New Zealand will grant working visas for international students who have completed post-graduate and move on immediately for a Master’s degree, with no requirements regarding the length of the Master’s program.
The New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on Nov. 19 announced a new policy for international students to be granted Post Study Work (PSW) visas. The policy would be applicable to those who complete their post-graduate programs in 30 weeks and move on for a Master’s program immediately after, the PIE News reported.
The updated policy stated that students may request for PSW visas no matter the length of their Master’s program, instead of the usual length requirement of at least 30 weeks. Students must submit requests for the visas within 12 months after their student visas expire, Immigration NZ said.
Vijeta Kanwar, Director of Operations of New Zealand Gateway, said the change is to attract students and experts in fields with high demands.
A PSW visa lasts for 12-36 months, and each applicant may only file for it once, within 3-6 months after their student visas expire.
As several countries, including Australia, Canada and the U.K., are tightening international student policies, New Zealand has become more popular as a destination for studying abroad. Over 69,000 international students studied in the country last year, a 67% increase from 2022.
There were around 1,700 Vietnamese students studying in the country last year, a 10% increase from 2022.
