NZ Short-term Graduate Work Visa: Eligibility, Conditions and How to Use Your 6 Months

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NZ Short-term Graduate Work Visa: Eligibility, Conditions and How to Use Your 6 Months

What is the Short-term Graduate Work Visa?

The Short-term Graduate Work Visa is a New Zealand visa that gives international graduates of NZQCF Level 5, 6 and 7 qualifications 6 months of open work rights. Its single purpose: bridge the gap between finishing study and securing an Accredited Employer Work Visa with an accredited New Zealand employer.

It is a one-off product. You can only ever be granted one Short-term Graduate Work Visa in your lifetime, and you cannot hold both this and a Post Study Work Visa. It is open work, which means you can work for any employer in any role under a formal employment agreement, but you cannot run a business.

The visa starts taking applications from 16 November 2026.

Immigration rules change often. Always confirm the latest detail on immigration.govt.nz before you apply. This guide is informational, not legal advice.

Who is it built for?

This visa fills a real gap. Until now, sub-degree graduates (Level 5, 6 and many Level 7 non-degree qualifications) had no open work visa at all. The only way to stay in New Zealand after study was to find an accredited employer willing to sponsor an AEWV before the student visa expired, which is hard to do in 1 to 3 months.

The Short-term Graduate Work Visa is built for graduates of qualifications like:

  • NZ Diplomas at Level 5 and 6 in IT, business, hospitality, automotive engineering, applied science, early childhood education.
  • NZ Diplomas in Cookery and Patisserie (Level 5) that are not on the Green List and so do not qualify for the Post Study Work Visa.
  • Level 7 non-degree qualifications like the Graduate Diploma in Business when the holder does not also hold an overseas Bachelor's degree.

If you completed a Bachelor's degree or higher in New Zealand, the Post Study Work Visa (up to 3 years) is your route, not this one.

If you completed a Level 7 Graduate Diploma in New Zealand and you hold a Bachelor's degree from anywhere in the world, see our companion guide: Post Study Work Visa for Graduate Diploma Holders.

Eligibility checklist

You can apply if all of the following are true:

  1. You hold an NZQCF Level 5, 6 or 7 qualification (most NZ diplomas, advanced diplomas, and many vocational and applied certificates and diplomas).
  2. You studied that qualification full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand.
  3. The qualification is not an English language, foundation, or bridging programme.
  4. The qualification does not already qualify you for the Post Study Work Visa.
  5. You have NZD 5,000 in available funds, evidenced by bank statements.
  6. You provide a valid medical certificate and chest X-ray if required for the intended length of stay.
  7. You have not previously been granted a Short-term Graduate Work Visa or a Post Study Work Visa.
  8. If you studied under the New Zealand Scholarship Programme, you hold written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Education New Zealand to apply.
  9. You apply within 3 months of your current student visa expiring.

If you cannot tick every box, talk to an adviser before paying for fresh medicals or test scores. Some near-misses (a 22-week course, a foundation programme, a partly online study load) have workable bridges and some do not.

What you can and cannot do on the visa

You can You cannot
Work for any employer under a formal employment agreement or contract for services Operate or own a business (no self-employment)
Move between employers during the 6 months Sponsor your partner for a partner-of-a-worker work visa
Move onto an AEWV with an accredited employer before the 6 months end Sponsor your dependent children for a dependent child student visa
Take a further student visa to study a Bachelor's or higher qualification that qualifies for Post Study Work Visa Apply for a second Short-term Graduate Work Visa

The "no partner and no dependent child sponsorship" rule is the single biggest limitation compared with the Post Study Work Visa. If you are in New Zealand with a partner or kids who currently sit on your student visa, plan their visa moves before you lodge your own.

Evidence you need to apply

Standard supporting documents:

  • Passport.
  • Qualification certificate (Level 5, 6 or 7).
  • Official academic transcript.
  • Bank statements showing NZD 5,000 in available funds.
  • Medical and chest X-ray as required.
  • Police certificates from any country where you have lived for 5 or more years since age 17.
  • If you studied under the New Zealand Scholarship Programme, written approval from MFAT or Education New Zealand.

Lodge the application within 3 months of your student visa expiring. Late lodgement is not a workable plan: Immigration NZ does not have discretion to extend that window after expiry.

How to use the 6 months: a working playbook

Six months is short. Treat it as a job search project, not a holiday. Here is the realistic month-by-month sequence:

Month 1. Activate the visa on arrival or grant. Build a New Zealand-formatted CV (2 pages, no photo, no date of birth, no marital status). Post to Seek and Trade Me Jobs. Register with sector recruiters. Line up referees from your NZ tutors, internship hosts and any part-time NZ employers. Open an IRD number if you do not have one.

Months 2 to 3. Apply for skilled roles that match your qualification. Prioritise accredited employers heavily: only accredited employers can sponsor an AEWV, and unaccredited employers cannot get you onto an AEWV no matter how good the offer is. The public list of accredited employers is published on the Immigration NZ website.

Month 4. Sign an employment agreement. Help your employer start the AEWV job check (the employer-side step where Immigration NZ confirms the role meets pay, advertising and accreditation rules). Plan time for any AEWV English language test if your role is at ANZSCO skill 3 (see our 1 June 2026 AEWV English update).

Month 5. Lodge the AEWV migrant application as soon as the job check is approved. Standard Immigration NZ targets sit around 4 to 8 weeks for the migrant application for most ANZSCO codes.

Month 6. Transition onto the AEWV before the Short-term Graduate Work Visa expires.

The single biggest risk is timing. Falling out of status at the end of month 6 means leaving New Zealand and re-entering only when you have an AEWV approval in principle. Build a 6 to 10 week buffer between job offer and AEWV lodgement, and start the job hunt on day 1.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

1. Targeting unaccredited employers. A great job offer from an employer who is not accredited cannot become an AEWV. Filter every application by accreditation status before you apply.

2. Underestimating the AEWV English test for skill 3 roles. From 1 June 2026, AEWV applicants in ANZSCO skill 3 roles need a recent IELTS (4.0 overall), PTE Academic (29) or equivalent. Trades and technician graduates are most affected. Book a test early. Detail: NZ Immigration Update 1 June 2026.

3. Lodging too close to visa expiry. AEWV processing can stretch beyond 8 weeks for complex cases. Aim to lodge by the start of month 5, not month 6.

4. Missing the 3-month application window after student visa expiry. Apply for the Short-term Graduate Work Visa before your student visa expires if you can. Do not push it into the grace period.

5. Trying to stack the wrong way. You cannot use both a Short-term Graduate Work Visa and a Post Study Work Visa. Make sure you apply for the one your qualification actually qualifies for.

After your 6 months: what next?

The Short-term Graduate Work Visa is a launch pad, not a destination. The three main directions:

  • AEWV with an accredited employer. The default goal. Once granted, the AEWV can run for up to 3 years and is itself a stepping stone to skilled residence via the Skilled Migrant Category or a Green List pathway.
  • Further study at Bachelor's or higher. A Short-term Graduate Work Visa holder can move onto a further student visa for a NZ Bachelor's degree or higher qualification that itself qualifies for the Post Study Work Visa. This is a real pathway: Level 5 or 6 Diploma plus 6 month Short-term Graduate Work Visa plus Bachelor's degree plus Post Study Work Visa.
  • Leave and re-enter on a different visa. Less common, but possible if you secure an offer from outside New Zealand and apply for an AEWV from your home country.

You cannot apply for a second Short-term Graduate Work Visa, and you cannot apply for a Post Study Work Visa once you have held a Short-term Graduate Work Visa.

Frequently asked questions

1. When can I apply for the Short-term Graduate Work Visa?

Applications open from 16 November 2026. Lodge within 3 months of your student visa expiring.

2. Can I sponsor my spouse on this visa?

No. The Short-term Graduate Work Visa does not allow you to sponsor a partner for a work visa or sponsor dependent children for a dependent child student visa.

3. Can I run my own business or work as a freelancer on this visa?

No. Employment must be under a formal employment agreement or contract for services. Business ownership and self-employment are not allowed.

4. How much money do I need to show?

NZD 5,000 in available funds, evidenced by recent bank statements.

5. Do I need to take an English test?

For the Short-term Graduate Work Visa itself, there is no separate English test requirement. However, the AEWV you transition into may require English evidence if the role is at ANZSCO skill 3 or higher in skill level (skill levels 4 and 5 already require it, and skill 3 joins from 1 June 2026). Plan a test before you lodge the AEWV.

6. Can I switch employers during the 6 months?

Yes. The visa is open. You can change employers freely. The only constraint is the AEWV transition: when you do apply for the AEWV, the employer at that point must be accredited.

7. Can my Level 5 Diploma in Cookery qualify?

If the qualification was full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand and is not on the Green List (Green List Level 5 Cookery qualifications still go via Post Study Work Visa), yes, the Short-term Graduate Work Visa is the correct route.

8. I already held a Post Study Work Visa. Can I now apply for a Short-term Graduate Work Visa?

No. If you have previously been granted a Post Study Work Visa you cannot be granted a Short-term Graduate Work Visa, and vice versa.

9. What happens if my AEWV is not granted before my 6 months end?

You must leave New Zealand at the end of the 6 months. If your AEWV is still being processed when you depart, Immigration NZ can grant it offshore and you can re-enter on the AEWV once approved.

10. Where do I find the official rules?

Always confirm directly on Immigration NZ:

Related guides

Sources

  • Immigration New Zealand, New and updated post-study work visa options: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/new-and-updated-post-study-work-visa-options/
  • Immigration New Zealand, Accredited Employer Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/accredited-employer-work-visa
  • Immigration New Zealand, Post Study Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/post-study-work-visa
  • Immigration Operational Manual, Appendix 13 (Green List occupations): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/

Talk to us

If you are weighing the Short-term Graduate Work Visa against further study, or you want help mapping a credible AEWV transition inside the 6 months, Book a Paid Consultation with Kiwi Fern Immigration Services. We have been guiding international graduates through the NZ post-study pathway for 20+ years.