India and New Zealand clinched a historic free trade agreement on Monday, expanding market access, supporting export growth and enabling collaboration in areas like agriculture, education and employment.
In a first, the New Zealand government has agreed to do away with numerical caps on Indian students for post-study work visas, guaranteeing more security and certainty.
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The agreement also guarantees a minimum of 20 hours per week work during study, and provides extended post-study work opportunities of up to three years for STEM Bachelor's and Master's graduates, and up to four years for Doctorate holders-creating clear pathways for skills development and global careers.
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Numerical caps on these visas refer to strict limits on the number of permits issued for them, often implemented to control immigration.
In the past, such student provisions were determined by temporary, flexible immigration policies, which brewed uncertainty. They were also subject to being changed by NZ immigration authorities.
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The immigration authorities of New Zeland have, time and again, tightened the norms surrounding to student immigration and post-study work visas taking into account the quantum of international influx of students.
In 2018, the eligibility criteria for post-study work visas was tightened by giving more generous (that is, longer duration) work rights to students with higher qualifications. These visas, which are classified under 'temporary entry class', are viewed as a gateway to residency.
Further, the FTA also enhances youth mobility through multiple-entry 'Working Holiday Visas' for 1,000 young Indians annually, valid for 12 months, promoting global exposure, skills acquisition, and people to-people linkages.
New provisions for Indian professionals in skilled occupations have also been introduced under the FTA, with a quota of 5,000 visas at any given time and a stay of up to three years categorised as Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) Visa pathway.
This pathway covers Indian professions such as AYUSH practitioners, yoga instructors, Indian chefs, and music teachers, as well as high-demand sectors including IT, engineering, healthcare, education, and construction, strengthening skilled workforce mobility and services trade.
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