NZ Immigration Rebalance: changes in post-study work rights

With borders now fully opening from 1 August student visa applications have also been brought forward from October 2022. This means that international students can now actively seek for the best-suited courses to move and study in NZ. 

Historical trends have shown that a large proportion of international students that come to NZ to study, look for work to residence opportunities post completion of their studies. We expect this trend to continue, if not become even stronger in the future. So, once a foreign student has finished the course, what are their prospects for acquiring a work visa and, eventually, gaining residency? 

Below we explain three significant changes made to the post-study work rights in 2022. 

Duration of work visa 

Students who have completed a bachelor's degree, bachelor honors degree, master's degree, or doctoral degree in New Zealand for a minimum of 30 weeks will be eligible for post-study work visa for three years.  

Students will be eligible for a post-study work visa for one year if they have completed a Postgraduate diploma course.  

The duration of the post-study work visa for students pursuing a course at Level 7 or lower will be in line with the duration of the course, only if the qualification is related to an occupation on the Green List, or Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa List. 

Also, international students will no longer be able to apply for a second post-study work visa, even if they choose to pursue a higher-level course 

Limited rights for Level 7 and below 

Students who are pursuing a course at Level 7 or lower for a minimum of 30 weeks will be eligible for post-study work rights in line with the duration of the course and only if the qualification is related to an occupation on the Green List, or Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa List.

These students will only be permitted to work in occupations that are related to the one in which they completed the course. They will, however, be able to change employers and earn less than the median wage. 

Green List qualifications  

The government has introduced a Green List, which is replacing all previous Skill Shortage lists mentioned on the Immigration New Zealand website.  Not all students who wish to study a Level 7 or lower course will now be eligible for a post-study work right. They have to study a Level 7 or lower course relevant to a Green List occupation to avail the post-study work rights. 

Post-study work rights for non-degree students who have studied for qualifications relevant to the Green List will only allow the migrant to work in that occupation. However, they have a right to change employers and work for less than the median wage of $29.66 per hour. 

The Green List includes but is not limited to roles in Construction, Engineering, IT, Medical, Teaching and primary sectors. For example, these include Construction Project Manager, 12 specific engineering roles, Early Childhood Teacher, Automotive Electrician, Diesel Motor Mechanic and more. 

According to INZ, this rebalance intends to align post-study employment rights of non-degree students with New Zealand's skill needs, as well as correct some previous unsustainable post-study working practices that were observed before the pandemic. 

It is now more critical than ever for students to start on the right foot and with the right course and the right pathway from the get-go.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐙? We can help you with course selection, career mapping, immigration pathways, and everything there is along the way. You can start by completing the form below.