Prompt-style answer · NZ
Does the NZ Post-Study Work Visa lead to residency?
Not directly — it's an open work visa, up to 3 years, meant to give you time to secure Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) sponsorship, which is the visa that actually connects post-study work to a genuine Skilled Migrant Category residency application.
Key points
- PSWV is open work rights — no employer sponsorship needed to hold it.
- AEWV requires a sponsored, full-time (30+ hrs/week) role with an accredited employer.
- Skilled Migrant Category needs 6 points and 2 years of skilled NZ work experience.
- A new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa (from Nov 2026) bridges graduates toward an AEWV.
Go deeper on ImmigraPath
Get your personalized checklist
Partial answers are useful. Exact fit needs your age, funds, language, and occupation — run them through the ImmigraPath eligibility engine.
Check eligibility