NZ vs Australia Post-Study Work in 2026: Honest Comparison

Both Australia and New Zealand made significant changes to their post-study work visa rules in 2026. Australia's subclass 485 fee nearly doubled and the age limit dropped. New Zealand added a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and expanded who qualifies for the Post Study Work Visa. If you are deciding where to study partly based on what comes after graduation, this is the year where the two countries pulled noticeably further apart on cost, and a little closer on access.

This post compares the two visa pathways directly. It draws on the facts from our detailed guides on each: the Australia 485 changes in 2026 and the NZ PSWV November 2026 changes. Check those for the full rules; this post focuses on the comparison.

The fees

This is where the gap is clearest.

Australia's subclass 485 costs AUD 4,600 as of 1 March 2026, up from AUD 2,300. That is the primary applicant fee only. Add an adult dependant at AUD 2,300 and you are at AUD 6,900 before health insurance and police checks.

New Zealand's Post Study Work Visa costs NZD $1,670, made up of a NZD $320 application fee and a NZD $1,350 immigration levy, per the official Immigration New Zealand PSWV page.

The cost difference is real and has been widening through successive Australian fee increases in 2024, 2025, and 2026. ICEF Monitor put the Australian fee at more than twice the UK equivalent and more than ten times the Canadian equivalent after the March 2026 increase.

Duration: how long you can stay

Both countries tie duration to what you studied.

For New Zealand:

• Bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree studied in NZ for at least 30 weeks: up to 3 years
• Level 7 Graduate Diploma + a bachelor's degree (from anywhere): up to 1 year (new from 16 November 2026)
• Lower-level qualifications: period matched to the length of study, per the INZ PSWV page

For Australia:

• Bachelor's or master's by coursework: 2 years
• Master's by research or PhD: 3 years
• HK/BNO passport holders: 5 years

On duration alone, the two countries are roughly comparable for master's and PhD graduates. At the bachelor's level, New Zealand edges ahead (3 years versus 2), which is an underappreciated difference. A 2026 bachelor's graduate choosing between the two countries gets an extra year of open work rights in New Zealand.

Eligibility: who qualifies in each country

Both visas require that you completed your study in the country (not offshore), held a valid student visa while studying, and are applying from within the country.

Australia adds:

• Age limit of 35 at the time of application (exceptions: master's by research, PhD, HK/BNO under 50)
• The qualification must be from a CRICOS-registered course
• You must apply from within Australia

New Zealand has no general age cut-off for the PSWV. It also accepts a bachelor's degree from any country for the new Graduate Diploma pathway, which is a notable flexibility.

For Indian students who graduated after 30 or are returning to study mid-career, the absence of an age limit in New Zealand is a practical advantage.

English requirements

Australia requires an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5, and the test result must be issued within 12 months of lodging the application.

New Zealand does not impose a separate English language test for the PSWV. Your English was assessed by your education provider for admission, and the PSWV does not add another hurdle on top. There is no one-year validity clock on a test score.

This matters practically. If you graduated two years ago and your IELTS from student admission is now dated, Australia requires a new test at AUD 350 or more. New Zealand does not.

Work rights on each visa

Both visas are open work visas. You can work for any employer, in any role, in any sector. Neither requires a job offer before applying.

On the New Zealand PSWV, your partner can apply for a work visa, and your children can apply for student visas.

On the Australian 485, dependants can also be included, with an adult dependant fee of AUD 2,300. Master's by research and PhD students in Australia have no hourly work limit during study either, which is relevant context when comparing the study experience as well as the post-study period.

What happens after the visa expires

After the PSWV in New Zealand, the typical path for graduates who want to stay longer is the Accredited Employer Work Visa with an employer who is accredited under INZ's system. From there, the Green List and Skilled Migrant Category offer residence pathways for occupations in demand.

After the 485 in Australia, the path to longer stay is typically a skilled employer-sponsored visa or a points-based skilled migration application. Both require experience and occupation eligibility, and both involve the Department of Home Affairs' points test and occupation lists.

Neither country guarantees a path to permanent residence from a student visa, and no one should tell you it does. What both countries offer is a post-study work period long enough to build the experience that a PR application needs. How competitive your profile is depends on your occupation and the state of the labour market when you apply.

The job market: an honest view

Australia's economy is larger. Sydney and Melbourne together have more graduate roles across more sectors than any New Zealand city. If you are in finance, consulting, or technology in particular, the depth of the Australian market is a real advantage. Competition is also higher, and living costs in Sydney and Melbourne are among the highest in the world.

New Zealand's market is smaller but less crowded for specific occupations. Healthcare, engineering, construction, and technology all show consistent demand in New Zealand, and the smaller pool of applicants in some roles means a graduate with the right skills has a clearer run. Auckland is not cheap, but Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton offer materially lower living costs with comparable professional opportunities in many fields.

Neither country is universally better for job prospects. The right question is where demand is strongest for your specific field.

Who should lean toward Australia

• You are studying at a Go8 or major research university and your field has the deepest presence in Sydney or Melbourne
• You are within the age limit (34 or under at application)
• You have a current IELTS result or can sit a new one before applying
• You are comfortable with the AUD 4,600 application cost
• You want the widest possible job market and big-city scale

Who should lean toward New Zealand

• You are completing a bachelor's degree and want three years of post-study work rather than two
• You are 35 or older and would fall outside Australia's age limit
• Your IELTS result is more than 12 months old and you would need to retake it for Australia
• You prefer a smaller, less crowded job market, particularly in health, engineering, or agriculture
• The lower overall cost of studying and the post-study visa fee matters to your budget

The broader picture

Post-study work rights are one factor in where to study. Visa approval rates, cost of living, university quality in your subject, and where you actually want to spend two or three years of your life all weigh in. For a full side-by-side comparison of studying in the two countries (not just the post-study period), see our Australia vs New Zealand guide for Indian students.

If you want this comparison applied to your specific qualification, field, and timeline, book a free consultation and we can work through the numbers with you.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs, Post-Higher Education Work stream, Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485): 485 fee, age, English, and duration.
• Immigration New Zealand, Post Study Work Visa: PSWV eligibility, duration, and November 2026 Graduate Diploma extension.
• ICEF Monitor, Australia doubles post-study work visa application fee: fee context and international comparison.
• The PIE News, New Zealand confirms November rollout of graduate work visa: Short-term Graduate Work Visa and PSWV extension details.

Last updated: 4 June 2026.