New Zealand-India FTA Eases Work Visas and Student Mobility

(New Zealand) New Zealand has agreed to open new routes for Indian citizens to live, work, and study in the country under a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) concluded on December 22, 2025, a deal that both governments say is meant to deepen economic ties while also giving Indian professionals and students clearer pathways into the New Zealand labour market and education system.

The FTA’s immigration package is unusual for a trade deal in this region because it sets out concrete access for work visas and formal promises on student mobility, areas that are often left to separate talks. In practical terms, it creates several channels for Indian nationals: a capped stream of skilled work visas, a larger quota for temporary employment entry in specified roles, and a dedicated working holiday option that mirrors arrangements New Zealand has pointed to in Australia’s trade settings with India.

Key visa and mobility streams

Below is a concise breakdown of the main pathways established in the FTA.

• Skilled work visas (capped stream)
  • New Zealand will allow an average of up to 1,667 three-year skilled work visas annually for a three-year period.
  • Target sectors include IT, engineering, healthcare, education, and construction.
  • The figure is presented as an average, so annual allocations may vary and applicants/employers will watch how numbers are scheduled year to year.
• Temporary Employment Entry visas (dedicated pool)
  • A larger quota of 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas for skilled Indian professionals.
  • These visas allow stays of up to three years.
  • The pathway targets a mix of occupations that often sit outside traditional skilled categories, including:
  • AYUSH practitioners
  • Yoga instructors
  • Indian chefs
  • Music teachers
  • For many of these roles, experience and community reputation can matter as much as formal credentials, so the occupation list details will be important when implementing the FTA.
• Working Holiday Scheme
  • Up to 1,000 Indian citizens each year will be able to access working holiday opportunities in New Zealand.
  • The scheme is expected to support tourism and rural industries, offering short-term travel with legal work rights—commonly used by younger applicants and seasonal employers.

Student mobility and post-study work rights

The agreement includes New Zealand’s first-ever annexes on student mobility and post-study work visas, with provisions aimed directly at Indian students.

• Post-study work rights
  • Up to three years for STEM bachelor’s and master’s graduates (no numerical caps).
  • Up to four years for doctoral scholars.
• Work during study
  • Indian students would have part-time work authorization of 20 hours per week.
• These commitments are significant to families weighing the cost of overseas study against future employment prospects. New Zealand’s education sector has been actively competing for international enrolments, and these measures are framed to make New Zealand an attractive option.

Scholarships and institutional links

Money and institutional partnerships are also part of the package:

• NZ$260,000 partial scholarship package under the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025 to support Indian students pursuing higher education in New Zealand.
  • While modest relative to full degree costs, targeted scholarships can influence high-performing applicants choosing between similar programmes.
• The FTA includes measures to support academic partnerships and professional development, citing collaborations such as:
  • University of Auckland with Manipal Academy of Higher Education and IIT Kharagpur.
• A Virtual Internship Programme offering 30 IIT Delhi students the chance to intern remotely with New Zealand companies, helping build employer links before physical migration.

Practical requirements and implementation caveats

These new access routes do not remove standard visa requirements. Applicants must still meet:

• Health and character checks
• Documentation proving identity, qualifications, and work history
• Any additional evidence required for specialized occupations

Applicants and employers must follow Immigration New Zealand’s operational instructions for details on eligible roles and required evidence. Official information on visa categories and eligibility is published by Immigration New Zealand at https://www.immigration.govt.nz/, which is the typical starting point for requirements, fees, and processing details.

Important: The FTA ties migration access to the bilateral relationship and trade enforcement structures, which can provide added predictability — but day-to-day outcomes will depend on New Zealand’s implementation of quotas, application assessments, and demand management.

Strategic implications and likely responses

• The FTA places mobility rules inside a trade agreement rather than leaving them solely to domestic policy, giving Indian applicants a sense of international-level commitment.
• For New Zealand, the deal provides a targeted mechanism to widen recruitment options without broadly opening all visa categories—an approach shaped by domestic concerns such as housing, infrastructure, and labour supply.
• Different professional groups will view the streams differently:
  • A software engineer or nurse may see the 1,667-average skilled route as the primary pathway.
  • A yoga instructor, AYUSH practitioner, or Indian chef may treat the 5,000 temporary entry quota as a named pathway that formalizes recognition in immigration settings.
• Employers in hospitality, healthcare, education, and tech are likely to monitor how occupation lists and evidence requirements are applied, since many rely on experienced overseas staff for specific roles.

Context and market signals

• Current Indian international student enrolment in New Zealand is approximately 7,300—a base education providers may use as a springboard if visa and work-rights terms are implemented predictably.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the combined approach—capped dedicated work routes plus expanded post-study rights—is New Zealand’s attempt to compete for talent while retaining control over volumes.
  • Many applicants evaluate countries based on whether a degree can realistically lead to lawful employment and whether work experience can later support longer stays. The FTA’s mix of measures addresses both elements.

Quick reference table

Final takeaway

The FTA creates clear, named pathways for Indian citizens across work, temporary employment, working holidays, and study. Its effectiveness will depend on New Zealand’s operational roll-out: how quotas are scheduled, how occupation lists are interpreted, and how quickly administrative guidance is published and acted upon. For applicants and institutions, tracking Immigration New Zealand and implementation timetables will be crucial in turning these international commitments into day-to-day opportunities.