Latest changes to student visa work rights for New Zealand

The new structure not only increases the employment prospects of international students and their families but also makes New Zealand a better choice among those seeking quality education and work experience. The key amendments that are in force from November 3, 2025, are: 

• Student visa holders can now work up to 25 hours per week during the academic semester, as compared to the previous 20-hour restriction.  

• In-study work rights have been relaxed for all tertiary-level students on approved exchange programs or study abroad programs, including those taking a one-semester course. 

• Students seeking extended work rights must apply for a variation of conditions online, depending on their visa issue date and system used. The application fee is NZD 325, and eligibility should be confirmed with Immigration New Zealand. 

• Working hours for the Dependent Child Visitor Visa and Skilled Migrant Category Interim visa holders also increased from 20 to 25 hours per week. 

Perhaps the most significant change is the allowance for eligible students to increase their work hours. From 3 November 2025, tertiary and qualified students at secondary schools with valid student visas could work up to 25 hours per week during classes. To many international students, this increased flexibility means better financial assistance, better experience in the workplace, and better chances of being employed in one of the friendliest societies in the world. 

Existing visa holders with a 20-hour constraint can apply to increase their hours by five per week. Some students might wait until their next visa application, especially if they are close to finishing their studies. Depending on their visa conditions, other people can already work full-time during planned breaks. If you are unsure about your eligibility or work hour limits, check the specific conditions of your visa on the official New Zealand Immigration website to ensure compliance with the regulations. 

Students who want to use the extended work rights will follow different application steps depending on when and how their visa was issued. 

• If the visa was issued before 18 August 2025 using the legacy Immigration Online system, applicants must submit an online application for a variation of conditions to increase their work hours. 

• A new portal will be used in the processing of visas issued on or after August 18, 2025, under the new Immigration Online system. 

The application fee for the variation of conditions remains NZD 325, regardless of which system is used. In cases where other modifications of visa terms are required (outside working hours), use the official variant of the INZ 1020 Variation of Conditions or Variation of Travel Conditions form. Before confirming eligibility, it must be ensured that the process has been completed in advance. If there is any uncertainty, the student should consult Immigration New Zealand.  

The updated policy not only benefits students, but also their families and qualified migrants. 

• Visitors' dependent child visa-holders who are waiting for a resident visa decision can now work part-time (up to 25 hours a week) if their current visa allows part-time employment. 

• Skilled Migrant Category interim visa holders who previously held a student visa while applying for residency are now permitted to work up to 25 hours per week. 

• The applicants in either of these categories must use the INZ 1020 Variation of Conditions form to seek extra work rights. 

While the new regulations allow Year 12 and 13 secondary students to work up to 25 hours per week, the requirement for parental and school permission remains unchanged. Visa holders in these year levels must still obtain approval before starting any employment. For younger learners, work rights are not available unless they are transferred to an approved tertiary or exchange program. 

Currently, New Zealand has a total of more than 40,987 student visa holders who have work rights, of which 29,790 are due to expire by March 2026. Increasing the number of working hours will probably be best received by individuals who have long-term study plans or a desire to earn more money during their stay. 

Other students may prefer to wait until the next visa renewal to add the additional hours and thus avoid the variation fee. Conversely, graduates or students who are leaving school have the option to decline the offer of additional work hours. 

The latest achievements highlight the further commitment of New Zealand to the development of international education and economic growth. The country is empowering these students to take up meaningful post-academic paths by affording them a larger platform on which they can gain hands-on work experience and by increasing their financial stability.  

The expanded work rights, coupled with clear visa management rules, deliver more flexibility for global learners while ensuring education standards remain high. 

For students and their families, such provisions offer new opportunities to offset the cost of living, gain valuable work experience abroad, and enhance their employability in the future after graduation. The holistic approach of New Zealand, the balance between the opportunity to be open and the risk to be calculated, remains in place as one of the most popular places to study abroad. 

For more details, up-to-date FAQs, and tailored advice on how these changes may affect you, visit the Ministry of Education’s International Education portal , or reach out directly to Immigration New Zealand. 

Whether you’re applying for a student visa for the first time, renewing your current visa, or considering changes to your study programme, ensure you check the latest guidelines and application procedures before you act.  

If you need guidance or assistance with your student visa or study abroad options, reach out to our expert counsellors for personalised support.