New Zealand is one of the safest places in the world. International students choose to study in New Zealand as it offers lots of benefits to overseas students. Few of the advantages of study in New Zealand are:
- Part time work opportunities during study in New Zealand
- Full time work during vacations
- Post study work visa for New Zealand after successful completion of the study program
- Dependent spouse and child visa for partners and children of New Zealand study visa holder
This blog article compiled by an experienced LIA Licensed Immigration adviser at West Highlander Immigration Chandigarh lists the course in New Zealand where spouse may apply for work visa as a dependent of the New Zealand student visa holder.
If you are an applicant who wishes to study in New Zealand and also would like to apply for dependent visa for your spouse then you may either support the work visa or a visitor visa for your spouse. Work or a visitor visa would depend on the course you wish to study in New Zealand.
The work visa or visitor visa eligibility for your dependent spouse is based on 2 factors in relation to your course
The first one is the level of the course at NZQF that is New Zealand qualification framework
The second one is Course listing in the New Zealand Green list
Below is the detailed explanation of these 2 factors
Factor 1 -The level of the course at NZQF that is New Zealand qualification framework
In New Zealand the qualifications are listed on NZQF that is New Zealand qualification framework. The NZQF has 10 levels of qualifications which consist of qualification from Certificates to PhD.
The New Zealand study visa holders can apply for the work visa of their dependent spouse to New Zealand if they are studying a course at level 9 or above of NZQF that is New Zealand qualification framework. Below are the qualifications which qualify this criteria of being at level 9 of NZQF
Master’s degree in New Zealand
There are 2 types of Masters Programs in New Zealand Masters by course work and Masters by research. In both these programs students may apply for work visa for their dependent spouse. The Master’s degree may be in any field like Masters of Business, Masters of IT, and Masters of Digital Marketing. There is no restriction of the qualification being in a specific field.
PhD in New Zealand
PhD in New Zealand is a qualification at level 10 of NZQF that is New Zealand qualification framework. As per the policy applicants who wish to do PhD in New Zealand may apply for work visa for their dependent spouse.
Factor 2 -Course listing in the New Zealand Green list
The New Zealand Green list includes occupations that are in shortage in New Zealand and highly in demand globally. If the course you wish to study in New Zealand is not at level 9 or above of New Zealand Qualification Framework but at level 7 or 8 then in order to apply for New Zealand work visa for your spouse as a dependent of student visa holder your course must be on the Green List. If the course is in the Green list then your spouse may apply for work visa. If the course is not in Green list then the spouse will not be able to apply for work visa.
Other than meeting the above 2 factors you must also satisfy the condition of living together and being in a genuine and stable relationship. If this condition of living together is not met then despite fulfilling the course conditions your spouse may not get work visa.
Applicants may contact the best LIA for New Zealand spouse visas in Chandigarh Ms Parwinder Kaur who has years of experience in dealing with spouse visas for New Zealand and has got a good track record.