Studying in New Zealand? Two graduate work visa routes open on November 16, 2026: check your course level now

Visa guide · 2026-09-23 · 5 min read

Two Kenyan graduates chat on a sunny campus terrace overlooking Auckland’s skyline.

Short answer: from November 16, 2026, international graduates in New Zealand get two routes to work after study. One is a brand-new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa. The other is the Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV), now open to more people. If you are a Kenyan student in New Zealand, or you are choosing a course in Nairobi or Mombasa with New Zealand in mind, the level and type of your qualification will decide which door, if either, applies.

The two routes side by side

Feature	Short-Term Graduate Work Visa	Post-Study Work Visa (widened)
Who it is for	Graduates with a New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) level 5-7 qualification who are not eligible for a PSWV	Graduates of an NZQCF level 7 Graduate Diploma who also hold a bachelor's degree
Length	Up to six months of open work rights	Tied to how long the Graduate Diploma took, capped at one year
Grants	Single use	One time only
Family	Cannot join as visa-holder dependants	Partners and dependent children can come on their own visas

Short-Term Graduate Work Visa: who qualifies

The visa is aimed at diploma and certificate-level graduates who had no matching work visa. Open work rights give you time to job hunt, gain local experience and possibly move to an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). You need all of the following:

A level 5-7 NZQCF qualification, studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 24 weeks.
No eligibility for a PSWV, and no earlier grant of this visa or a PSWV.
Proof of at least NZD 5,000 in available funds.
Sign-off from MFAT or Education New Zealand if you studied under the New Zealand Scholarship Programme, where applicable.
Medical and chest X-ray clearance if required for your length of stay.

Graduates of English-language, foundation and bridging courses are not eligible. Holders cannot own a business, and family members cannot join as dependants, though they can apply separately as visitors or under other categories.

Post-Study Work Visa: the wider net

A level 7 Graduate Diploma now qualifies if you also hold a bachelor's degree from New Zealand or abroad, whenever it was earned. You must have studied the Graduate Diploma full-time throughout, with no cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning, and you provide the bachelor's degree certificate and an official academic transcript. An overseas bachelor's degree no longer needs a separate International Qualification Assessment, although Immigration New Zealand can still verify authenticity. If you have held a PSWV before, this door is closed.

Deadlines and the new online system

Applications for both visas from November 16, 2026 go through the upgraded Immigration Online platform. Paper PSWV applications sent on or before November 15, 2026 are still processed under the old system; after that, it is online only. Application windows are three, six or twelve months after your student visa expires, depending on pathway and course. For the new visa, you must lodge within three months of your student visa expiring, so anyone whose student visa expired before August 16, 2026 has missed the window.

Before you plan, compare with our notes on how masters graduates can stay and the longer student visa queue. Once you finish, build a CV that shows your course and any placements with Build AI CV and keep a verified record of your skills on Talent Tabloid. Browse current jobs to see what employers ask for. Your KCSE and KNEC records may still be needed for some checks, and a Kenyan qualification does not automatically equal a New Zealand registration or licence.

Common mistakes graduates make

Waiting until graduation to check which visa fits the course level.
Missing the application window after the student visa expires.
Assuming family can join on the short-term visa.
Using an unlicensed helper. For New Zealand, use a licensed immigration adviser or someone lawfully exempt, and for Australia a migration agent on the MARA register.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for both visas?

No. You must not be eligible for a PSWV to use the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa, and each visa is a one-time grant.

Do English-language course graduates qualify?

No. English-language, foundation and bridging graduates are not eligible for the new visa.

Is the funds requirement fixed?

The new visa asks for proof of at least NZD 5,000 in available funds.

What if my student visa expired in July?

Anyone whose student visa expired before August 16, 2026 has missed the eligibility window for the new visa.

Will my overseas bachelor's degree need an assessment?

Not a separate International Qualification Assessment, but Immigration New Zealand can verify authenticity.

Key takeaways

Two routes open from November 16, 2026: a new short-term visa and a widened PSWV.
Course level, full-time study and timing decide eligibility.
Both visas are one-time grants, and applications are online only.
Map your eligibility before you finish, not after.

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