Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced the extension of Post-Study Work Visa eligibility.
From Monday, November 16, 2026, eligibility for a Post-Study Work Visa will be extended to graduates who:
- have completed a graduate diploma at NZQCF Level 7
- studied full‑time in New Zealand for the full duration of the qualification
- have been enrolled in that qualification for the full duration (cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning is not eligible), and
- hold a bachelor’s degree, completed in New Zealand or overseas (with no time limit on when it was awarded).
Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s programs
Applicants who complete an eligible Postgraduate Diploma (Level 8) may be eligible for a one-year Post-Study Work Visa. Applicants who complete an eligible Master’s degree (Level 9) may be eligible for a three-year Post-Study Work Visa.
To be eligible, applicants must complete at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the qualification on which their visa is based. For a Master’s degree, they must complete at least 30 weeks of full-time study while enrolled in the Master’s program itself.
Those who complete a Postgraduate Diploma and then move directly into a Master’s degree using credits transferred from their diploma may still be eligible for a one-year Post-Study Work Visa based on their Postgraduate Diploma.
A Master’s degree is assessed separately, and transferred credits, cross-crediting, or recognition of prior learning do not count for Post-Study Work Visa purposes.
Evidence and conditions
Along with evidence of the graduate diploma, applicants will need to provide:
- a copy of their bachelor’s degree certificate (showing qualification type and awarding institution), and
- an official academic transcript.
An International Qualification Assessment is not required for overseas bachelor’s degrees, but INZ can check qualification authenticity for immigration purposes.
The Post-Study Work Visa can be issued for the duration the student spent studying the graduate diploma in New Zealand, up to a maximum of one year.
An individual can only be granted one Post-Study Work Visa. Anyone who has held a Post-Study Work Visa in the past is not eligible for another, even if the study is at the same or higher level.
People with a Post-Study Work Visa are able to support partners and dependent children for visitor, work, or dependent child student visas, as long as requirements are met.
Graduate diploma holders
People who hold a graduate diploma may be granted a visa with open work conditions, if they also hold a bachelor’s degree.
If the graduate diploma holder does not also hold a bachelor’s degree but their graduate diploma is on the List of qualifications eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa, they may still be granted a Post-Study Work Visa. However, they will be required to work in the occupation specified on the list for the duration of their Post-Study Work Visa.
If the graduate diploma holder does not also hold a bachelor’s degree and their graduate diploma is not on the List of qualifications eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa, they are not eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa. Instead, they can apply for the 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa.
How to apply
From November 16, 2026, international students can apply for the Post-Study Work Visa through Enhanced Immigration Online (ADEPT).
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news becomes available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.