New Zealand adjusts the Post Study Work visa to make it more immigrant-friendly
New Zealand has announced new options for international students, while nations like Australia, the UK, and Canada are tightening their immigration laws and regulations around study visas.
New Zealand has announced new options for international students, while nations like Australia, the UK, and Canada are tightening their immigration laws and regulations around study visas.The government of New Zealand recently announced that international students can now apply for a Post studies Work (PSW) visa if they complete 30 weeks of postgraduate diploma studies and then promptly transfer to a Master's program.“Students who studied a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) for 30 weeks and immediately progressed to a Master’s degree, but were not enrolled in the Masters for 30 weeks, are now eligible to apply for a Post Study Work visa (PSWV) based on their PGDip enrolment. This will give students more flexibility in their course of study and ensure they can remain eligible to work following their qualification,” the official notice stated.Similarly, a student will have 12 months from the end of their student visa for the initial qualification to apply for a PSW visa if they have completed a qualification that qualifies for a PSW visa and then immediately complete a higher-level qualification (which makes them ineligible for a PSW visa, including because they did not study for the minimum duration).However, students should be aware that they must finish at least 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand while enrolled in the Master's program itself if they wish to obtain a three-year PSW visa. Applicants must have an appropriate New Zealand degree, have studied full-time in New Zealand for the necessary minimum amount of time, and apply within the allotted time limit in order to be eligible for a PSW visa.To bring the list of credentials qualifying for a PSWV into line with the Green List, a few more revisions have also been noted. PSWV applicants who qualify to teach in secondary school no longer require a Bachelor’s degree specialising in Science, Mathematics, Technology or Pacific Languages. A PSWV can also be obtained to serve as a primary or intermediate school teacher by applicants who have earned graduate degrees and fulfill the standards for registration set forth by the Teaching Council. Additionally, mechanical engineering technicians are now eligible for a PSWV because to the addition of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with a mechanical engineering strand.
