On 20 October 2026, the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement took effect. For Indian families, the big story is not tariffs. It is people. The deal opens two new work routes, strengthens student rights and promises a working holiday scheme.
This guide explains the new New Zealand Visa options in plain language. We cover the India Skilled Work Visa, the India Iconic Work Visa, study rights and the working holiday plan. We also point out what the agreement does not offer.
Visa rules in this guide come from Immigration New Zealand’s own instructions, published on 20 October 2026. Where we use news reports or outside data, we say so.
Quick snapshot
- In force from: 20 October 2026
- Total work visa places: 5,000 holders in New Zealand at any one time
- India Skilled Work Visa: up to 4,400 places | India Iconic Work Visa: up to 600 places
- Stay: up to 3 years in total. No family members. No direct route to residence.
- PhD graduates from India: post-study work visa of up to 4 years from 16 November 2026
- Working holiday scheme: 1,000 places a year for ages 18 to 30, due within 2 years
What the India-New Zealand FTA Changes for Indians
The agreement was signed on 27 April 2026 and took effect on 20 October 2026. Indian news agency reports call it India’s 17th operational trade pact. Talks began in 2010, stalled in 2015 and restarted in March 2025.
On trade, New Zealand has removed import duty on all Indian goods. It has also opened 118 service sectors or sub-sectors to Indian providers. These include IT, education, healthcare, construction and tourism.
For individuals, three changes matter most:
- Two new three-year work visas for named jobs, capped at 5,000 holders at any time.
- Longer post-study work rights for Indian PhD graduates, plus a guaranteed minimum for student work hours.
- A working holiday scheme for Indians aged 18 to 30, due within two years.
These routes are capped and tied to listed jobs. They do not give every Indian an automatic right to work in New Zealand.
India Skilled Work Visa vs India Iconic Work Visa at a Glance
Both visas sit under the Temporary Employment Entry pathway. They share many rules. The jobs and caps are what set them apart.
| Feature | India Skilled Work Visa | India Iconic Work Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Places at any one time | Up to 4,400 | Up to 600 |
| Who can apply | Indian citizens | Indian citizens |
| Jobs covered | Six groups: IT, engineering, construction, teaching, nursing and physiotherapy | Yoga instructor, Indian chef, music teacher and Ayush practitioner |
| How the cap works | Each job group has its own limit | Each occupation has its own limit |
| Job offer needed | Full-time, from an accredited employer | Full-time, from an accredited employer |
| Application fee | From NZD 1,355 (check the live fee page) | From NZD 1,355 (check the live fee page) |
| Maximum stay | 3 years in total | 3 years in total |
| Family can join | No | No |
| Route to residence | None by itself | None by itself |
| Where to apply from | Outside New Zealand (first visa) | Outside New Zealand (first visa) |
India Skilled Work Visa: Jobs, Places and Qualifications
This visa covers six groups of listed jobs. The limit applies to each group, not each job. So the 1,000 places for IT roles are shared by three occupations.
| Group | Occupations | Places | Qualification and experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT | Software engineer Software and applications programmer ICT project manager | 1,000 | Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, engineering or an equivalent field, plus at least five years of experience. |
| Engineering | Civil engineer Mechanical engineer Structural engineer Environmental engineer | 1,000 | An accredited engineering degree (such as one under the Washington Accord), an honours engineering degree, or Engineering New Zealand recognition. |
| Construction | Construction project manager Building project manager | 700 | A degree or diploma in construction, civil engineering, quantity surveying or a close field. The level depends on the route. |
| Teaching | Primary school teacher Secondary school teacher | 500 | Registration with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, with a provisional or full practising certificate. |
| Nursing | Registered nurse | 900 | Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, a nursing degree or equivalent, and at least three years of experience. |
| Physiotherapy | Physiotherapist | 300 | Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and at least three years of experience. |
| Total | 900 |
Overseas qualifications must match the New Zealand standard. Unless your degree is on Immigration New Zealand’s exempt list, you need an International Qualifications Assessment from NZQA.
Teachers, nurses and physiotherapists also need New Zealand registration. These checks take time, so start before you chase job offers.
India Iconic Work Visa: Jobs and Requirements
This visa protects a small set of India-linked skills. Each occupation has a separate cap. A full cap in one job does not block the others.
| Occupation | Places | Qualification and experience | English test level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoga instructor | 100 | Bachelor’s degree in yoga from an institution recognised by the Indian government. | IELTS 5.0 in Listening and Speaking |
| Indian chef | 250 | Tertiary qualification in Indian cuisine (at least two years of study), plus two years of work experience after qualifying. | IELTS 5.0 in Listening and Speaking |
| Music teacher | 50 | Bachelor’s degree or three-year equivalent in music, plus two years as a music teacher. An NZQA assessment is needed for overseas qualifications. | IELTS 6.5 overall |
| Ayush practitioner | 200 | Bachelor’s degree in Indian traditional medicine or AYUSH systems (at least three years of study), plus four years of professional practice. | IELTS 6.5 overall |
| Total | 600 |
Ayurveda, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and homoeopathy. The degree must be recognised by India’s Ministry of AYUSH.
English Language Requirements
Every applicant needs an accepted English test result. The score depends on the visa and the job.
| Test | India Skilled Work Visa | Yoga instructor and Indian chef | Music teacher and Ayush practitioner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | 6.5 overall | 5.0 in Listening and Speaking | 6.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 overall | 12 in Listening and 14 in Speaking | 79 overall |
| PTE Academic | 58 overall | 36 in Listening and Speaking | 58 overall |
| B2 First (Cambridge) | 176 overall | 154 in Listening and Speaking | 176 overall |
| Occupational English Test | Grade C+ or higher in all four skills | Not listed | Not listed |
Your result must be no more than two years old when you apply.
You must sit the test in person at a test centre. Remote or at-home tests are not accepted.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Checklist
Both visas share the same core conditions. You must:
- Be a citizen of India with a valid Indian passport.
- Be outside New Zealand when you apply for your first visa.
- Hold a full-time job offer in a listed job. Immigration New Zealand treats full-time as at least 30 hours a week.
- Have an employer who is accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa policy.
- Meet the qualification and work experience rules for your job.
- Provide an accepted English test result.
- Meet health and character requirements.
- Show a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand.
- Submit the application form, the fee and the immigration levy.
Good news on one point. Immigration New Zealand states that no labour market test applies to these two visas.
Key Rules Before You Plan Your Move
Length of stay and re-entry: Your visa runs for the length of your job offer, up to three years. It allows multiple entries. You must make your first entry within six months of the grant.
If your first visa is shorter than three years, you can apply for another to cover the balance. After three years, you must leave. You cannot get a new Skilled or Iconic visa until you have spent three years outside New Zealand.
Time on one of these visas counts towards the other. It also counts towards the maximum continuous stay for the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
Work conditions: You may work only in the listed occupation, for the named employer, on a full-time basis. A change of job needs a variation, and your new offer must still meet the rules.
No family on these visas: You cannot include a partner or children in your application. Partners cannot get visitor or work visas on the back of your visa. Children cannot get student visas on that basis either.
Plan your finances and your family life with this in mind.
No direct route to residence: These visas do not lead to permanent residence by themselves. Work you do on them does not count towards the experience needed for skilled residence visas.
Places can run out: An application is accepted only if a place is free on the day you lodge it. If a place was not free, the application lapses and the fee is refunded. News reports say all places were open on 20 October.
Other Temporary Entry Routes Under the FTA
The agreement also supports shorter business moves. Immigration New Zealand set out these routes in the same 20 October update.
| Route | Who it suits | Maximum stay | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business visitor | Sales representatives, buyers and people in negotiations | Up to 3 months in any one year | No paid employment. A visitor visa applies. |
| Equipment installer or servicer | Technicians for specialised overseas machinery | Up to 3 months in any 12 months | The work must be a condition of the lease or purchase. |
| Intra-corporate transferee | Executives, senior managers and specialists in multinationals | Up to 36 months at first, 72 months in total | A senior or specialist role and clear transfer terms. |
| Contractual service supplier | Employees of an overseas firm with a New Zealand service contract | Up to 12 months | Degree-level qualification, six years of experience and one year with the firm. |
| Independent professional | Self-employed experts working under a New Zealand contract | Up to 12 months | Six years of experience, a valid contract and a labour market test. |
Study Rights for Indian Students in New Zealand
Work hours during study: Eligible students of all nationalities can currently work up to 25 hours a week. This is the stated position of Immigration New Zealand.
The FTA adds a safety net. If New Zealand later changes its policy, Indian students keep at least 20 hours a week.
Post-study work visa lengths from 16 November 2026
The updated instructions set the length by qualification level. Indian doctoral graduates get one extra year.
| Route | Who it suits | Maximum stay | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business visitor | Sales representatives, buyers and people in negotiations | Up to 3 months in any one year | No paid employment. A visitor visa applies. |
| Equipment installer or servicer | Technicians for specialised overseas machinery | Up to 3 months in any 12 months | The work must be a condition of the lease or purchase. |
| Intra-corporate transferee | Executives, senior managers and specialists in multinationals | Up to 36 months at first, 72 months in total | A senior or specialist role and clear transfer terms. |
| Contractual service supplier | Employees of an overseas firm with a New Zealand service contract | Up to 12 months | Degree-level qualification, six years of experience and one year with the firm. |
| Independent professional | Self-employed experts working under a New Zealand contract | Up to 12 months | Six years of experience, a valid contract and a labour market test. |
Some news reports link the three-year rule to STEM degrees. The official table lists the length by qualification level. Check your own course against Immigration New Zealand’s eligible list.
Holders of post-study visas from degree-level study can work in any job and any location. That freedom is a big plus for graduates comparing New Zealand with other countries.
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa for Indians: What We Know
A side letter to the FTA sets out the working holiday plan. It targets young adults who want to travel and earn.
- Places: up to 1,000 multiple-entry visas a year.
- Length of stay: 12 calendar months.
- Age: 18 to 30.
- Other conditions reported: a tertiary degree and functional English.
- Work limit: up to six months with any one employer.
- Study limit: up to four months.
- Timing: New Zealand will launch it within two years of the FTA taking effect.
No application route exists today. Be wary of any agent who offers a guaranteed working holiday slot. Wait for official launch details from Immigration New Zealand.
Step-by-Step: How to Prepare and Apply
- Match your job to a cap group. Check the lists above for your exact occupation.
- Check your qualifications. Book an NZQA assessment if your degree is not on the exempt list.
- Start registration early. Teachers, nurses, physiotherapists and engineers may need New Zealand registration or recognition.
- Take an English test in person. Aim for the score your job needs, and keep the result under two years old.
- Find an accredited employer. Ask for a full-time written offer in your listed job.
- Prepare health and character documents. Gather police certificates and medical reports in good time.
- Apply online from outside New Zealand. Pay the fee and levy, and check that places are available.
- Plan your first entry. Travel to New Zealand within six months of the grant.
Planning your New Zealand Visa? Talk to Abroad Gateway.
Both visas look simple on paper. In practice, small errors cause delays. A good New Zealand Visa Consultant helps you avoid them.
- Matching your job and qualifications to the right cap group.
- Planning registration steps with the relevant New Zealand bodies.
- Guiding you on IELTS and other accepted English tests.
- Checking your documents before you apply.
- Explaining stay limits, family rules and residence options in plain terms.
Abroad Gateway supports Indian students and professionals with immigration, study abroad and IELTS coaching. Our offices are in Chandigarh and Mohali.
Nobody can guarantee a job offer or a visa decision. Immigration New Zealand decides every application. Be careful with anyone who promises otherwise.
