made online.
Family of New Zealanders visas
According to immigration advisers’ summaries of Immigration New Zealand’s amended instructions, from 16 November 2026:
- Four temporary visas move to enhanced Immigration Online: the Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa, the Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa, the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa and the new Child of a New Zealander Student Visa.
- A new student visa lets dependent children whose residence (through Immigration New Zealand) or citizenship (through the Department of Internal Affairs) application is being considered study for 12 months, with no evidence of funds or enrolment needed.
- The child visitor visa is lengthened to 12 months.
- Early partnership visas are capped at 12 months.
Check Immigration New Zealand’s instructions for your exact situation before you apply.
India-New Zealand free trade agreement
The agreement came into force on 20 October 2026, and it affects several visa groups.
From 16 November: Indian graduates with a New Zealand PhD become eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa of up to four years rather than three.
Already open since 20 October: Two new work visas for Indian citizens. Summaries of the rules say:
| India Skilled Work Visa | India Iconic Work Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Places | Up to 4,400 | Up to 600 |
| Who | Indian citizens with a full-time job offer from an accredited employer in an approved skilled occupation | Indian chefs, yoga instructors, music teachers and AYUSH practitioners with a job offer |
| Stay | Up to three years | Up to three years |
| Fee | From NZD $1,355 | From NZD $1,355 |
Across both visas, the cap is 5,000 holders at any one time. Applicants must be outside New Zealand for a first application, can’t include a partner or dependent children, and the time worked doesn’t count as skilled New Zealand work experience for the Skilled Migrant Category.
Still to come: A working holiday scheme for Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 is due within two years of the agreement taking effect, with a reported cap of 1,000 places a year and stays of up to 12 months. It isn’t open for applications yet.
Already in force
The Skilled Migrant Category resident visa was overhauled from 24 August 2026, with new residence pathways and revised wage rules. See our guide to the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category.
What to do next
- Check which change applies to you, using Immigration New Zealand’s visa pages.
- Check dates. Applications under the new rules open from 16 November, and paper Post-Study Work Visa applications stop from that day.
- Use official forms and online systems. Immigration New Zealand’s website is the authoritative source.
- Talk to a licensed immigration adviser if your situation is complex. OrbitRemit is not an immigration adviser.
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
What is the new Short Term Graduate Work Visa?
A one-time visa of up to six months for eligible graduates who completed study in New Zealand. It opens on 16 November 2026.
Can I bring my partner on a Short Term Graduate Work Visa?
No. Holders cannot support a partner for a work visa or children for a dependent child student visa.
Who is newly eligible for the Post-Study Work Visa?
Graduates with a Level 7 graduate diploma studied full-time in New Zealand who also hold a bachelor’s degree from New Zealand or overseas. The visa lasts for the length of the graduate diploma study, up to a year.
Can I still apply for a Post-Study Work Visa on paper?
No. From 16 November 2026, applications must be made online.
What changes for Indian PhD graduates?
Eligible Indian graduates with a New Zealand PhD can get a Post-Study Work Visa of up to four years instead of three, from 16 November 2026.
Are the new India work visas open?
Reports say the India Skilled Work Visa and India Iconic Work Visa opened when the free trade agreement came into force on 20 October 2026. Check Immigration New Zealand for current requirements.
Important information
This article is general information about visa changes and is not immigration or legal advice. Visa rules, eligibility and fees can change, and the details of some changes here come from immigration advisers’ summaries of Immigration New Zealand’s announcements. Always check immigration.govt.nz or speak to a licensed immigration adviser before you apply. OrbitRemit is an international money transfer service and is not an immigration adviser.
Related guides
- New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category 2026
- How to get an IRD number as a migrant in New Zealand
- How to open a bank account in New Zealand as a migrant
- Setting up power, gas and internet when you move to New Zealand
Settling in often means sending money to family overseas. OrbitRemit sends money from New Zealand to over 50 countries. Check current rates at orbitremit.com.
Last updated 12 November 2026.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand, Post-Study Work Visa, and New and updated post-study work visa options (news centre) | NZ Shores, Family of New Zealanders visa changes: 16 November 2026 | Trust Haven Immigration, October 2026 immigration changes | Living in NZ, India Skilled and Iconic Work Visas and Post-Study Work Visa changes | Awaaz NZ, New Zealand opens 5,000 work visas for Indians | Crisp NG, New Zealand’s India work visas | VisaRoots, New Zealand work visa for Indians | Destination NZ Immigration, NZ immigration news and visa changes 2026
