New Zealand Eases Immigration Rules to Attract More International Students
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New Zealand is set to roll out a series of major immigration reforms aimed at making the country a top destination for international students. As part of its International Education Going for Growth plan, the government is targeting a doubling of the international education sector’s value from $3.6 billion in 2024 to $7.2 billion by 2034.
The updated strategy includes increasing student enrolments from 83,400 in 2024 to 105,000 by 2027, and 119,000 by 2034. To support this growth, New Zealand will revise immigration policies to welcome more genuine students while reinforcing its commitment to high-quality education.
A key change is the expansion of in-study work rights. Starting 3 November 2025, eligible tertiary and secondary school students will be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week during term time, up from the current limit of 20 hours. This increase will apply to all new student visas granted from that date, even for applications submitted earlier. Students on approved exchange and Study Abroad programmes will also benefit.
Those already holding a visa with a 20-hour work cap will need to apply for a variation of conditions or a new student visa to access the additional 5 hours. Many student visas already allow full-time work during scheduled breaks, offering flexibility to manage both study and employment.
Additionally, New Zealand plans to review its Pathway Student Visa Pilot, which may soon enable multi-year visas for students in longer programmes. A new 6-month work visa is also in development for sub-degree international graduates, acting as a bridge to the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
In another welcome update, Immigration New Zealand has revised its List of Qualifications Exempt from IQA as of 23 June 2025. Degrees from countries like India, France, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, and Sri Lanka are now exempt from the International Qualification Assessment requirement.
With Indian student enrolments up 34% this year alone, New Zealand is clearly positioning itself as a student-first nation offering work rights, high-quality education, and a welcoming policy approach.
Source: FINANCIAL EXPRESS
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