India New Zealand FTA Visa 2026: What the 5,000 Work Visas and Working Holiday Scheme Mean for Punjab Applicants
Short answer: The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) enters into force on 20 October 2026. On the visa side, New Zealand has committed to up to 5,000 three-year Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) work visas for Indians at any one time, a Working Holiday Scheme with up to 1,000 places a year for Indians aged 18 to 30, and guaranteed study work rights and post-study work for Indian graduates. These visa routes still have to be built by Immigration New Zealand, so the start of the FTA does not mean you can apply for them on day one.
For families in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and across Punjab, New Zealand has long been a popular choice for study and work. This explainer separates what is confirmed in the official agreement documents from what is still waiting on Immigration New Zealand, so you can plan without falling for "FTA visa open now" claims.
What Is the India New Zealand FTA Visa Package?
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026, and both countries completed ratification on 21 September 2026, according to New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Most of the agreement is about trade, but it includes a mobility chapter with four parts that matter to Punjab applicants:
Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visas for skilled Indian professionals and some "iconic" Indian occupations.
A Working Holiday Scheme for young Indian graduates.
Student work rights while studying in New Zealand.
Post-study work for Indian graduates of New Zealand institutions.
Each is explained below, using MFAT's Key Outcomes page, the official FTA summary and the published annex and side letter.
India New Zealand FTA Visa Options at a Glance
FTA commitment | What is confirmed | Status in October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa | Equivalent of 1,667 visas a year, capped at 5,000 at any one time; each visa up to 3 years | New visa settings needed from Immigration NZ; no application date announced when we checked |
Working Holiday Scheme | Up to 1,000 places a year; ages 18 to 30; stay up to 12 months | NZ committed to launch it within 2 years of the FTA coming into force |
Student work rights | Right to work up to 20 hours a week during study is locked in (current NZ policy allows up to 25) | Current student visa rules continue to apply |
Post-study work | From 2 years for a bachelor's degree up to 4 years for a PhD | Check Immigration NZ for how and when this is applied |
Temporary Employment Entry Visa: 5,000 Places for Skilled Indians
The TEE visa is the headline item. MFAT says New Zealand will provide the equivalent of 1,667 three-year TEE visas each year, capped at 5,000 at any one time. Under the official schedule (Annex 8L), up to 4,400 places are for skilled occupations and up to 600 for iconic Indian occupations.
Skilled occupations in the schedule
IT: software engineers, software and applications programmers, ICT project managers (up to 1,000; bachelor's plus at least five years' experience).
Engineering: civil, mechanical, structural and environmental engineers (up to 1,000).
Construction: construction and building project managers (up to 700).
Education: primary and secondary school teachers with New Zealand teacher registration (up to 500).
Health: registered nurses and physiotherapists with New Zealand registration and at least three years' experience (the remainder of the 4,400).
The skilled stream also asks for IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent test, plus professional registration or a licence where the job needs one.
Iconic Indian occupations
Yoga instructors, Indian chefs, music teachers and Ayush practitioners (such as Ayurveda and Homeopathy), each with its own cap, qualification and experience rules. English requirements range from IELTS 5 (listening and speaking) for yoga instructors and chefs to IELTS 6.5 for music teachers and Ayush practitioners.
Conditions every applicant should know
You need a genuine job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.
The visa is for up to three years with no extension, and you then need to spend at least three years outside New Zealand before using the route again.
MFAT's National Interest Analysis says it is intended that TEE visas will not include work rights for partners, and that dependent children are not intended to get domestic student status.
It is a temporary route. The annex covers people on fixed-term contracts with no intention to settle; it is not a residence pathway in itself.
For many Punjab nurses, engineers and IT professionals, the route could become useful, but only once Immigration New Zealand publishes the visa rules, fees and application process.
Working Holiday Scheme for Young Indians
According to the official side letter, New Zealand will grant up to 1,000 multiple-entry working holiday visas a year. To qualify, you must:
Be aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) when you apply.
Hold a tertiary qualification from at least three years of full-time study.
Have at least functional English.
Have enough funds to support yourself.
Travel without dependants.
You could stay for up to 12 months, work up to 6 months with any one employer, and study or train for up to 4 months. New Zealand has committed to launch the scheme within two years of the agreement coming into force, so it may open any time up to October 2028. Watch Immigration New Zealand for the opening date.
What It Means for Punjab Students
The FTA codifies the right of Indian students to work up to 20 hours a week during study. MFAT notes that current policy already allows up to 25 hours, so this is a guaranteed minimum rather than a cut. The agreement also commits New Zealand to post-study work ranging from two years after a bachelor's degree to four years after a PhD.
In practice:
Student visa rules, funds requirements and English score requirements are still set by Immigration New Zealand. See our guide to IELTS score requirements by country.
Choose your course for its post-study work eligibility, not only its price. Our explainer on the New Zealand short-term graduate work visa covers recent changes to graduate work options.
The FTA does not cap the number of Indian students, but each student visa is still assessed on its own merits.
How Punjab Applicants Can Prepare Now
You cannot apply for a TEE or FTA working holiday visa until Immigration New Zealand opens these routes, but you can prepare:
Check your occupation against the schedule above and gather degree certificates and experience letters.
Start registration early if you are a nurse, physiotherapist or teacher. New Zealand registration can take months.
Take IELTS or an accepted equivalent and aim for the band your occupation needs.
Get your documents in order, including a valid passport, police clearance and a CV showing years of experience.
Ignore anyone selling "FTA job visas" today. No job offer or visa should be bought. Real offers come from accredited New Zealand employers.
Keep other routes open. Existing New Zealand work and student visas still apply. Read our New Zealand immigration guide.
Talk to World Immigration Terminal
Want to know whether the India–New Zealand FTA could work for your profile? World Immigration Terminal is a licensed immigration consultancy in Jalandhar (licence 668/ALC-4/LA/FN:905). We help Punjab students, nurses, engineers and families compare New Zealand options with Canada, Australia and the UK, check documents and track official announcements. Book a consultation with our team. We give honest advice and never promise a visa outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the India–New Zealand FTA come into force?
MFAT and the New Zealand Government say the agreement enters into force on 20 October 2026. It was signed on 27 April 2026, and both countries completed ratification on 21 September 2026.
Can I apply for the New Zealand FTA work visa from 20 October 2026?
Not straight away. The Temporary Employment Entry visa needs new visa settings from Immigration New Zealand. When we checked in October 2026, Immigration New Zealand had not published an application date or fee. Watch immigration.govt.nz for the official launch.
How many work visas will New Zealand give Indians under the FTA?
Up to 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas at any one time, which works out to about 1,667 a year. Up to 4,400 are for skilled occupations such as IT, engineering, construction, teaching and health, and up to 600 for iconic occupations such as yoga instructors and Indian chefs.
Can my spouse work in New Zealand if I get a TEE visa?
MFAT's National Interest Analysis says it is intended that TEE visas will not include work rights for partners. Confirm the final rules with Immigration New Zealand when the visa opens.
Who can apply for the India–New Zealand working holiday visa?
Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with a tertiary qualification from at least three years of full-time study, functional English, enough funds and no accompanying dependants. There are up to 1,000 places a year, and New Zealand must launch the scheme within two years of the FTA coming into force.
Does the FTA change post-study work for Indian students in New Zealand?
The FTA commits New Zealand to post-study work for Indian graduates, from two years after a bachelor's degree up to four years after a PhD. It also guarantees at least 20 hours a week of work during study. Current visa rules still apply, so check Immigration New Zealand for details.
Last verified: October 2026. Immigration rules, visa dates and fees change often, and several FTA visa routes had not opened when this article was written. This article is general information and does not guarantee any outcome. Confirm details on the official MFAT and Immigration New Zealand websites, or consult World Immigration Terminal before you apply.
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