New Zealand’s 2024 Work Visa Policy for Intl. Students

New Zealand has relaxed its immigration policies to make it easier for partners of international students to obtain work visas. Effective June 21, 2024, partners of students enrolled in designated higher education programs will be eligible for open work visas. This policy change aims to attract more international students, especially in fields with skill shortages such as nursing and engineering.

The new policy updates the Green List to include key Bachelor’s and Bachelor Honours degrees that lead to registration in specific professions, rather than just New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) qualifications. This adjustment is intended to better align the visa system with the skills needed in the country.

Polly Vowels, Manager of Immigration (Skills and Residence) Policy at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), noted that previous policy settings did not fully achieve their goals. The updated policy now allows international students in Green List fields to support their partners’ applications for Partner of a Student Work Visas. Vowels highlighted that these changes are expected to increase the number of international students coming to New Zealand and help address skill shortages in crucial sectors.

Celia Coombes, Acting Director of Visa-Students at Immigration New Zealand, provided details on the new regulations. Partners of eligible students will receive open work visas, which allow them to work for any employer in New Zealand without needing a job offer at the time of application. Additionally, Coombes clarified that dependent children of student visa holders cannot attend tertiary education as domestic students and will be classified as international students, thereby required to pay international fees. She also mentioned that school enrollments might vary, and dependent students will need to present proof of their visa status and the parent’s immigration status to determine eligibility for domestic fees and enrollment.