Dan Dilkes - Immigration Advisor

Dan Dilkes - Immigration Advisor Director and Licensed Immigration Expert for New Zealand, Australia and Canada

18/01/2026

ATTENTION ALL OUR INDIAN FOLLOWERS:

As many of you may know, New Zealand and India have recently signed a Free Trade Agreement.

https://studytravel.network/magazine/news/0/31884 #:~:text=Additional%20work%20rights%20for%20Indian%20students%20in%20NZ%20free%20trade%20agreement,-Published%20on%2008&text=New%20Zealand%20has%20committed%20to,Agreement%20between%20the%20two%20countries.

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/new-zealand-india-free-trade-agreement/overview

For Indian students wishing to migrate to New Zealand as international students, there are some further benefits.

In particular these are around the Post Study Work rights for students who graduate with degrees.

In summary:

1. Indian students who graduate with a three-or four-year Bachelor’s degree, or Master’s degree, in NZ, will be eligible to apply for a Post study work visa for up to three years. This is potentially longer than other nationalities. Please note that this degree must be in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM), The post graduate work will likely need to be in a job that matches their study.

2. For Doctoral students who graduate with a PHD, they could be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa of up to 4 years. This will also likely need to be in the area of study appropriate to their field of study.

The specific details of this will be announced once the Free Trade Agreement is officially signed early in 2026.

As well, Indians between the ages of 18-30 will be eligible to apply for one of 1000 annual Working Holiday Visas. These will be on a first come first serve basis and unfortunately, I will not be able to lodge these for you as they need to be done by the individual person.

New Zealand recognises the skills and hard work that Indians bring to New Zealand, and this agreement will not only allow for highly intelligent people to come here and gain higher levels of qualifications but also be able to contribute to New Zealand in the jobs specific to their study.

This is a very exciting prospect for our thousands of Indian followers, especially with countries such as Canada, making it harder for students to gain post study work visas.

Please share this with anyone you know who you think may be interested in coming to New Zealand to gain university qualifications and later gain much valued work experience here in beautiful New Zealand.

I’ll post more details once they are announced.

Dan Dilkes
Licensed Immigration Adviser.
License: 201701098

https://app.mbieregisters.govt.nz/iaa/ui/XP-SSDn6Up_ho0NiTbTsdWwuvFMumqntYWkqromvX5WOVPvnUOMmYm0ZruupvvVLOhKFBTdJdbytm6a9poLZLwyZLwkc-FFnwjbtR-IDM-AUAI-SS

New announcement from Immigration New Zealand. Please note, this applies to businesses that are either sold or restruct...
31/10/2024

New announcement from Immigration New Zealand.

Please note, this applies to businesses that are either sold or restructured.

Congratulations to a mother, mother in law and grandmother who is now approved for a visit / holiday in New Zealand. Thi...
26/10/2024

Congratulations to a mother, mother in law and grandmother who is now approved for a visit / holiday in New Zealand.

This is perfect timing as we are coming close to Christmas and you can come here for a lovely holiday and spend the Christmas season with your grand children.

Each year thousands of people come to New Zealand to visit family, tour the country and enjoy the wonderful scenery and lifestyle that we have here.

Once again congratulations and we wish you all the best on your upcoming flight and travels.

Congratulations to 2 siblings who are now approved for Dependent Child Student Visas. This is fantastic news as they ca...
25/10/2024

Congratulations to 2 siblings who are now approved for Dependent Child Student Visas.

This is fantastic news as they can now join their parents in New Zealand and enjoy all the benefits of being together as a family once again.

We wish you both a wonderful flight and enjoyable settlement into your new home.

Congratulations to a very relieved employer who can now fill the 5 positions for Duct Fitter for Auckland. Before an Acc...
08/10/2024

Congratulations to a very relieved employer who can now fill the 5 positions for Duct Fitter for Auckland.

Before an Accredited Employer can offer jobs and hire overseas workers, they are required to advertise and make sure that there are no eligible, suitable and willing New Zealand citizens or residents to do the job.

Once Immigration New Zealand is satisfied that this is the case, then they will receive this approval, allowing them to now offer the jobs and begin the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) application process.

As well as handling hundreds of Accredited Employer Work Visa applications, Built-In Visa also represents Employers in their Job Check applications.

Congratulations and best of luck with your hiring.

Congratulations to a CNC Operator who is finally able to work in Otago, New Zealand. This has been a longer than usual ...
02/10/2024

Congratulations to a CNC Operator who is finally able to work in Otago, New Zealand.

This has been a longer than usual application with no extra requirements from INZ.

We are seeing longer than average wait times for New Zealand visa applications as Immigration Officers are being very thorough in assessing each applicant's admissibility to New Zealand (health, character, identity); as well as their eligibility for the visa.

Best you be ready for an early as possible departure as the employer is very keen for you to arrive and begin work.

Congratulations on your subsequent / second partnership visa to a NZ resident. Having already previously secured a tempo...
23/09/2024

Congratulations on your subsequent / second partnership visa to a NZ resident.

Having already previously secured a temporary visa based on partnership and having lodged a resident visa based on partnership, this visa allows the applicant the ability to remain lawfully in NZ while awaiting the decision on the resident visa application.

This gives INZ more time to be thorough with the application.

With all resident visas based on partnership, it is important to ALWAYS be collecting relationship evidence right up until the approval.

Once again, congratulations!

23/09/2024

Update from INZ

Employers will be required to Engage with WINZ for their ANZSCO level 4 - 5 job ads.

From 7 October 2024, accredited employers must engage directly with Work and Income for most ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 vacancies at the Job Check stage.

Removing the ability for immigration professionals to engage with Work and Income on behalf of employers will encourage employers to genuinely test the domestic labour market before looking to hire a migrant worker, improving the integrity of the Labour Market Test.

The Government is making this change because, where Work and Income only have an immigration professional’s contact details, it has been difficult for them to engage with the employer about potential job applicants from New Zealand.

Employers will need to provide Work and Income with a contact person responsible for hiring decisions, such as a hiring manager, human resources manager or owner/operator.

Employers can still use external organisations, such as recruitment agencies, for their Work and Income engagement, as long as they are involved in hiring decisions and not also providing immigration advice on your Job Check application.

This change will improve the current processes and ensure that the people engaging with Work and Income are the ones responsible for hiring someone or have knowledge about the type of employee that is needed. This will promote better engagement between an employer and Work and Income to test whether there are suitable and available New Zealanders for a role.

This is part of a wider suite of changes the government is making to temporary work visa settings to address concerns raised by particular sectors and further strengthen the integrity of the immigration system.

Update from INZ:
23/09/2024

Update from INZ:

03/09/2024

Recent changes to Canadian Visitor Permit holders.

As of 28 August 2024, holders of Visitor Permits will not be able to apply for Work Permits while they are inside Canada. They will be required to leave the country in order to apply.

While this will come as disappointing news for many Visitors currently in Canada, it also helps to ensure that people who come to Canada as tourists are genuine in their desire to visit Canada before returning to their home country.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10726746/visitor-work-permit-policy-canada/ #:~:text=Visitors%20coming%20to%20Canada%20can,foreign%20workers%20amid%20abuse%20concerns.

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