Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) – Cross Crediting from Postgraduate Diploma to Master’s If you meet the eligibility criteria, most postgraduate diplomas (Level 8) will qualify you for a one-year post-study work visa (PSWV), while a master’s degree (Level 9) will qualify you for a three-year PSWV.

To be eligible for a PSWV, both postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees must involve at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the specific program or qualification you’re applying for. You must have held a student visa for that specific program and apply for the PSWV within three months of the expiration of that student visa.

Some students who completed a postgraduate diploma (PG Dip) and then moved directly into a taught master’s program faced issues when applying for their PSWV. Because they didn’t complete 30 weeks of full-time study in the master’s program due to the cross-crediting from the PG Dip, their applications were affected. INZ is working directly with these students to explore possible solutions. However, it’s crucial for both education agents and providers to understand the rules for PSWV eligibility.

To qualify for a PSWV after studying at Level 8 or 9, you must:

1. Complete at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the specific qualification.
2. Hold or have held a student visa for that specific qualification.
3. Apply for the PSWV within three months of your student visa’s expiration for that qualification.

While the coursework for a master’s degree might be similar to that of a PG Dip, they are considered separate qualifications with different entry criteria. If you want to cross-credit your PG Dip into a master’s and gain a three-year PSWV, you need to have studied full-time in the master’s program for at least 30 weeks. Please note that study weeks include exam preparation time but do not include holiday periods or time spent retaking failed courses.

INZ will continue working with the education sector to ensure everyone is clear about these requirements. If you have any questions, especially if you’re an agent or a student, please reach out to your education provider first.

Student Visa Peak – Apply Three Months Before Traveling INZ is focusing on processing international student visas, especially as we approach the end of the year when application volumes are highest.

To increase your chances of having your visa processed on time, submit your application three months before your planned travel date, as long as you have all the required documents. You can apply even earlier if you have everything ready.

Visa processing times are updated monthly on the INZ website: Visa processing times for international students.

New Fees and Levies Starting 1 October 2024 Starting 1 October 2024, the cost of applying for all visas will increase. Until now, taxpayers have been covering a significant portion of the immigration system’s costs. The new fees are designed to cover the full cost of processing each visa type and reflect the total service provided by the immigration system.

For example:

• Student visa fees will increase from $375 to $750.
• Post-study work visa fees will rise from $700 to $1,670.

Student visa fees vary depending on where you’re applying from, so make sure to check the new fees and levies here.

New Zealand also has agreements with some countries that waive student visa fees, and these agreements will remain in place. You can find more information here.

Some education providers have asked whether students can apply for visas now at the lower fee and upload documents later. If you apply before 1 October 2024, you’ll be charged the current fee. However, if your application is missing documents, it could cause delays or lead to your application being declined.

INZ will not contact you if documents are missing. If key information is missing, your application might be rejected. So, make sure students submit their visa applications only when they are complete and ready for assessment.

For more details, check the student visa information sheets on the INZ website