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Highlights: New Zealand Approves NZD 260,000 Excellence Awards Scholarship for Indian Aspirants  

• The New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) offered eligible Indian students a NZ$260,000 scholarship for the 2025 application cycle.
• The Excellence Award scholarship provides funding for higher studies at eight globally ranked universities in New Zealand.
• The NZEA initiative helps Indian students gain exposure to higher education and a work-ready learning approach in New Zealand.
• Indian students aged 18 or older are eligible to apply for the scholarship, provided they do not hold New Zealand or Australian permanent residence.
• New Zealand’s Excellence Awards program supports students across fields, focusing on applied learning, practical knowledge, problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation.

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New Zealand’s Excellence Awards Sanctioned NZD 260,000 Scholarship to Indian Students  

The New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) is a scholarship program for eligible Indian students to study at eight globally acclaimed universities in New Zealand. The NZEA initiative is a collaboration between Education New Zealand and eight affiliated universities, offering NZ$260,000 in higher education funding. The scheme provided financial support to Indian students to live and study in the country for international exposure.

The country sanctioned   NZ$260,000 in the 2025 academic cycle, reinforcing its intention to promote global talent. Indian applicants aged 18 or older are eligible to apply for the scholarship program, provided they do not hold a New Zealand or Australian PR.

Additionally, you need to meet the visa requirements set by Immigration New Zealand and pursue an unconditional course under NZEA to qualify for the process.

The NZEA financial assistance is extended to students applying for courses across any of New Zealand’s eight globally acclaimed universities. Indian students enrolled in courses focused on problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation are more likely to receive scholarship approval.

New Zealand’s Excellence Awards program is designed to encourage applied learning and practical knowledge parallel to academic studies.

Institutes like the University of Auckland, the University of Otago, the University of Canterbury, and Victoria University of Wellington, among others, participate in the NZEA program designed for students from India.

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Why Apply for the New Zealand Excellence Awards Scholarship in 2026?

The Excellence Awards Scholarship in New Zealand is created to benefit Indian students in the following ways:

• Grants NZ$260,000 scholarship funding to support higher education and lifestyle expenses in New Zealand.
• Scope to study in one of the eight universities ranked among the top 2% globally according to QS World University Rankings 2025.
• Access to high-quality education focused on problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation.
• Promotes technical knowledge along with practical skills.
• Offers industry exposure through internships and work-based projects during their studies.
• Highlights employability as the main outcome for higher studies.
   

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Highlights: New Zealand’s Pathway Visa Simplifies the Admission Process for International Students

• New Zealand announced a new Pathway Student visa to simplify the admission process for international students.
• The Pathway Student visa in New Zealand allows overseas students to study multiple courses under a single permit, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
• The visa is a pilot program that allows students to enroll in up to 3 courses consecutively at different affiliated NZ universities.
• International students can live in New Zealand for up to 5 years while pursuing courses with approved Pathway Education Providers.
• Eligible students can also work part-time up to 25 hours/week and full-time during scheduled holidays.

*Want to apply for a New Zealand student visa? Let Y-Axis guide you with the process.
 

New Zealand Pathway Student Visa To Support Multi-Course Approach

New Zealand is offering a Pathway Student visa to international students wanting to pursue multiple courses in the country. Under the single Pathway permit, students can enroll in three courses consecutively. This structured immigration route is suitable for students planning long-term education in the country.

Students eligible for a Pathway visa can live in New Zealand up to 5 years while completing a planned sequence of courses through approved Pathway Education Providers.

Pathway student visa holders in the country must meet the individual course-specific requirements to transition to the next program. During the course duration, students are allowed to work part-time (25 hours/week) and full-time during scheduled holidays.

The New Zealand government intends to maintain educational continuity for international students through its newly introduced Pathway visa. Students with a single-pathway permit do not need to apply for new visas when switching programs repeatedly.

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New Zealand launches Short-Term Graduate Work Visa and expands post-study work options. Apply Now!

 

Benefits of the Pathway Student Visa in New Zealand

New Zealand’s Pathway Student visa is an initiative to streamline the educational process for international students. The single permit pathway simplifies the visa application process by eliminating the need to apply for a visa each time a course ends.

The benefits of the Pathway visa for overseas students in New Zealand are as follows:

• Structured immigration route for students with long-term overseas educational plans.
• Eligibility to enroll in up to three courses consecutively under the same permit.
• Eliminates the need for separate visas for each stage of study.
• Valid for 5 years to complete a planned sequence of courses.
• Students are eligible to work part-time (25 hours/week) and full-time (during scheduled breaks) while pursuing an academic program.
• Applicable for students enrolled under a broad range of affiliated universities, institutes of technology, private training establishments, and schools across New Zealand.
• Reduced visa costs and processing times, promoting a practical immigration pathway.

 

Note: Existing approved Pathway Education Providers can support applications, as the programme is not yet open to new institutions.
 

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Highlights: Greece Introduces Tech and Talent Visas with Simplified EU Blue Card Rules

• Greece has launched new Tech and Talent Visas and is streamlining the EU Blue Card rules, effective from February 6, 2026.  
• To qualify for the new Tech visa, skilled professionals must have a job offer in any registered tech startup in Greece.
• The Talent visa is granted to foreign postgraduates, allowing them to enter Greece and seek employment.
• Under the revised Greek immigration policies, the validity of an EU Blue Card has been increased from 2 to 3 years.
• The Greek government also announced a new Specialized Technical Personnel visa, along with changes to work permits to offer greater flexibility for foreign workers.

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Greece announced Tech and Talent Visas, with faster access to the EU Blue Card for Foreign Professionals

Greece has recently announced a new Tech and Talent Visa while simplifying EU Blue Card rules to meet high workforce demand in the country. The immigration reforms took effect on February 6, 2026, highlighting the country’s initiative to streamline the hiring process.

 

As part of the changes, Greece has introduced a new Specialized Technical Personnel visa and updated work permit policies.

 

The following are the implementations under Greece’s latest immigration updates in February:

 

Tech Visa

Foreign workers employed at a registered tech startup in Greece are eligible to apply for a Tech visa. The permit will provide immediate work authorisation for professionals to operate legally in the country. Upon a job change or termination of the current employment contract, tech visa holders will lose their immigration status.

 

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Highest Paying Jobs in Greece for Indians

 

Talent Visa

Skilled professionals can apply for a Talent visa to migrate to Greece, provided they have at least a Master’s degree in a relevant field. The Talent visa allows foreign nationals to enter Greece and seek employment; however, it does not offer direct work authorisation. With a talent Visa, you can transition to a work/residence permit upon securing a job offer.

 

EU Blue Card Rules

The Greek immigration authorities revised the validity period of the EU Blue Card from 2 to 3 years for highly skilled professionals. Upon expiration of their period, existing EU Blue Card holders are eligible to apply for renewal within 3 months of the expiration date.

 

New Immigration Pathways in Greece

The new Specialized Technical Personnel visa will permit foreign nationals to transfer from a company in another country to a Greek company for major projects extending up to 12 months. Professionals are offered a Specialised Technical Personnel visa, provided the associated project exceeds a market value of €10 million.

It is possible to convert the Specialised Technical Personnel visa to an EU Blue Card if you meet the eligibility criteria.

 

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Greece to hire Indians to fill skill shortages. Apply now!
 

Revised work permit policies in Greece

The Greek government also released updated work permit policies in February, reducing the requirement for standard permits from 1 year to 6 months.  Additionally, foreign workers can look for new opportunities in the country for 3 months upon termination of their current job offer. Professionals who have spent at least 2 years in Greece are allowed to look for a new job offer in the country for 6 months when their existing employment contract expires.

 

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Greece Job Market in 2026-30

 

How would Greece’s Immigration Reforms affect Skilled Workers Abroad?

The recent immigration reforms in Greece will affect overseas skilled workers in the following ways:

• Tech and Talent visas offer broader immigration pathways to foreign workers to explore the Greek job market.
• Simplified rules for the EU Blue card permit professionals to qualify with shorter job contracts and smoother application processes.
• Skilled professionals can work on high-value projects in Greece through a Specialized Technical Personnel visa.
• Foreign workers can enter Greece on a tech visa and later transition to a long-term EU Blue Card.
• Revised work permit policies will give existing foreign workers in Greece more time to look for new jobs upon termination of their existing contracts.
• Greece has a high demand for foreign workers to fill labour shortages across the tech, construction, and infrastructure sectors.
   

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Highlights: Canada Reintroduces Job Offer Points for Express Entry Candidates

• IRCC has announced plans to restore additional CRS points for Express Entry candidates with a job offer.
• The Canadian immigration authorities have officially updated their CRS points for job offers on March 13, 2026.
• Foreign nationals with job offers and Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations will receive extra CRS points in Express Entry draws.
• Skilled workers across several in-demand fields of Express Entry’s occupational categories must obtain official certification from a specific regulatory body.
• The recent measures are part of a broader Talent Attraction Strategy in Canada to attract top global talent to address a workforce shortage.

*Want to check your eligibility for Canada? Try the FREE Y-Axis Canada CRS points calculator to get an instant score!
 

Canada Updates CRS Points for Express Entry Candidates with Job Offer

Canada recently plans to allot extra CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) points to Express Entry applicants with a secure job offer. (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had decided initially in March 2025 to remove bonus points for Express Entry candidates with valid job offers, including those backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

 

Under the previous system, foreign nationals working in Canada would receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points. IRCC later removed point allocation for job offers in Express Entry draws on March 25, 2025, to restore the integrity of the system.

 

Canada published its plans to reintroduce CRS points for job offers for Express Entry draws later on March 13, 2026, as part of a broader suite of reforms. Although a clear timeline is yet to be released, Canada expresses its firm intention to award points to candidates with “job offers and Canadian work experience in high wage occupations.

 

The planned measures are here to support Canada’s Talent Attraction Strategy to hire qualified foreign professionals to meet workforce demand.

 

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Which Canadian Jobs qualify as High-Wages Occupations for Express Entry?

The Express Entry program assesses skilled work based on experience in Training Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) classification and  Canada's National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.

Here is how Canada classifies high-wage roles for Express Entry:

• Higher TEER (0, 1, 2) occupations are broadly considered under the revised Express Entry rules.
• For the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), a job qualifies as a high-wage role if the occupation's hourly wage meets or exceeds the province's median hourly wage.
• The high-wage role is subject to the region where a candidate's work experience was gathered in Canada.
   

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Highlights: New Zealand announces the Salary Threshold work visa applicants

• New Zealand has introduced new wage rules for foreign workers applying for work visas.
• Work visas in New Zealand will be approved for applicants who meet the minimum salary threshold for specific work permit categories.
• The new salary threshold is associated with the national median wage and job market rates in New Zealand.
• Immigration New Zealand will also check the hourly wages criteria while approving work permits for foreign nationals.
• Several visa categories, including Accredited Employer work visas, work-to-residence permits, and skilled migrant programs, will be affected by the revised wages criteria.

*Want to apply for a New Zealand work visa? Let Y-Axis guide you with the process.
 

New Zealand to approve work visas for applicants meeting salary thresholds in 2026

Immigration New Zealand has recently announced a new wage threshold for foreign workers seeking to work in the country. Foreign nationals applying for a New Zealand work visa must secure a job that meets the minimum salary requirement. The country updated its salary threshold for foreign workers to determine whether a job offer qualifies for certain work visas.

New Zealand’s revised wages rule assesses eligibility for immigration pathways, including Accredited Employer work visas, work-to-residence permits, and skilled migrant programs.

Immigration authorities have also decided to verify the hourly wages of foreign workers to confirm that the job meets the threshold for the visa category.

 

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Factors affecting the wage threshold

Wages for international workers in New Zealand are determined by the national median wage and are updated frequently based on labour market data.

National median wages

The minimum salary thresholds for different work visas in New Zealand are linked to the national median wage in the country. New Zealand’s median wages are updated regularly based on labour market statistics. Upon an increase in median wages, the associated immigration threshold will also rise.

The wage rates in immigration assessments are estimated on an hourly basis and expressed in New Zealand dollars.

Note: Existing foreign workers in New Zealand do not have to meet the revised threshold until their current work permit expires.

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New Zealand to Revise Open Work Visa Policies from April 20 – Check Your Eligibility!
 

Labour market rates

Work visa salary thresholds are set based on market pay rates in New Zealand. This refers to the average salary that residents of the country earn for a similar job. Depending on industry standards and work experience, these factors affect the average salary requirements for foreign nationals in the country.

New Zealand has also set other wage-related standards, which include the national minimum wage and occupation-specific pay levels.

Also, read...

New Zealand launches Short-Term Graduate Work Visa and expands post-study work options. Apply Now!
 

Types of New Zealand work visas affected by the Minimum Wages Rule
 

The following New Zealand work visa categories fall under the newly announced salary threshold requirement:

• Accredited Employer work visas.
• Visas connected to residence pathways(work-to-residence and skilled migrant programs).
• Visas for seasonal workers, fishing crew members, and partners of workers.
   

Note: Immigration authorities in New Zealand have advised foreign nationals to check the salary criteria for their work visa category before submitting an application.

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with overseas immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy

 

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