New Zealand's New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa: A Complete Overview Ahead of the 16 November 2026 Launch

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has confirmed the introduction of a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa, with applications opening on Monday, 16 November 2026. The announcement was published by INZ on 10 September 2026 and is intended to better align graduate work pathways with New Zealand's skills needs.

The visa gives eligible international graduates six months of open work rights in New Zealand, giving them time to look for work and, where appropriate, move on to an Accredited Employer Work Visa. It is designed for graduates who have completed, or are currently completing, study in New Zealand but who are not eligible for the existing Post-Study Work Visa.

Who Is Eligible

To qualify for the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa, an applicant must meet all of the following requirements.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Level 5 to 7 qualification that:

• was studied full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand

• is not an English language, foundation, or bridging qualification (for example, study preparation or a certificate of proficiency)

• is not a micro-credential

• does not make the applicant eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa

The 24-week study period includes exam preparation and exams. It does not include:

• main holiday periods (such as mid-year and end-of-year breaks)

• time spent repeating papers, credits, or units not passed the first time

• study toward a different qualification where credits were transferred or recognised through prior learning

If an applicant's qualification makes them eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa, they are not eligible to apply for the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa instead. If an applicant did not complete the qualification recorded on their student visa, INZ will not approve their Short-Term Graduate Work Visa application.

As evidence of their qualification, applicants must provide one of the following:

• a copy of their qualification certificate

• their academic transcript

• a letter from their tertiary education provider confirming they have completed the qualification or are eligible to graduate

Applicants whose studies were supported under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme must also provide written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Education New Zealand.

Financial requirements

Applicants must have at least NZD $5,000 in available funds to support themselves during their stay. Acceptable evidence includes a recent bank statement showing the applicant's name and account balance. Screenshots are not accepted. INZ may ask to see this evidence again on arrival in New Zealand.

Health requirements

Applicants are likely to be asked to complete a medical examination, a chest X-ray, or both, as evidence of good health. INZ will advise applicants during processing whether this is required, and this depends on factors including the applicant's intended length of stay.

Character requirements

Applicants must have a good character and may be asked to provide police certificates. INZ may decline a visa if an applicant has a criminal conviction or is considered a security risk to New Zealand.

Police certificates are required if the applicant is aged 17 or older and their total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, including any time already spent in New Zealand on other visas. Where required, certificates must be:

• less than 6 months old at the time of application

• obtained from countries the applicant is a citizen of, and from any country the applicant has spent more than 5 years in since turning 17

Applicants do not need to provide new police certificates if they submitted them for an earlier visa application and those certificates were issued within the last 24 months. If INZ requests a new certificate during processing, the applicant must provide one.

Genuine intentions

INZ will also assess whether the applicant has a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand, based on the information provided in the application, information INZ holds about the applicant's personal circumstances, and information previously provided to INZ.

Not previously held this visa or the Post-Study Work Visa

Applicants must not have previously been granted a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa or a Post-Study Work Visa.

When to Apply

Applicants must submit their Short-Term Graduate Work Visa application no more than 3 months after the end date of the student visa linked to the qualification they are applying on. INZ checks its own records to confirm applications are submitted within this window.

Because applications only open on 16 November 2026, this timing rule affects who can apply when the visa launches. INZ has given a specific example: if a person's student visa expired before 16 August 2026, they will not be eligible to apply for the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa on 16 November 2026, because more than 3 months will have passed since their student visa ended by the time applications open.

Documents You Need

When applying, applicants must provide:

• a copy of their passport, or one acceptable photo

• proof of the qualification gained in New Zealand

• police certificates, if required, including certified English translations if the originals are not in English

A passport or certificate of identity used for the application must remain valid for at least 3 months after the applicant's planned departure date from New Zealand.

What the Visa Allows

Short-Term Graduate Work Visa holders can:

• stay and work in New Zealand for up to 6 months while looking for a job and exploring longer-term work options

• work in any job, for any employer, provided the work is under an employment agreement or a contract for services

• support their partner and dependent children for visitor visas

What the Visa Does Not Allow

There are several important restrictions attached to this visa.

No business ownership. Work undertaken on this visa must be for an employer under an employment agreement or contract for services. Visa holders cannot operate a business as an owner.

Family cannot be included in the application. A visa holder's partner or dependent children cannot be included in the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa application itself, and are not eligible for a work or student visa based on their relationship to the visa holder.

Limited family support options. Visa holders cannot support a partner for a work visa, or a dependent child for a Dependent Child Student Visa. They can, however, support their partner and dependent children for visitor visas. Separately, a partner may apply for a work visa in their own right, on their own merit, and a dependent child may apply for a student visa as an international student in their own right.

No commercial sexual services. Visa holders cannot provide commercial sexual services or invest in a business that provides them.

Occupational registration still applies. Visa holders must hold any occupational registration required to do their job in New Zealand.

One Visa Per Person

An individual can only ever be granted one Short-Term Graduate Work Visa. It cannot be extended, and a person cannot apply for a second one.

There is a limited pathway back into study after holding this visa. A person who holds, or has held, a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa can apply for another student visa only if the proposed study is:

• a bachelor's degree, or a programme of study at a higher NZQCF level than the qualification their Short-Term Graduate Work Visa was based on, and

• a qualification that would make them eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa

Student visa holders who previously held a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa cannot change their programme of study or education provider unless they continue to meet these same two conditions.

If a person wants to stay in New Zealand beyond the 6-month period, they must have applied for, and been granted, another visa before their Short-Term Graduate Work Visa expires.

How to Apply

From 16 November 2026, applications must be submitted online through Enhanced Immigration Online (ADEPT), accessible via the Login button on the INZ website. The general application process follows five steps:

1. Complete your qualification. Applicants must apply no more than 3 months after their student visa's end date, and must remain on a valid visa at all times while in New Zealand.

2. Gather your documents. This includes certified English translations of any police or medical certificates not already in English, correct identity details matching the passport exactly, acceptable photographs, proof of the completed qualification, and bank statements showing at least NZD $5,000 in available funds.

3. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee. Applicants log in to their account (or create one), complete the application, upload supporting documents, and pay the required fee.

4. Wait for a decision. INZ will contact applicants if further information is needed. Applicants already in New Zealand whose current visa is due to expire while a decision is pending will normally be issued an Interim Visa so they can remain lawfully.

5. Check application status. Applicants can log in to check progress and will be notified by email once a decision is made. If approved, INZ issues an eVisa by email.

Visa Validity

The visa becomes valid from:

• the date the person enters New Zealand, if they were outside New Zealand when the application was approved, or

• the date the visa is granted, if the person was already in New Zealand

Visa holders must leave New Zealand before their visa expires.

Entry Requirements on Arrival

All travellers, including Short-Term Graduate Work Visa holders, must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) covering travel, customs, immigration, and biosecurity information.

• By air, the NZTD can be submitted from 24 hours before the journey begins.

• By sea, it can be submitted from 24 hours before the ship leaves its last overseas port before heading to New Zealand.

Travellers with an NZeTA can indicate in their declaration that they are applying for a visa on arrival. A paper declaration form is available for those unable to complete it online. New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity apply their own separate entry checks in addition to immigration requirements.

Entry permission can be refused if a person:

• does not meet character requirements

• has had a change in circumstances since their visa was approved

• refuses to allow their photo, fingerprints, or an iris scan to be taken

• cannot provide evidence of onward travel out of New Zealand, or the funds required to leave

Visa Conditions While in New Zealand

Travel: To leave and re-enter New Zealand, the visa must carry a valid multiple-entry travel condition. Unless the visa states "Return/onward travel not required," the holder must have a ticket to leave New Zealand for any trip made while the visa is active. If the visa lacks a multiple-entry condition and the holder leaves New Zealand, the visa will expire.

Work: Visa holders may work in any job, provided they work for an employer under an employment agreement or contract for services, the work is legal, they do not own a business, they do not provide or invest in commercial sexual services, and they hold any occupational registration required for the role.

Study: Visa holders may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Additional study may be permitted if it is required by an employer as part of employment. Anyone wishing to study for longer than 3 months can apply for a variation of conditions to their work visa.

Where to Find More Information

Full details on eligibility, evidence requirements, and the application process are available on INZ's Short-Term Graduate Work Visa page, which will remain the primary reference once applications open on 16 November 2026.

This article is based on information procured from official sources and public portals. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Kindly consult the relevant public authority or an immigration advisor at the Legit Migrant for guidance specific to your circumstances.