New Zealand Implements India Free Trade Agreement Visa Commitments with New Temporary Work Routes and Expanded Post-Study Rights
What changed
The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took effect on 20 October 2026, introducing significant new immigration and mobility commitments between the two countries. The treaty creates two new Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa streams—the India Skilled Work Visa and the India Iconic Work Visa—capped at a combined total of 5,000 visa holders in New Zealand at any one time. Most of these places are set aside for jobs on New Zealand's Green List. Visas are granted for three years and require work with an accredited employer. Alongside these temporary work routes, the agreement extends post-study work rights for Indian nationals holding New Zealand doctoral degrees (PhDs) from three years to up to four years, starting on 16 November 2026. The FTA also guarantees in-study work rights of at least 20 hours a week for Indian students if general policies change, and commits New Zealand to introducing an annual 1,000-place Working Holiday Scheme for Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 within two years of the agreement taking effect.
The detail
Policy history
New Zealand Implements India Free Trade Agreement Visa Commitments with New Temporary Work Routes and Expanded Post-StudRelated changes
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