Recently, New Zealand’s government has come up with a positive change in the policy by expanding work visa eligibility for partners of students in the country. However, the students should be pursuing qualifications in Green List occupations. These in-demand fields will fulfill the shortages in New Zealand. Moreover, obtaining such qualifications can fast-track the path to residency.
The government announced on June 21 that partners of students studying at level 7 or 8 qualifications can apply for work visas with open work conditions. Further, these qualifications should be specified on the green list. The government has updated the Green List with the main bachelor degrees and bachelor honors qualifications.
The qualifications listed on the Green List lead to registration for certain occupations. These occupations lead to highly skilled and in-demand courses, for example, for nurses, doctors, dentists, and teachers. Students with student visas studying for these registrations can now support their partner’s application for a Partner of a Student Work Visa.
According to New Zealand Immigration, partners who are now eligible and their dependent school-aged children can now be treated as domestic students. These students can apply for a dependent child student visa, which means that they will not have to pay tuition fees. This applies to anyone with a partner on a student work visa.
In 2022, New Zealand’s Green List was introduced as part of the government’s effort to address skill shortages in critical sectors. These changes for partners came at a time when many other Anglophone study destinations continue to place restrictive measures on international students and their dependents.
The government agency, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, shared its latest statistics, according to which 69,000 international students enrolled in 2023. According to Linda Sissons, acting chief executive of Education New Zealand, they position New Zealand as an attractive study abroad destination.
