After you finish studying in New Zealand
Working in New Zealand after you graduate – the Post Study Work Visa
If you successfully complete an acceptable qualification in New Zealand you may be eligible to apply for a Post Study Work Visa for after you graduate. Depending on the qualification, you’ll be able to work for almost any employer in New Zealand for potentially up to three years
To be eligible to apply for a New Zealand Post Study Work Visa you must have completed a degree-level qualification or one that is assessed at Level 8-10 on the NZQCF (see below), or a qualification that is included in the list of Qualifications Eligible For A Post-Study Work Visa.
You will also need to show that you have NZ$5000 in funds available to support yourself.
New Zealand qualification levels
When looking at Immigration New Zealand rules around study visas you will see frequent references to a qualification’s ‘level’, numbered from 1-10. These refer to the New Zealand Qualifications And Credentials Framework (NZQCF), which covers a range of qualifications from certificates to doctoral degrees.
The levels are based on how complex the learning is. Secondary school qualifications, for example, are covered by levels 1 – 3 of the NZQCF.
- Level 7 qualifications include bachelors degrees, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas.
- Level 8 refers to postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas.
- Level 9 refers to masters degrees (studied by coursework or by research, or by a combination of the two), and
- Level 10 refers to PhD.
