How does the post-study work permit duration compare for New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK for a Master's/PhD?
New Zealand offers the longest post-study work permit for master's graduates (up to 3 years), followed by Ireland (up to 2 years with a possible extension), and the UK (currently 2 years, reducing to 18 months from 2027).
- New Zealand: Up to 3 years for master's/PhD (Level 9/10) with at least 30 weeks of full-time study; duration typically matches course length for bachelor's/postgraduate diploma. Open work rights. - Ireland: Up to 12 months for bachelor's (Level 8); up to 24 months for master's/PhD (Level 9/10) with a possible 12-month extension based on job search efforts. Full-time work allowed. - UK: 2 years for bachelor's/master's if applying by Dec 31, 2026; 18 months for applications from Jan 1, 2027. PhD: 3 years. Graduate Visa is non-extendable.
Visa durations and policies are subject to change.
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