Partner of a Student Work Visa in New Zealand: Which Courses Qualify

TL;DR: Your partner can get a Partner of a Student Work Visa in New Zealand, with open work rights for as long as your student visa lasts, but only if your course qualifies. A master's or doctoral degree at Level 9 or 10 qualifies. A Level 7 or 8 qualification qualifies when it is specified for a role on the Green List, or when it is eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. Otherwise, your partner usually comes on a visitor visa and cannot work.

Many couples plan a New Zealand master's together: one studies, the other works to help with living costs. That plan works only if the course is the right one. The rule sits in the course level and the course name, not in how long you have been married or how much money you hold. Students applying from Sri Lanka and other countries often find this out after accepting an offer, when switching courses is harder.

Choose the course with the partner rule in mind, and the family plan follows. Here is how to check.

Planning to study in New Zealand with your partner and unsure which course fits? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Which courses let your partner work

Immigration New Zealand says your partner can apply for a Partner of a Student Work Visa if you are studying for:

• a Level 9 or 10 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework, which means a master's or doctoral degree
• a Level 7 or 8 qualification specified for a role on the Green List
• a qualification that is eligible for a Post Study Work Visa

There is also an older rule for Level 7 or 8 study in an area on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, but it applies only if the study began by 7 September 2022.

Want a view on which of your shortlisted courses keeps your partner's work rights open?

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How the rule plays out by course

Each common course type sits differently against these rules:

If you are weighing a one-year master's against a postgraduate diploma, this table is often the deciding factor. Our guide to the one-year master's in New Zealand covers credit and entry rules, and our article on the graduate diploma route explains its catch.

What the partner visa allows

According to Immigration New Zealand:

• Length: the same duration as your student visa.
• Work: your partner can work for any employer in any lawful job, without a job offer. Commercial sexual services are excluded.
• Study: your partner can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.
• Fee: from NZD 1,630.
• Processing: 80% of applications are decided within 5 weeks.
• Money: your partner needs at least NZD 4,200 for living expenses.

The work rights are open, which is what makes this visa valuable. A partner who works part-time or full-time can make a real difference to a family budget, but plan your finances on your own student visa funds first. Our guide to New Zealand student visa funds explains what you must show.

What INZ needs to see about your relationship

You must be living together in a genuine and stable relationship. INZ looks for evidence such as how long you have lived together, shared finances and recognition of the relationship by family and community. A marriage certificate alone is not the full picture. Joint bank accounts, a shared lease and photos over time help.

If your course does not qualify

Your partner can usually apply for a visitor visa instead, which does not allow work. If a working partner is essential to your plan, change the course before you accept the offer rather than after. Moving from a postgraduate diploma to a master's is easier at the application stage than once you have a visa.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• A registered marriage certificate from Sri Lanka should be translated into English by a certified translator if it is not already in English.
• Gather joint evidence early: a shared lease or Grama Niladhari certificate showing the same address, joint bank statements and family photos over several years.
• If you studied a bachelor's in Sri Lanka, check that your degree meets the entry level for a Level 9 master's at your chosen university before you plan around the partner rule.

FAQ

Can my partner work in New Zealand while I study?

Yes, if you study a Level 9 or 10 qualification, a Level 7 or 8 qualification specified for a Green List role, or a qualification eligible for a Post Study Work Visa.

Does a postgraduate diploma let my partner work?

Only if that qualification is specified for a role on the Green List or is eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. A full master's at Level 9 qualifies on its own.

How long does the Partner of a Student Work Visa last?

The same length as your student visa.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

The fee starts from NZD 1,630, and INZ decides 80% of applications within 5 weeks.

What documents do couples applying from Sri Lanka need?

Proof of your relationship and living together, such as a marriage certificate, a shared address, joint finances and photos over time, plus at least NZD 4,200 for the partner's living costs.

PS: The partner rule is decided by the course, so the course is where the plan starts. If you want help choosing a New Zealand course that keeps your family together and working, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›