Spouse Visa New Zealand 2026: Partner of Student Work Visa — Eligibility, Green List & Process

New Zealand spouse visa for students is the most misunderstood immigration topic among Indian families planning to study abroad in 2026. The single biggest misconception? That every international student in New Zealand can bring their spouse on a work visa. This is categorically false. The New Zealand spouse visa for students — officially called the Partner of a Student Work Visa — is available ONLY to partners of students enrolled in Level 9 (Master's) or Level 10 (PhD) programmes, OR students in Level 7/8 programmes that are on Immigration New Zealand's Green List. For Indian students in 2026, understanding this distinction before choosing your programme is absolutely critical — because selecting the wrong qualification level means your spouse will have no legal right to work in New Zealand for the entire duration of your studies. In this definitive guide, EEC — with 27+ years of experience and 50,000+ Indian students placed globally — explains every rule, every exception, every document, and every cost associated with the New Zealand spouse visa for students in 2026. We cover eligibility, the Green List exception, the step-by-step application process, work rights, relationship evidence requirements, children's schooling, and what happens to your partner's visa after you graduate and move to the Post-Study Work Visa stage.

Eligibility — Which Programmes Qualify for the New Zealand Spouse Visa for Students in 2026

This is the section every Indian student must read carefully. The Partner of a Student Work Visa is NOT universally available. Immigration New Zealand restricts partner visa eligibility based on the NZQF (New Zealand Qualifications Framework) level of the main student's programme. As of 2026, the rules are clear and non-negotiable:

The table above is the single most important reference for married Indian students planning to study in New Zealand in 2026. If you are enrolling in a Level 9 Master's or Level 10 PhD programme, your spouse automatically qualifies for the Partner of a Student Work Visa with full open work rights. If you are enrolling in a Level 7 Bachelor's or Level 8 Postgraduate Diploma, your spouse qualifies ONLY if your programme's occupation is on the Green List. If you are enrolling in any programme at Level 6 or below, your spouse has NO pathway to a work visa in New Zealand during your studies — full stop.

For Indian students weighing their options in 2026, this eligibility rule often tips the programme choice toward a master's degree. A Master's in New Zealand not only guarantees partner visa eligibility but also provides unlimited work rights for the main student during studies (Master's and PhD students can work more than the standard 25 hours per week), a 3-year Post-Study Work Visa, and stronger SMC points for PR. The additional tuition investment for a master's versus a bachelor's is often recovered within months through your partner's earnings — at NZD $23.95/hr minimum wage (from April 1, 2026), a partner working full-time earns approximately NZD $49,856 per year.

Green List Level 7/8 — The Exception That Changes Everything for Indian Students

The Green List is Immigration New Zealand's register of occupations experiencing genuine skill shortages. If your Level 7 (Bachelor's) or Level 8 (Postgraduate Diploma/Honours) programme leads directly to a Green List occupation, your partner qualifies for the Partner of a Student Work Visa — even though Level 7/8 programmes do not normally provide partner visa eligibility. This exception is critical for Indian students in 2026 who prefer a bachelor's or postgraduate diploma over a master's but still need their spouse to work in New Zealand.

Key Green List occupations relevant to Indian students include: Software Engineers, ICT Security Specialists, Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Registered Nurses, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Construction Project Managers, and several other roles. The Green List is updated periodically by Immigration New Zealand, and eligibility is determined at the time of visa application — not at the time of enrolment. This means Indian students should verify the current Green List before making programme decisions.

For Indian students considering the Green List pathway in 2026, engineering and ICT programmes at New Zealand universities offer the strongest alignment. The University of Canterbury's Bachelor of Engineering (QS #261 globally), the University of Auckland's Bachelor of Software Engineering (QS #65), and AUT's Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences all lead directly to Green List occupations — meaning your partner gets full work rights even at Level 7. Indian students planning to study in New Zealand without IELTS should also check whether their chosen university accepts alternative English proficiency evidence for these programmes.

Application Process — Step-by-Step Guide for Indian Students Applying for the New Zealand Spouse Visa in 2026

The Partner of a Student Work Visa application follows a structured process through Immigration New Zealand's online system (Immigration Online, launched August 18, 2025). Indian students and their partners should follow these steps in order. Missing documents or incorrect submissions result in delays or rejection — there is no "correction window" after submission.

Step 1: Main Student Secures Student Visa First

The main student must hold a valid New Zealand student visa before the partner can apply. The partner visa is directly linked to the main student's visa — if the student visa is denied or expires, the partner visa cannot be issued. Indian students should apply for their student visa well in advance and ensure it is approved before their partner begins the Partner of a Student Work Visa application.

Step 2: Confirm Programme-Level Eligibility

Before applying, verify that the main student's programme qualifies for partner visa eligibility. As covered above, this means Level 9 (Master's), Level 10 (PhD), or Level 7/8 on the Green List. Immigration New Zealand will check the programme's NZQF level during processing — if it does not qualify, the application will be declined regardless of other evidence.

Step 3: Gather Relationship Evidence

Immigration New Zealand requires comprehensive proof that the relationship is genuine and stable. This is the most document-intensive part of the application. Required evidence includes: marriage certificate (or proof of 12+ months living together for de facto partners), joint bank account statements, shared tenancy or property agreements, photographs together over time, communication history (call logs, messages), and statutory declarations from family members. Indian students should begin collecting this evidence months before applying.

Step 4: Submit Online Application

The partner submits their application through Immigration Online (immigration.govt.nz). The application requires: a completed partner visa form, the main student's student visa details, relationship evidence package, passport copies, medical examination results, police clearance certificates (Indian PCC from Passport Seva Kendra), and the visa fee of NZD $1,630 (approximately ₹82,000). The partner must also demonstrate NZD $4,200 in living expenses (approximately ₹2.1 Lakhs).

Step 5: Medical and Police Clearance

Both the main student and the partner need to provide medical examination results from an Immigration New Zealand-approved panel physician in India. The partner also needs a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Passport Seva Kendra. Processing times for Indian PCCs are typically 2–3 weeks, so apply early.

Step 6: Visa Decision

Immigration New Zealand processes Partner of a Student Work Visa applications within 4–8 weeks for most Indian applicants. The visa is granted for the same duration as the main student's student visa. If the main student's visa is extended (e.g., for further study), the partner can apply to extend their work visa accordingly.

Work Rights — What Your Partner Can Do in New Zealand on the Spouse Visa (2026)

The Partner of a Student Work Visa grants open work rights in New Zealand. This means your spouse can work for any employer, in any role, in any location, without any employer-specific restriction. There is no requirement for the partner to find a job before arriving — the visa itself grants the right to seek and accept employment freely. For Indian families in 2026, this is an enormous financial advantage.

At the new minimum wage of NZD $23.95/hr (effective April 1, 2026), a partner working full-time (40 hours/week) earns approximately NZD $958/week or NZD $49,856/year before tax. After New Zealand tax (approximately 17.5% effective rate at this income level), the take-home is roughly NZD $41,131/year — approximately ₹20.6 Lakhs. This income alone can cover the majority of a couple's living expenses in New Zealand, which are approximately NZD $20,000/year per person. Combined with the main student's part-time earnings of up to 25 hours/week at NZD $23.95/hr (NZD $31,135/year before tax), a married Indian couple can earn NZD $75,000–$81,000/year — enough to cover all living expenses and save toward tuition and fees.

In addition to work rights, the Partner of a Student Work Visa allows your spouse to study for up to 3 months during the visa period. This is useful for short professional development courses, English language improvement programmes, or industry certifications — but not for enrolling in a full degree programme. If your partner wants to study full-time in New Zealand, they must apply for their own student visa separately.

“The partner visa is what makes the New Zealand pathway financially viable for married Indian couples. Your spouse earns NZD $49,856/year at minimum wage — that's more than enough to cover both partners' living expenses while the main student focuses on their degree.”

— EEC New Zealand Advisory Team, 27+ Years of Study Abroad Expertise

The visa duration matches the main student's student visa. If the main student holds a 2-year student visa for a Master's programme, the partner's work visa is also issued for 2 years. Extensions are possible if the main student extends their student visa. Indian students planning their education loan structure should factor in their partner's earning potential — many lenders consider household income when structuring repayment plans.

Relationship Evidence — Proving Your Partnership to Immigration New Zealand (2026)

Immigration New Zealand takes relationship evidence seriously. The partner visa application requires proof that the relationship is genuine and stable — not a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes. Indian couples must provide a comprehensive evidence package. Insufficient or weak evidence is one of the top reasons for partner visa refusals for Indian applicants.

For Married Couples

Indian students who are legally married must provide: an official marriage certificate (registered marriage, not just religious ceremony), joint bank account statements showing shared finances, shared tenancy or property documents, photographs together at different life events (wedding, travel, family gatherings), communication history if the couple has been apart (WhatsApp/phone records), and at least two statutory declarations from family members or friends who can attest to the genuineness of the relationship.

For De Facto (Unmarried) Partners

Immigration New Zealand recognises de facto partnerships if the couple has lived together for 12 or more months. Evidence required includes: joint tenancy agreement or utility bills showing the same address for 12+ months, joint bank account statements, shared financial commitments (insurance, subscriptions), photographs together, communication history, and statutory declarations. This pathway is less common for Indian applicants but is fully valid under New Zealand immigration law.

Common mistakes Indian applicants make include: submitting only a marriage certificate without supporting evidence (Immigration New Zealand requires more than just a marriage certificate), providing low-quality or undated photographs, failing to include communication records during periods of separation, and not including statutory declarations from third parties. Each of these weaknesses can result in a Request for Further Information (RFI) — which delays processing by weeks — or an outright decline if the evidence is deemed insufficient.

Children & Dependents — Bringing Your Family to New Zealand in 2026

Indian students with children can bring them to New Zealand, but the rules differ based on the main student's programme level. Children of international students can attend New Zealand schools, but international school fees may apply — and these fees can be substantial (NZD $10,000–$15,000/year for primary school, NZD $15,000–$20,000/year for secondary school).

The exception is for Level 9 (Master's) and Level 10 (PhD) students: children of these students may be eligible for domestic school fees in some cases, significantly reducing the cost of schooling. PhD students in particular receive the most generous family provisions — domestic tuition fees for themselves (NZD $6,500–$9,000/year), unlimited work rights, partner visa eligibility, and potential domestic school fee rates for children. For Indian families considering a PhD in New Zealand, the combined financial benefits make it one of the most affordable study-with-family pathways in the world.

Children's visa applications are submitted alongside or after the partner's visa application. Each child requires their own visa application, passport, medical examination, and fee. Indian families should budget for these additional costs when planning their New Zealand study journey. Visit your nearest EEC centre for a comprehensive family visa planning session.

After Graduation — Partner Visa During the Post-Study Work Visa Stage (2026)

What happens to your spouse's visa when you graduate and transition from a student visa to the Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV)? The partner visa rules change at the PSWV stage, and they are actually broader than the student stage in some respects. Here is the 2026 comparison:

The key difference at the PSWV stage is eligibility. During the student visa stage, partner visa eligibility is based on the main student's programme level. During the PSWV stage, eligibility is based on the main holder's qualification level (for Level 9/10) or the occupation they actually work in (for Green List Level 7/8). This means a Level 7 Bachelor's graduate who finds a job in a Green List occupation (e.g., Software Engineer) during their PSWV can bring their partner — even if they could not during the student visa stage (unless the programme itself was on the Green List).

After the PSWV stage, Indian graduates who transition to SMC (Skilled Migrant Category) residence can bring their partner on a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with even broader eligibility. The August 2026 SMC changes — reducing required work experience from 3 to 2 years — mean Indian students graduating in 2026 could achieve residence by 2028, and their partner would then have unrestricted access to the New Zealand labour market permanently. For married Indian students, this study-to-residence timeline of approximately 4 years (2 years study + 2 years PSWV/work) is among the shortest family migration pathways available globally in 2026.

Indian students planning for the long term should also explore Australia and Canada as alternatives. Australia offers spouse work rights for all programme levels (no Green List restriction), while Canada restricts spouse work permits to Master's 16+ months and PhD programmes. For a comprehensive comparison, read EEC's New Zealand vs Australia vs Canada guide.

“The August 2026 SMC changes are a game-changer for married Indian couples. With only 2 years of work experience now needed for PR, a couple can go from student visa to permanent residency in roughly 4 years — the shortest family migration pathway New Zealand has ever offered.”

— EEC Immigration Advisory Team, 27+ Years of Study Abroad Expertise

Frequently Asked Questions — New Zealand Spouse Visa for Students 2026

Indian students and their partners have many questions about the New Zealand spouse visa for students. Here are the most common questions answered by EEC's immigration experts, based on 27+ years of experience guiding Indian families to New Zealand: