WD4.5 2018 Transitional requirements

WD4.5.1 Applicants who, on 8 August 2018, held a student visa or had made a student visa application

1. If an applicant meets the requirements at WD4.1.1 (a) to (e) and, on 8 August 2018, either held a student visa based on a programme of study set out at WD4.1.1(a) or had made an application for a student visa based on a programme of study set out at WD4.1.1(a) that was subsequently approved, and in either case the applicant completed that programme of study they may be granted a work visa for the following duration:
   1. two years, where the applicant has previously held a Post-Study Work Visa – Open; or
   2. three years, where the applicant has not previously held a Post-Study Work Visa – Open.
2. An applicant seeking to meet requirement (a) above, in part, by holding two qualifications (see WD4.1.1(a)(iii)):
   1. must have commenced the qualifications in either the same or consecutive calendar years; and
   2. instead of meeting the requirement that the qualifications be at levels 4 to 6, they may hold two qualifications at levels 4 to 7.
3. A Post-Study work visa may only be granted once under these transitional instructions.
4. Holders of a Post-Study work visa may work for any employer in any occupation in any location, subject to meeting E7.40.

WD4.5.5 Applicants who held a "Post-Study Work Visa – Open" on 26 November 2018

1. Applicants, who, on 26 November 2018, held a Post-Study Work Visa – Open that was granted under the previous instructions (Archived WD2), may be granted a further two-year Post-Study work visa if they:
   1. apply before the expiry of their current Post-Study Work Visa – Open; and
   2. lodge their Post-Study work visa application in the prescribed manner (see E4.50).
2. Holders of a Post-Study work visa may work for any employer in any occupation in any location, subject to meeting E7.40.

WD4.5.10 Applicants who held a "Post-Study Work Visa – Employer Assisted" on 26 November 2018

1. Applicants who hold a Post-Study Work Visa - Employer Assisted, granted under the previous instructions (Archived WD1), may apply for a variation of conditions to allow them to work in any occupation, for any employer and in any location, subject to meeting E7.40.
2. Immigration officers may grant a variation of conditions in such cases provided the applicant completes:
   1. an Application for a Variation of Conditions for holders of a Post-Study work visa - Employer Assisted (INZ 1243); and
   2. lodges their application in the prescribed manner (see E4.50).

Effective 07/09/2022