Study-to-Work qualification levels and minimum New Zealand study periods tightened

Policy effect

From April 2, 2012, applicants under the Graduate Work Experience and Graduate Job Search work-visa instructions became subject to the qualification requirements in WD1.10. The preceding November 2011 instructions required successful completion in New Zealand of a qualification qualifying for Skilled Migrant Category points but did not contain these additional level-and-duration thresholds. WD1.10 retained the points-qualifying New Zealand qualification requirement and added three alternatives: a level 7 or higher qualification studied in New Zealand for at least one academic year; a two-year level 4–6 qualification studied in New Zealand for at least two academic years; or two level 4–6 qualifications each requiring at least one academic year of study in New Zealand, with the second at a higher level and two years of New Zealand study in total. An academic year meant at least two semesters over at least eight months of study. WD1.10(c) exempted qualifying New Zealand qualifications gained before April 2, 2012 and included a study-commencement exemption: the archived April text says the programme had commenced “on 1 April 2012”, while the July successor and December official explanation say “on or before 1 April 2012”. This record preserves that source wording discrepancy and does not resolve how the earlier wording was administered. Other requirements of the respective work-visa routes continued to apply.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: From April 2, 2012, applicants under the Graduate Work Experience and Graduate Job Search work-visa instructions became subject to the qualification requirements in WD1.10.; The preceding November 2011 instructions required successful completion in New Zealand of a qualification qualifying for Skilled Migrant Category points but did not contain these additional level-and-duration thresholds.; WD1.10 retained the points-qualifying New Zealand qualification requirement and added three alternatives: a level 7 or higher qualification studied in New Zealand for at least one academic year; a two-year level 4–6 qualification studied in New Zealand for at least two academic years; or two level 4–6 qualifications each requiring at least one academic year of study in New Zealand, with the second at a higher level and two years of New Zealand study in total.; An academic year meant at least two…

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (02/04/2012) WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (02/04/2012) To be eligible for a work visa under these instructions, applicants must: meet the qualification requirements as set out in WD1.10 ; and hold an offer of full-time employment relevant to their course or qualification (see WD1.5); and if they were an New Zealand Aid Programme-supported student, meet requirements set out at U11.1(d) . A work visa may be granted for a maximum of 2 years to obtain practical work experience suitable to the applicant's course or qualification, unless (c) below applies. A work visa may be granted for a maximum period of 3 years if: the applicant is working towards membership or registration with a New Zealand professional association which requires more than two years of practical work experience; and such membership or registration is a requirement for the person to fully perform their professional duties; and the applicant provides evidence the employment is considered relevant practical experience by the professional association, including but not limited to documentation from the professional association, or from the employer, stating how the employment meets the requirements set by the professional association; and the applicant has completed a New Zealand qualification which meets the requirements for registration or membership of the professional association. To be granted a work visa under these instructions, applicants must: apply no later than 3 months after the end date of their student visa for that course or qualification or, if the qualification was a Doctoral Degree, no later than 6 months after the end date of their student visa; or hold a 'graduate job search work visa’ (see WD2 ). Note: A person must have successfully completed the qualification stated as a condition on their student visa in order to meet the requirements of WD1(d)i. Applicants must provide: a completed work application form and fee; and evidence of an offer of full-time employment relevant to their course or qualification (see WD1.5); and evidence that they meet the requirements in WD1(a); and an Employer Supplementary Form Work Visa Application (INZ 1113) completed by their employer. Applicants must also provide: evidence that the work visa application is being made no later than 3 months after the end date of their student visa for that course or qualification; or evidence that they hold a 'graduate job search work visa’ (see WD2). A work visa will only be granted where an immigration officer is satisfied that the offer of full-time employment is one which will provide practical experience relevant to the applicant's course or qualification. Any work visas granted under these instructions may be subject to any or all of the conditions as listed at W2.25 . Effective 02/04/2012 PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS WD1.5 Relevance of qualification(s) to employment (to 25/11/2018) WD1.10 Qualification requirements (to 25/11/2018) WD1 Post-study … visa – employer assisted (07/12/2015) WD1 Post-study work visa – employer assisted (24/03/2014) WD1 Post-study work visa – employer assisted (02/12/2013) WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (26/11/2012) WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (07/11/2011) WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (25/07/2011) WD1 Work on completion of a course of study, with an offer of employment (07/02/2011) WD1 Work on completion of a course of study, with an offer of employment (29/11/2010) WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (07/11/2011) WD1 Graduate Work Experience Visa (25/07/2011) WD1 Work on completion of a course of study, with an offer of employment (07/02/2011) WD1 Work on completion of a course of study, with an offer of employment (29/11/2010) WD2 Graduate job search work visa (02/04/2012) WD2 Graduate job search work visa (02/04/2012) People may be granted a work visa for a maximum of 12 months who: meet the qualification requirements as set out at WD1.10 ; and apply no later than 3 months after the end date of their student visa for that course or qualification or, if the qualification was a Doctoral Degree, no later than 6 months after the end date of their student visa; and have met requirements set out in U11.1(d) if their studies have been supported under the New Zealand Aid Programme. Note: A person must have successfully completed the qualification stated as a condition on their student visa in order to meet the requirements of WD2(a)ii. To be eligible for a work visa, applicants must not previously have been granted a visa under these instructions unless they have undertaken and completed a second higher New Zealand qualification at bachelor degree or post-graduate degree level. Evidence of an offer of employment is not required. Applicants must provide: a completed work visa application form and fee; and evidence that they have completed a qualification in New Zealand that would qualify for points under Skilled Migrant Category (see SM14 ); and evidence that they have a minimum of $4,200 in funds available to maintain themselves during their 12 month stay in New Zealand (travellers' cheques or bank documents in the applicant's name are acceptable); and evidence that the work visa application is being made no later than 3 months after the end date of their student visa for that qualification. Any work visas granted under these instructions may be subject to conditions that allow work for any employer. Effective 02/04/2012 PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS WD2 Lodging an application under Post-Study work visa instructions (07/09/2022) WD2 Lodging an application under Post-Study work visa instructions (31/07/2022) WD2 Lodging an application under Post-Study work visa instructions (26/11/2018) WD2 Post-study work visa – open (to 25/11/2018) WD2 Post-study work visa – open (07/12/2015) WD2 Post-study work visa – open (06/07/2015) WD2 Post-study work visa – open (02/12/2013) WD2 Graduate job search work visa (26/11/2012) WD2 Graduate job search work visa (07/1 …

Review method

Source-based draft with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2012

• 2012-05-16Sibling and Adult Child Category closed to new applications
• 2012-07-30Parent residence applications moved to a two-tier expression-of-interest selection system