Partners of Int’l Students in New Zealand Are Now Eligible to Apply for Work Visas

New Zealand has announced changes to its immigration policy, relaxing work visa rules for partners of international students enrolled in certain higher education programs, according to New Zealand Immigration, the government’s official immigration website.

Under the updated immigration requirements, partners of international students studying level 7 or 8 qualifications specified in the Green List can apply for work visas with open conditions, Erudera.com reports.

These qualifications include graduate certificates and diplomas, bachelor’s and postgraduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates, and bachelor’s honors degrees.

New Zealand’s government introduced the Green List after restrictions imposed amid COVID-19 spread, in a bid to address skill shortages in the country. Roles on the green list are those where international talent is needed due to high demand.

“We have updated the Green List with the main Bachelor degrees and Bachelor Honours qualifications that lead to registration for certain occupations. These are occupations that have registration as a requirement instead of New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) qualifications,” New Zealand Immigration’s statement reads.

According to the statement released on June 21, 2024, this change means those on student visas who are pursuing studies in roles included on the Green List can support their partner’s application for a Partner of a Student Work Visa.

Additionally, it demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to becoming an attractive study destination for international students, offering support for their families.

Moreover, dependent school-aged children of partners who are eligible for work will have the same benefits as domestic students. Therefore, these children can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa, which exempts them from paying tuition fees for attending school.

Professions in Demand in New Zealand

As explained on the government’s website, there are over 200 roles included on the Green List, including:

1. Analyst Programmer
2. Building Project Manager
3. Cardiologist
4. Clinical Physiologist
5. Dairy Farm Manager
6. Database Administrator
7. Dentist
8. Developer Programmer
9. Educational Psychologist
10. Electrical Engineer
11. Midwife
12. Registered Nurse
13. Social Worker
14. Software Engineer
15. Veterinarian

A total of 69,135 international students attended schools, language institutes, vocational institutions, and universities in New Zealand. These institutions witnessed a 67 percent increase in total international enrollment compared to 2022.

“Over 69,000 enrolments from international students all over the world is good news for our education sector and positive for our communities. It confirms that New Zealand is an attractive place to study, offering a quality learning experience inside and outside the classroom in a safe, welcoming environment,” Linda Sissons, Acting Chief Executive of Education New Zealand, said earlier this month while commenting on the latest international student numbers.

The strongest recovery has been reported in the university sector, with 29,065 students representing 86 percent of enrolments in 2019.

China, India, and Japan are the top three countries with the highest number of students in New Zealand.

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