Study in New Zealand, then build your pathway to residency.
A complete, current guide for Bangladeshi students — student visa fees and work rights, the Post-Study Work Visa, the new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa, and the 2026 Skilled Migrant Category reform — from Uniallies Immigration & Education Services.
New Zealand Snapshot
World-class education with a real route to residency
New Zealand pairs internationally recognised qualifications with some of the most generous post-study work rights in the world, and 2026 reforms are making the study-to-residency pathway shorter for many graduates.
NZQA-recognised qualifications
Institutions are quality-assured by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, so your degree is globally respected from graduation day.
Strong post-study work rights
Level 7+ graduates can access up to 3 years of open work rights via the Post-Study Work Visa — one of the longest stay-back periods among major study destinations.
A faster 2026 residency route
From August 2026, new Skilled Migrant Category pathways and stronger recognition for NZ-earned qualifications are expected to shorten the work-experience requirement for many applicants.
From offer letter to permanent residency
Choose your course & institution
Confirm NZQA accreditation and check which qualification level (4–6, 7 Grad Diploma, or 7+ Bachelor's/Master's) best supports your post-study work goals.
Meet eligibility & get your Offer of Place
Academic transcripts, English test score (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL) and proof of funds — then apply directly to your chosen institution.
Apply for your student visa
Lodge online via Immigration New Zealand with your Offer of Place, financial evidence, medicals and insurance. Budget from NZD $850, plus a NZD $100 visitor levy — Immigration New Zealand decides 80% of applications within 9.5 weeks.
Study & work part-time
Work up to 25 hours a week in term time and full-time during scheduled holidays, under the expanded work-rights settings.
Apply for your Post-Study Work Visa
Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring. Duration depends on your qualification level — up to 3 years for Level 7+ degrees.
Build skilled work experience
Work in a skilled role at or above the relevant wage threshold to accumulate the experience needed for the Skilled Migrant Category.
Submit your SMC EOI & apply for residence
Meet the points/pathway requirements, receive an invitation to apply (ITA), and lodge your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application.
Post-study work rights & tuition, visualised
Your qualification level is the single biggest lever on how long you can stay and work after graduating — see the gap below.
†From 16 Nov 2026, only if you also hold a bachelor's degree; otherwise the 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa applies instead.
Doctoral study is priced close to domestic student rates for most nationalities, including Bangladesh — often the most cost-efficient qualification per year of stay-back.
Indicative split only — your actual tuition varies by institution and programme; living-cost proof is fixed by INZ at NZD $20,000/year.
What your qualification level unlocks after graduation
Certificate & Diploma (Level 4–6)
Lower-cost, faster qualifications, but post-study work rights are the most restricted tier — only qualifications on Immigration New Zealand's approved list are eligible at all.
- Must be studied full-time in New Zealand for the full duration required.
- Your job after graduating must directly relate to what you studied.
- From 16 Nov 2026, those who don't qualify for a PSWV may access the 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa instead.
Level 7 Graduate Diploma
A one-year qualification that has historically had limited post-study work rights on its own — but this changes from 16 November 2026 for graduates who also hold a bachelor's degree.
- From 16 Nov 2026: qualifies for a PSWV of up to 1 year if you also hold a bachelor's degree (NZ or overseas).
- Must be studied full-time for the entire programme — cross-crediting or recognition of prior learning is not accepted.
- Without a bachelor's degree, the diploma must appear on the Green List (Appendix 13) for restricted-occupation PSWV eligibility, or fall back to the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa.
Bachelor's, Master's & Doctoral (Level 7+)
The clearest, most flexible route: full open work rights for up to 3 years, plus the strongest recognition under the 2026 Skilled Migrant Category reform.
- Work any job, for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand during your PSWV.
- Requires at least 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand.
- From August 2026, NZ-earned qualifications receive stronger SMC points recognition than equivalent overseas qualifications.
Financial guidelines & sponsor categories
Immigration New Zealand checks funds strictly — plan around the current thresholds before you apply.
Self-sponsorship
Personal or family savings shown through 6 months of bank statements and proof of income.
Family sponsorship
A signed sponsorship letter plus the sponsor's own bank statements, pay slips and income tax returns.
Scholarships
Fully or partially funded places through New Zealand Scholarships or individual institution awards, reducing your required proof of funds.
Skilled Migrant Category: two new residence pathways
From 24 August 2026, Immigration New Zealand is adding two new routes to residence alongside the existing points-based pathway — a major shift for graduates already working in New Zealand.
Points-based pathway (current)
Needs 6 skilled-resident points from income, qualifications or occupational registration, plus your job meeting the relevant wage threshold (NZD $35–$52.50+/hour depending on skill level).
Skilled Work Experience pathway (new)
- ANZSCO skill level 1–3 roles
- 5 years' directly relevant work experience
- Including 2 years in New Zealand at 1.1× median wage
Trades & Technician pathway (new)
- Level 4+ qualification
- 4 years' post-qualification skilled work experience
- Including 18 months in New Zealand at or above median wage
Reported alongside these changes: New Zealand-required work experience is expected to fall from up to 3 years to a maximum of 2 years for most pathways, and a 5-month grace period will apply if your work visa is granted just before a median-wage increase. Confirm final settings on Immigration New Zealand's website closer to the 24 August 2026 implementation date, as details are still being finalised.
Your PR roadmap after finishing your degree
Here is the actual sequence Immigration New Zealand uses to move a graduate from student visa to permanent residency — confirmed directly against official INZ requirements.
Apply for your Post-Study Work Visa within 3 months
Apply no later than 3 months after your student visa expires (6 months if your qualification is a Doctoral degree). You need at least NZD $5,000 for living expenses.
Secure a skilled job with an accredited employer
Your role must be with an INZ-accredited employer, paid at least the median wage for ANZSCO level 1–3 roles, or 1.5× the median wage for level 4–5 roles, and be permanent or fixed-term for 12+ months.
Build your 6 skilled resident points
Claim 3–6 points from one category only — your New Zealand occupational registration, qualification, or income — then add up to 3 more points from skilled New Zealand work experience if you need them.
Submit a free Expression of Interest (EOI)
There is no fee to submit an SMC EOI, and you'll find out immediately whether you meet the requirements.
Receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
You have 4 months from your ITA to submit your full residence application — miss this window and you must start a new EOI.
Apply and pay the residence visa fee
Submit medicals, police certificates, and evidence of your claimed points, then pay the visa fee (from NZD $6,450).
Hold your Resident Visa for 2 years, unemployment-free
You must not be unemployed for more than 3 months while your Section 49 conditions apply, or your visa can be cancelled.
Upgrade to a Permanent Resident Visa, then citizenship
After 2 continuous years on your Resident Visa you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa with unlimited travel; after 5 years of New Zealand residence you become eligible to apply for citizenship.
Source: Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and Post Study Work Visa pages. Requirements above reflect settings before the 24 August 2026 reform — check the official pages for the very latest version once the new pathways launch.
Visa fees at a glance
| Visa | Fee (Official, INZ) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student Visa | From NZD $850 | Plus a separate NZD $100 International Visitor Levy (IVL) in most cases |
| Post-Study Work Visa | From NZD $1,670 | Plus NZD $5,000 proof of funds (not a fee, but required) |
| Short-Term Graduate Work Visa | TBC | Launches 16 Nov 2026 — fee not yet published by INZ |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | From NZD $6,450 | Plus a free Expression of Interest step before you're invited to apply |
Figures above are taken directly from Immigration New Zealand's official visa pages (linked in the footer) as of this update. All fees are reviewed periodically — always confirm the current amount on the official Immigration New Zealand website before lodging any application.
Lesser-known moves that genuinely help
Nothing here bypasses eligibility — these are real mechanics in the current system that many applicants simply don't plan around.
Pick Level 7+ over Level 4–6 if PR is the goal
The jump from a ~1-year stay-back to a 3-year open Post-Study Work Visa is the single biggest lever in this entire pathway — it's worth the extra tuition for most residency-focused students.
Lock in your wage threshold early
Under the 2026 SMC wage rules, the threshold that applied when you started your skilled work experience can keep applying even if the median wage rises later — starting skilled work sooner protects you from future wage-threshold increases.
Watch the 24 Aug 2026 EOI cut-off
Any draft (unsubmitted) SMC Expression of Interest is deleted on 24 August 2026 when the new form goes live. If you're close to lodging under current settings, don't leave it as a draft.
Graduate Diploma + existing bachelor's combo
If you already hold a bachelor's degree from home, a shorter, cheaper NZ Graduate Diploma can unlock PSWV eligibility from 16 Nov 2026 — often a faster route than a full second bachelor's.
Latest legislative & program updates
Student work hours raised to 25/week
Eligible full-time students can now work up to 25 hours per week in term time, up from 20, under the International Education: Going for Growth plan.
SMC median wage updated
The Skilled Migrant Category median wage threshold rose to NZD $35.00/hour, with skill level 4–5 roles requiring NZD $52.50/hour.
Two new SMC residence pathways
The Skilled Work Experience and Trades & Technician pathways launch alongside the existing points-based route, with stronger recognition for NZ-earned qualifications.
New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa & expanded PSWV
A new 6-month open work visa launches for Level 5–7 graduates who don't qualify for a PSWV, and PSWV eligibility extends to Level 7 Graduate Diploma holders with a prior bachelor's degree.
Study & residency FAQs
It depends on your qualification level. A Level 7+ degree studied full-time for at least 30 weeks qualifies for a Post-Study Work Visa of up to 3 years with open work rights. Lower-level qualifications get shorter, occupation-linked stay-back periods, and from 16 November 2026 a new 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa covers graduates who don't qualify for the PSWV.
Eligible full-time students can work up to 25 hours per week during academic terms, and full-time during scheduled holidays.
From 24 August 2026, two new Skilled Migrant Category pathways launch — Skilled Work Experience and Trades & Technician — alongside the existing points-based route, with stronger points for New Zealand-earned qualifications.
Generally at least NZD $20,000 per year for living costs on top of tuition for courses of a year or longer, or NZD $1,667 per month for shorter courses.
Apply for your Post-Study Work Visa within 3 months of your student visa expiring, secure a skilled job with an accredited employer meeting the wage threshold, build 6 skilled resident points, then submit a free Skilled Migrant Category EOI. See the full step-by-step roadmap above.
Plan your New Zealand journey the right way, from day one
Uniallies Immigration & Education Services helps you choose a qualification level that actually supports your residency goal — not just your course preference.