India–New Zealand FTA brings first-of-its-kind student, skilled worker visa framework

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India and New Zealand have agreed on expanded mobility commitments under a free trade agreement (FTA), marking the first time Wellington has formalised student and skilled worker visa pathways in an FTA. The commitments create dedicated routes for Indian students, skilled professionals and youth, with the conclusion of negotiations on the FTA announced on December 22.

As part of the mobility package, New Zealand will introduce a dedicated framework for Indian students, removing numerical caps and guaranteeing a minimum of 20 hours of work per week during study, India's minister for commerce Piyush Goyal said in a press briefing. "The agreement also provides extended post-study work opportunities, allowing up to three years of work visas for STEM bachelor’s and master’s graduates, and up to four years for doctoral graduates," he said.

The trade pact also establishes a new Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa pathway for Indian professionals. Under this route, up to 5,000 Indian nationals will be permitted to work in New Zealand at any given time, with a maximum stay of three years. The pathway covers India-specific professions such as AYUSH practitioners, yoga instructors, Indian chefs and music teachers, as well as skilled roles in sectors including information technology, engineering, healthcare, education and construction.

Youth mobility has also been expanded through the grant of 1,000 Working Holiday Visas annually for Indian nationals. These visas will be multiple-entry and valid for 12 months, allowing short-term work and travel.

The mobility provisions are supported by New Zealand’s services market access commitments, covering about 118 services sectors, with most-favoured-nation treatment extended to 139 sub-sectors. These include computer-related services, professional services, education, healthcare, tourism and construction, linking movement of professionals with services trade.

India’s trade agreements in the past have typically limited mobility provisions to short-term business visitors or narrowly defined professional categories. In contrast, the India–New Zealand agreement outlines explicit visa pathways with defined quotas, work rights during study and extended post-study employment options, integrating education, skilled employment and services trade.

The mobility commitments will take effect after the agreement is signed and completes domestic legal procedures in both countries. The FTA is likely to take effect next year.

Beyond mobility, the India–New Zealand FTA delivers full tariff liberalisation on New Zealand’s side, with 100% of India’s exports receiving duty-free market access across all tariff lines. India has offered market access in about 70% of tariff lines, covering roughly 95% of bilateral trade value, while keeping close to 30% of tariff lines in an exclusion list to protect sensitive sectors such as dairy, certain agricultural products, metals and jewellery. Tariff elimination on New Zealand imports into India will be a mix of immediate cuts and phased reductions over three to ten years, alongside limited tariff-rate quotas for selected farm products.