New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa: NZ's New 6-Month Pathway
The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is a New Zealand visa opening 16 November 2026 for graduates with NZQCF Level 5 to 7 qualifications who don't qualify for the Post-Study Work Visa. It grants six months of open work rights, cannot be extended, and requires application within three months of the student visa expiring.
New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens on 16th Nov. 2026
If you studied in New Zealand and your qualification doesn't tick the boxes for the Post-Study Work Visa, you've likely spent time wondering what happens next. From 16 November 2026, there's an answer. Immigration New Zealand is opening applications for the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa, a new six-month, open work visa built specifically for graduates who sit outside the existing post-study framework.
This isn't a replacement for the Post-Study Work Visa. It's a separate, narrower pathway aimed at a specific gap: graduates with shorter or lower-level qualifications who still deserve a real shot at finding work in New Zealand before they have to leave.
Here's what the visa actually covers, who qualifies, and how to think about your next move.
What Is the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa?
The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa gives eligible international graduates up to six months of open work rights in New Zealand. "Open" means you're not tied to a single employer or role, so you can apply broadly, take up part-time or full-time work, and use the time to find a job that could lead somewhere more permanent.
It's designed as a bridge, not a destination. The intent is straightforward: give graduates a defined window to secure employment and, where they qualify, move onto an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
Why Immigration New Zealand Created It
Under the current settings, graduates with certain New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Level 5 to 7 qualifications, think diplomas and shorter degree-level programmes, often don't meet the criteria for the standard Post-Study Work Visa. That's left a group of capable graduates with limited options once their student visa runs out. The new visa closes that gap without changing the eligibility rules for the existing Post-Study Work Visa.
Who Qualifies for the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa
Eligibility is specific, and it's worth checking each point carefully before you apply.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify, your study must meet all of the following:
A qualification at NZQCF Level 5, 6, or 7
Studied full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand
Not an English-language, foundation, or bridging qualification
Not already sufficient to qualify you for a Post-Study Work Visa
Other Core Requirements
Beyond your qualification, you'll also need to meet these conditions:
At least NZD $5,000 in available funds to support yourself
A valid medical certificate, and a chest X-ray if your intended stay requires one
No prior grant of a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa or Post-Study Work Visa
Written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Education New Zealand, if your study was funded under the New Zealand Scholarship Programme
When to Apply
You must apply within three months of your student visa expiring. Miss that window and the option closes. If your student visa expired before 16 August 2026, you won't be eligible when applications open, since you'd already be outside the three-month range by launch day.
What the Visa Does Not Allow
It's just as important to understand the limits.
The visa lasts six months and cannot be extended
It's granted once per person, for life
Partners and children cannot be included on your application; they would need to apply for their own visitor visa separately
Business ownership is not permitted while on this visa
Any work must be under a genuine employment agreement or contract for services with an employer
Short-Term Graduate Work Visa vs. Post-Study Work Visa
The two visas serve different graduates. The Post-Study Work Visa generally applies to higher-level or longer qualifications and offers a longer period of open work rights. The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa fills the space below that, covering NZQCF Level 5 to 7 qualifications that don't meet the Post-Study Work Visa threshold.
If you're unsure which category your qualification falls into, that's the first thing to confirm, since it determines your entire pathway forward.
Originally published at https://iclegal.co.nz.
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