In plain English
A new 6-month open work visa for eligible Level 5–7 graduates who don’t qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa, giving time to find a job and move to an AEWV.
Key points
- Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring.
- Needs at least NZD $5,000 in funds and, depending on stay, medical certificates.
- One per person, and it can’t be extended.
- Holders can’t support a partner’s work visa or children’s student visas.
Who’s affected
Graduates of Level 5–7 New Zealand qualifications studied full-time for at least 24 weeks.
What you should do
If your student visa expires before 16 August 2026 you won’t be eligible. Check your dates now.
Immigration New Zealand, “New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens 16 November”, published 10 September 2026. Read the full announcement. Summary by Destination NZI; INZ content © Crown, licensed under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
Related visas
Stay and work after completing an eligible New Zealand qualification. Eligibility widens on 16 November 2026.
- Stay
- Up to 3 years
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $1,670
- Processing
- 80% within 5 weeks
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
New from 16 November 2026 for Level 5–7 graduates who don’t qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa. Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring.
- Stay
- 6 months, open work
- INZ visa fee
- See INZ page
- Processing
- Opens 16 Nov 2026
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
