The Free Trade Agreement New Zealand and India signed in New Delhi on April 27, 2026 included something unusual for a trade deal: a dedicated new work-visa category for Indian professionals. That provision is still not law. The domestic bill needed to bring the FTA into force, the India Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill, has reached its final parliamentary stage, with New Zealand's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee holding oral hearings on the bill on July 27 and 30, 2026, before reporting back to the House.

What the FTA creates for workers

  • A new Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa allowing up to 5,000 Indian nationals to hold the visa at any one time, each valid for up to three years — equivalent to roughly 1,667 new visas issued per year.
  • Of that annual allocation, about 4,400 places (roughly 1,467 a year) are set aside for occupations on New Zealand's skills-shortage lists, covering sectors such as IT, engineering, healthcare and construction.
  • The remaining 600 places (roughly 200 a year) are reserved for what the agreement calls 'iconic Indian occupations' — a smaller, specialised category tied to India's own areas of expertise.
  • A separate commitment guarantees 1,000 working-holiday visa places for Indian nationals each year.
  • Post-study work rights for Indian graduates are extended by an extra year for PhD holders beyond New Zealand's existing settings; other post-study work-visa lengths largely mirror current rules.

Where the legislation stands

New Zealand's Parliament examined the FTA itself as an international treaty first. The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee received 1,780 written submissions and heard oral evidence from 52 submitters before reporting in late June that the deal's potential benefits were 'significant.' The committee specifically rejected concerns that the visa commitments would meaningfully increase immigration flows, noting the student and post-study work provisions largely mirror settings already in effect.

The implementing bill — separate legislation needed to actually change New Zealand law so the FTA can take effect — passed its first reading on June 25, 2026 and was referred back to the same committee. Written submissions on the bill closed on July 19, and the committee is now hearing oral submissions this week before reporting back to the House. The government has said it is working toward ratification later in 2026, though no firm date has been set.

FTA signed
April 27, 2026, New Delhi
New TEE visa cap
5,000 at any one time (~1,667/year)
Reserved for shortage occupations
~4,400 of the 5,000 (~1,467/year)
Bill's oral hearings
July 27 and 30, 2026

The bill's passage is not guaranteed to be smooth politically. New Zealand First, a coalition partner in the current government, has publicly opposed the labour-mobility provisions, while the opposition Labour Party has indicated it will support the implementing legislation — giving it a path to pass Parliament even without unanimous coalition backing.

It is clear to us that the potential benefits are significant.

New Zealand Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, in its report on the FTA
What this means for Globaris candidates

This visa pathway does not exist yet — it only becomes usable once the implementing bill passes all three readings, receives Royal Assent, and the government formally ratifies the agreement, which is targeted for later in 2026 but has no confirmed date. If you're building a case for New Zealand, this is worth tracking closely over the coming months rather than acting on now. This is a summary of a bill still before Parliament, not legal advice — confirm current visa categories with an accredited source before making any decisions.