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Vietnamese students in New Zealand: could a new graduate visa help you stay and work?

Visa guide · 2026-09-23 · 3 min read

Are you studying in New Zealand, or thinking about it? Good news. From 16 November 2026, two visa pathways help graduates work after their studies. One is new. One is wider than before. This guide explains both in simple words.

Why there is a change

Many graduates of diploma and certificate courses could not find a work visa that matched their study level. These changes try to fix that. Applications will also move to the improved Immigration Online system of Immigration New Zealand.

Visa 1: the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa

This is a new visa. It gives up to six months of open work rights. Open work rights means you can work for almost any employer. You can use the time to look for a job, learn how work is done in New Zealand and maybe move to an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). This is a visa for people whose employer is approved by Immigration New Zealand to hire workers from overseas.

To apply, you need:

• A New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) level 5-7 qualification.
• At least 24 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand.
• Proof of at least NZD 5,000 in available funds.
• No eligibility for a Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV), and no earlier grant of either visa.
• Medical and chest X-ray clearance, if needed for your length of stay.

Some graduates cannot apply. These are graduates of English-language, foundation and bridging courses. Visa holders cannot own a business. Family members cannot come as dependants, but they may apply separately as visitors or under other categories.

Be careful with the date. You must apply within three months of your student visa expiring. If your student visa ended before 16 August 2026, the time has already passed. This visa can be granted only once.

Visa 2: the Post-Study Work Visa for Graduate Diploma holders

The PSWV already exists. Now more people can use it. Graduates of an NZQCF level 7 Graduate Diploma can apply if they also have a bachelor's degree. The degree can be from New Zealand or from another country, and it can be from any time.

You must have studied the full Graduate Diploma full time. You need your real bachelor's degree certificate and an official academic transcript. A good change: an overseas bachelor's degree does not need a separate International Qualification Assessment. Immigration New Zealand can still check that it is real.

The visa length depends on how long you studied, up to one year. You can have it only once. Unlike the short-term visa, a PSWV holder can bring a partner and dependent children on their own visas.

New online rules

From 16 November 2026, all applications for both visas must be made online. Paper PSWV applications sent on or before 15 November 2026 will still be processed the old way.

What to prepare in Vietnam

1. Ask your school how your course is classified and whether it is full time.
2. Prepare certified English translations of Vietnamese certificates, if they are needed.
3. If a police certificate is requested, Vietnamese citizens usually need the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2).
4. Keep proof of your funds ready.

Please check the official New Zealand visa pages for the latest rules. Deal only with licensed organisations, and never pay anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a visa.

The key message

Timing matters most. Windows are strict, and both visas are single-use. Plan early, while you are still studying, and you will be less likely to miss a deadline.

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