Information about Post Study Work Visa

• 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application form.
• your passport or certificate of identity.

Acceptable photos

If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy.  We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.

If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you've applied.

Sending your passport for online applications

You may need to have a chest x-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your good health.

Who needs an x-ray or medical examination

Update on medical certificate requests on Immigration Online

You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.

If you are aged 17 or older and plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months (including any time you have already spent in New Zealand), you must provide police certificates from:

• any country you are a citizen of
• any country you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

You do not need to provide police certificates if:

• you have provided them to us with an earlier visa application, and
• they were issued in the previous 24 months.

Good character

How to get a police certificate

When we decide if your intentions are genuine (bona fide), we consider all the information:

• you provide to support your application
• we have about your personal circumstances, and
• you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

Evidence that you are a genuine visitor

If your qualification is non-degree level 7 or below, your qualification must be on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list.

You must provide:

• a copy of your qualification, or
• a letter or academic transcript from your tertiary education provider confirming you have completed your qualification.

If you have studied a non-degree level 7 or below qualification, you must have studied towards a qualification that is on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list. The job you end up taking must be related to what you studied. This will be specified on your visa.

Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa

If you applied for your student visa on or before 11 May 2022 the above requirements do not apply to you. You may be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa for up to 3 years after completing your study if you have an acceptable qualification.

Acceptable qualifications for a Post Study Work Visa (pre 11 May 2022)

You must apply for a work visa no later than 3 months after your student visa expires, or 6 months if you were granted a visa to complete a doctorate.

We’ll check our records to make sure that you’re applying in time.

You need to provide evidence that you have at least NZD $5,000 when you apply. Evidence can include:

• bank statements
• credit card statements
• bank drafts
• travellers’ cheques.
  
  

This applies to all Post-study work visa applications for 1, 2 or 3 years.