International graduates who finish a Level 7 graduate diploma in New Zealand will be able to apply for a post-study work visa from Monday 16 November 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) says.
Until now, a graduate diploma on its own has not been enough for most students to get the visa. INZ says the change is meant "to better align graduate pathways with New Zealand's skills needs".
The visa will last for as long as the student spent studying the graduate diploma in New Zealand, up to a maximum of one year.
Who qualifies?
INZ says from 16 November, graduates will be eligible if they:
- have completed a graduate diploma at NZQCF Level 7
- studied full-time in New Zealand for the full duration of the qualification
- were enrolled in that qualification for the full duration, which means cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning does not count
- hold a bachelor's degree, completed in New Zealand or overseas
There is no time limit on when the bachelor's degree was awarded, INZ says. A degree finished ten years ago overseas can count.
What evidence is needed?
Along with proof of the graduate diploma, INZ says applicants will need:
- a copy of their bachelor's degree certificate, showing the type of qualification and the institution that awarded it
- an official academic transcript
An International Qualification Assessment is not required for overseas bachelor's degrees. INZ says it can still check that a qualification is genuine for immigration purposes.
Why the full-duration rule matters
The requirement to be enrolled for the full length of the diploma is where some students could be caught out. If part of your graduate diploma was credited from earlier study, or you were given recognition of prior learning, INZ says the qualification is not eligible.
If you are about to start a graduate diploma, or are choosing between programmes, it is worth asking your provider whether any credit transfer will be applied to your enrolment.
Only one post-study work visa
INZ says a person can only be granted one post-study work visa. Anyone who has held one in the past is not eligible for another, even if their new study is at the same or a higher level.
That means a graduate who already used a post-study work visa after a bachelor's degree cannot get a second one by completing a graduate diploma.
Partners and children
People on a post-study work visa can support their partners and dependent children for visitor, work or dependent child student visas, as long as the requirements are met, INZ says.
How this compares with other qualifications
INZ also set out the current rules for higher qualifications in the same announcement:
- An eligible Postgraduate Diploma (Level 8) may lead to a one-year post-study work visa.
- An eligible Master's degree (Level 9) may lead to a three-year post-study work visa.
For both, applicants must complete at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the qualification the visa is based on. For a Master's, INZ says the 30 weeks must be studied while enrolled in the Master's programme itself.
If a student finishes a Postgraduate Diploma and moves straight into a Master's using credits from the diploma, they may still be eligible for a one-year visa based on the Postgraduate Diploma. The Master's degree is assessed separately, and INZ says transferred credits, cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning do not count towards it.
Open work conditions, and graduates without a bachelor's degree
INZ says graduate diploma holders who also hold a bachelor's degree may be granted a visa with open work conditions, meaning they are not tied to one employer.
Graduates without a bachelor's degree may still qualify if their graduate diploma is on INZ's List of qualifications eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa. In that case, INZ says, they must work in the occupation specified on that list for the length of the visa.
If the graduate diploma holder has no bachelor's degree and the diploma is not on the list, they are not eligible for a post-study work visa. INZ says they can apply for the six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa instead.
From 16 November, INZ says post-study work visa applications are made through enhanced Immigration Online.
Before you apply
The change applies from 16 November. Students finishing a graduate diploma this year should check the exact dates of their enrolment, whether they studied full-time for the whole programme, and whether they have their bachelor's certificate and transcript ready. INZ's post-study work visa page has the full requirements, and licensed immigration advisers can help with individual cases.
