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Information about Post-study work visa

If you have acceptable qualifications(s) that you completed in New Zealand, you can apply for a visa to work here. Depending on your qualification and where you studied, you can work for any employer for between 1 and 3 years, and do almost any work.

Overview

Overview

Length of stay

1, 2 or 3 years

You can

  • work for any employer.
  • work in almost any job New Zealand.

Things to note

  • You can only apply for this visa once, unless you complete a second higher qualification at bachelor’s degree level or higher.
  • You cannot provide commercial sexual services or operate or invest in a business that does.
  • If you complete your study outside Auckland before the end of 2021, your work visa can be valid for 2 or 3 years.
  • Your partner can apply for a work visa and your dependent children can study fee-free as domestic students.

Acceptable qualifications for a Post-study work visa
How long you can work on a Post-study work visa
Bringing family if you have a work visa

Criteria

Meeting the criteria

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements.

Use the filters to display country specific tips, under evidence, to assist you with your application

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Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

EvidenceHide
  • 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

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.

Also provide your Kartu Keluarga.

If you’re not a French national, also provide a copy of your carte d’assuré.

Also provide a copy of your livret de famille.

Also provide a copy of your Identity card.

Also provide your:

  • Hukou (household registration book)
  • Chinese identity card.

If you are a citizen of China and you submit a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.

Supplementary form for Chinese citizens (INZ 1027) PDF 306KB

If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students.

Supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) PDF 322KB

Health

You must be in good health

EvidenceHide

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

You must provide a chest x-ray completed in the last 3 months, even if you've provided one to us previously, if:

  • you have spent 6 consecutive months in China since the last x-ray certificate was issued, and
  • you are now coming to NZ for more than 6 months.

Character

You must be of good character

EvidenceHide

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

New Zealand Qualification

You must have completed an acceptable qualification in New Zealand

EvidenceHide

You must provide:

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

Acceptable qualifications for a Post-study work visa

Work visa application

You must apply in time

EvidenceHide

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 won’t be eligible to apply if you didn’t complete the qualification recorded on your Student Visa.

Funds

You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand

EvidenceHide

You need to provide evidence that you have at least NZD $4,200 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.

Process

Process

The information below will help you understand the process so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

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Fees & receiving centre

Fees & receiving centre

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

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Conditions

Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.

Arriving in New Zealand

You can be refused entry permission if:

  • you don’t meet our character requirements
  • your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
  • you refuse to let us to take your photo, or provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if we ask you for them.

Work

You can work in almost any job for any employer in New Zealand.

You can’t provide commercial sexual services, or operate or invest in a business that does.

Study

You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

You may be able to do other study if it’s required by your employer as part of your employment.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Visa expiry dates are printed on a visa label or included in a visa letter.

Information updated on 2020/07/09 12:31:41.396858 GMT+12