New Zealand Post-Study Work Visa for Indian Graduates

This page is for two readers: students in India choosing a New Zealand course with the work visa in mind, and Indian students already in New Zealand who are about to finish. Figures are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. The Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website was returning errors on 15 and 16 October 2026, so the INZ details below were read from archived captures of the official INZ pages; confirm them on the live INZ page before you pay. For tourist, student and residence routes, see our New Zealand visa guide for Indians.

Which New Zealand qualifications make you eligible?

INZ accepts two kinds of qualification for the Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV):

• A degree at level 7 or higher that you studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks.
• A non-degree qualification at level 7 or lower that is on INZ's eligible list. This path works only if you have a job related to what you studied.

The qualification must be a New Zealand one. A degree from an Indian university does not, on its own, make you eligible. The visa allows open work for up to 3 years, and the length depends on the qualification you completed. Open work means the visa is not tied to a job offer from one accredited employer, unlike the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

You can hold the PSWV only once. If you plan two courses back to back, decide early which one you will use for it.

How soon after your course must you apply?

The clock starts when the student visa for your qualification expires, not when results are declared.

• Standard rule: apply no later than 3 months after that student visa expires.
• Doctorate: no later than 6 months after it expires.
• Special case: 12 months, if you completed a first eligible qualification and then a shorter, higher qualification.

Missing this window is the costliest error in the whole process, because there is no fallback PSWV later. Put the expiry date of your student visa in your calendar the day it is issued.

What does the PSWV cost, and how fast does INZ decide?

The fees below are INZ's 'Rest of world' figures for an Indian citizen applying from outside New Zealand, taken from the immigration fee regulations as at 1 June 2026. INZ publishes them in New Zealand dollars only; no official rupee amount is published. The timeframes are INZ's headline figures for all applicants, not an India-specific number.

If you are still in New Zealand when you apply, check the onshore fee in INZ's fee tool, because the figures above are the offshore column.

What documents and funds does INZ ask for?

1. A copy of your passport.
2. One acceptable photo for an online application (two for a paper one). Online photos must be a JPG or JPEG of 512 KB to 3.14 MB, in portrait with a 3:4 aspect ratio.
3. Proof of your New Zealand qualification.
4. At least NZD 5,000 in total for living expenses, shown with documents such as bank statements in your name.
5. Police certificates if INZ requires them. For temporary visas, INZ asks for them once your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, which a degree plus a PSWV can easily reach.

Note the words "in your name". A parent's savings in an Indian bank account do not meet that wording. Move the money into an account held by you before you apply.

What changes for graduate diploma holders on 16 November 2026?

INZ's PSWV page states that from 16 November 2026 eligibility extends to applicants with an NZQCF level 7 graduate diploma studied full-time in New Zealand who also hold a bachelor's degree from New Zealand or overseas.

For Indians this is the most useful change of the year. The bachelor's half can be your Indian degree. Until that date, a level 7 graduate diploma is not a degree, so it qualifies only through the non-degree list with a related job. Check the date your application will be made, not the date your course ends.

Can your partner and children stay with you?

Once you hold a PSWV, your partner can apply for a work visa and your children can apply for student visas as domestic students.

During your studies the rules are tighter. A student visa holder cannot include family in the student application. Your partner can get a Partner of a Student Work Visa only if you study a level 9 or 10 qualification, or a level 7 or 8 qualification on the Green List or the PSWV-eligible list. The partner must also show at least NZD 4,200 for the stay. Both of you must be at least 18 and living together in a genuine and stable relationship.

What can the PSWV lead to?

The PSWV is a bridge, not residence. Indian graduates usually look at three next steps:

• Accredited Employer Work Visa: a full-time job of at least 30 hours a week with an accredited employer. A bachelor's degree or higher, in any field, can stand in for the 2 years of work experience.
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (NZD 6,450): points-tested, for people aged 55 or younger with a full-time job or offer from an accredited employer. You need 6 skilled resident points, and a New Zealand master's degree with 30 weeks of full-time study is worth 6 points on its own.
• Straight to Residence Visa (NZD 6,450): for a full-time Green List Tier 1 job with an accredited employer.

Mistakes to avoid

• Letting the 3-month window close while waiting for a job offer. The PSWV does not need one if you hold a level 7+ degree.
• Showing funds in someone else's account.
• Paying an agent for a job offer. INZ says employers or agents cannot charge you for a job and warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia.
• Assuming a later, higher course will give you a second PSWV.

If you are planning a visit home or a family trip while your visa is processed, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the New Zealand Post-Study Work Visa from India?

The NZD 1,670 fee published for the PSWV is INZ's 'Rest of world' figure for an Indian applying from outside New Zealand, so offshore applications are provided for. You must still apply no later than 3 months after the student visa for your qualification expires.

Do I need a job offer for the New Zealand PSWV?

Not if you hold a degree at level 7 or higher studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks. A job related to your study is needed only if you qualify through a non-degree qualification on INZ's eligible list.

Is the New Zealand PSWV a path to permanent residence?

Not directly. It gives open work for up to 3 years. Residence normally comes later through the Skilled Migrant Category or the Straight to Residence Visa, both of which need a full-time job with an accredited employer.

How many Indian student visa applications does New Zealand decline?

INZ data for calendar year 2025 shows 39% of offshore student visa applications from Indian nationals were declined (2,838 of 7,235 decided). That figure measures student visa decisions, not Post-Study Work Visa decisions, and is not a prediction for any one applicant.