If you are studying in New Zealand and you want to stay and work here after you have completed your studies, you may be eligible for a work visa under our Study to Work category.

All applicants need to meet our health and character requirements. The other requirements you need to meet depend on whether you have a job offer.

Graduate Job Search Visa

If you are a student who has completed a qualification or qualifications in New Zealand, but you do not have a job offer, you may be eligible for a Graduate Job Search Work Visa for a maximum of 12 months. Then, when you have found a job, you can apply for a further visa for up to two or three years under the Study to Work category.

To be eligible for a Graduate Work Search Visa you must:

• have successfully completed a qualification in New Zealand that meets the study to work qualification requirements 
• apply no later than three months (six months if you have completed a doctoral qualification) after the end date of the student visa for that qualification
• provide evidence of a minimum of NZ$4,200 available to maintain yourself during your 12-month stay in New Zealand (we will accept traveller's cheques or bank documents in your name).

Graduate Work Experience Visa

If you are a student with an offer of employment relevant to your qualification, you may be eligible for a work visa and for a maximum period of:

• two years; or
• three years, if you are working towards obtaining a membership or registration from a New Zealand professional association which requires more than two years of relevant practical work experience.

You will need to provide evidence:

• of the relevance of your job offer to your qualification, and
• that you have successfully completed a qualification or qualifications in New Zealand that meets the Study to Work qualification requirements.

If you are applying for a three-year work visa because you are working towards obtaining a membership or registration from a New Zealand professional association (such as the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants or the New Zealand Registered Architects Board), you need to provide us with more evidence.

• You must show that you need membership or registration to fully perform your professional duties.
• You must show that the employment is considered relevant practical experience by the professional association. Evidence might include documentation from the professional association, or from the employer, which says how the employment meets the association’s requirements.
• You must show that your New Zealand qualification meets the requirements for registration or membership of the professional association.

Your application for a work visa must be made no later than three months (six months if you have completed a doctoral qualification) after the end date of your student visa for that course or qualification, unless you hold a Graduate Job Search Work Visa.

We will apply conditions to your Work Visa that relate to your practical experience.

These instructions do not apply to holders of Limited Visas.

Study to Work qualification requirements

You must have successfully completed a New Zealand qualification or qualifications that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category (see SM14) and is either:

• a qualification at level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualification Framework and you have studied that qualification in New Zealand for at least one academic year; or 
• a two year qualification at level 4 to 6 on the New Zealand Qualification Framework and you have studied that qualification in New Zealand for at least two academic years; or
• two qualifications at levels 4 to 6 on the New Zealand Qualification Framework that each required at least one academic year study in New Zealand, provided the second qualification is at a higher level (two years study in New Zealand in total).

Students who have obtained a National Certificate, National Diploma, New Zealand Diploma or a New Zealand Institute of Management qualification

Please note that some students who have studied a National Certificate, National Diploma, New Zealand Diploma or a New Zealand Institute of Management qualification have been providing the incorrect qualification certificates with their applications.

• The New Zealand Diploma in Business (correct qualification certificate = NZQA certificate)
• All National Diplomas, at all levels (correct qualification certificate = NZQA certificate)
• All National Certificates (correct qualification certificate = NZQA certificate)
• The New Zealand Institute of Management Diplomas (correct qualification certificate = New Zealand Institute of Management certificate).

Please talk to your education provider in the first instance, if you have qualified for this award then your provider can apply to NZQA/NZIM for your certificate.

INZ will be asking to see the correct qualification certificate, so to avoid any delays, please provide the correct one.

Apply

If you think you meet the requirements, find out how to apply.