Post-study work visa
You may be eligible for a post-study work visa when you complete a University of Auckland degree.
If you have acceptable qualifications that you completed in New Zealand, you can apply for a visa to work here. Depending on your qualification and where you studied, you can work for for between 1 and 3 years, and do almost any work.
What is a acceptable qualification?
Changes are being made to the Post-study work visa settings. If you held, or had applied for, your student visa before 11 May 2022, this information applies to you. If you applied for your student visa after 11 May 2022, your qualification may not be acceptable under the new rules. More information will be available about acceptable qualifications under the new rules later in 2022.
In addition you have to study in New Zealand for a minimum of 30 weeks in the relevant programme.
How would the post-study work visa requirement of full-time study for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand be calculated?
The 30 weeks of full-time study on a student visa in New Zealand calculation includes study breaks and examination periods. It excludes holiday periods such as inter-semester and mid-semester breaks.
How long can you work on a Post-study work visa?
You can get a Post-study work visa for 1, 2 or 3 years depending on your qualifications, if you are working towards occupational registration, and the dates that you held (or had applied) for your student visa.
When can I apply for a post-study work visa?
Students studying at sub-doctoral level
If you have completed all components of your programme in an acceptable qualification and you are eligible to graduate (i.e. your grades are confirmed and your Student Services Online account shows “Eligible to graduate”) you can commence the visa application process. You will need to request an “Eligibility to graduate” letter from the University’s Records office:
How to request your certified digital transcript or official letter
Doctoral candidates
Once your thesis has been accepted for examination, you can download a support letter from Wahapū. To generate the letter, navigate to your Wahapū Thesis page and go to Examinations > Thesis Submission > Thesis Submission Letter. With this letter you can commence the visa application process for your Post Study Work Visa.