New Zealand and India Strengthen Ties Through Education and Work Opportunities
New Zealand has made a significant step in its relationship with India by signing a new agreement focused on student mobility and post-study work rights as part of a broader free trade agreement (FTA). This marks the first time such an annex has been created, highlighting the importance of education and career paths in their partnership.
The agreement offers key benefits for Indian students, including the ability to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week while studying. Moreover, it clarifies how graduates can secure work visas for up to three years after they finish their studies, with doctoral candidates able to extend this period to four years.
While Indian students studying in New Zealand currently have some work rights and can apply for post-study visas, this new agreement assures these rights specifically for them, providing a more stable and predictable environment for future students.
In addition to student pathways, the FTA introduces a new visa option for Indian professionals, allowing for 1,667 Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visas each year for three years. This program has a total cap of 5,000 visa holders at any time and includes various sectors such as IT, healthcare, engineering, and even roles like yoga instructors and Indian chefs.
Furthermore, a separate working holiday scheme will permit 1,000 young Indians to live and work in New Zealand for up to a year, contributing to a thoughtful approach to mobility.
Vijeta Kanwar from New Zealand Gateway emphasized that these provisions will only be effective if Indian students are treated fairly and perceived positively by the institutions. She pointed out that for New Zealand to truly benefit from this agreement, perceptions need to change in favor of high-quality Indian students.
Despite New Zealand being a popular choice among Indian students, it has not traditionally topped their lists. Kshitij Garg, managing director at Estero Education Services, shared that even though interest in studying in New Zealand is increasing, it’s crucial to see how this translates into actual applications and enrollment.
As a recent survey ranked New Zealand as one of the top three study destinations, interest from India is growing. However, tighter financial checks and regulations can influence this trend. Looking ahead, stakeholders agree that clear policies and realistic expectations will be vital for success.
Kanwar also noted that while the new visa arrangements for Indian professionals represent a small fraction of New Zealand’s overall skilled migration, they have sparked some debate regarding their impact on the local labor market amid challenging economic conditions.
Even with many New Zealanders moving abroad, particularly to Australia, optimism about net migration remains, fueled partly by these new mobility initiatives. Kanwar indicated that the positive outlook is due to New Zealand’s welcoming nature, quality of life, safety, and excellent post-study work opportunities.
Beyond educational exchanges, the FTA will lower tariffs on important imports like kiwis and apples while opening doors for Indian exports. This agreement, which concluded after nine months of discussions, will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s exports to India, impacting 118 service sectors such as professional services, construction, and tourism. The agreement is now awaiting approval from New Zealand’s parliament, where such trade deals typically receive bipartisan support.
