India–NZ FTA to Allow 1,667 Skilled Worker Visas Annually

• New Zealand and India finalize FTA, boosting trade, education, and skilled mobility.
• The agreement allows 1,667 annual skilled work visas for priority shortage occupations.
• Supports working holidays, scholarships, and academic partnerships for Indian students.

New Zealand and India have finalized a Free Trade Agreement that notably enhances economic, mobility, and educational collaborations between the two nations.

Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister, stated that the agreement allows New Zealand exporters to tap into a market of almost 1.4 billion consumers and represents one of the most extensive trade deals that India has established with any partner.

As part of the agreement, an important aspect of the deal pertains to skilled mobility. The New Zealand government states that the agreement creates a pathway for up to 1,667 skilled work visas over three years each year. These visas will not be renewable and will focus on essential occupations experiencing shortages in New Zealand, such as doctors, nurses, teachers, information and communication technology specialists, and engineers.

The positions qualifying for this arrangement will be selected from New Zealand’s skills shortage ‘Green List’. Authorities have stated that all current immigration evaluations, qualification assessments, and experience criteria will remain in effect. The government has maintained the ability to revise the Green List according to evolving labor market requirements.

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Alongside skilled visas, the agreement synchronizes New Zealand’s Working Holiday Scheme with the terms provided in Australia’s trade agreement with India. This will enable 1,000 Indian nationals annually to engage in working holiday opportunities in New Zealand, designed to assist workforce needs in industries such as tourism and rural sectors.

In line with these efforts, a partial scholarship package worth NZ$260,000 was revealed under the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025 to assist Indian students studying for higher education in New Zealand. During the visit, notable institutional partnerships included collaborations between Manipal Academy of Higher Education and the University of Auckland, along with the University of Auckland and IIT Kharagpur.