New Zealand Expands Student Visa Working Hours in Recent Policy Change

By Jace November 8, 2025
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Breaking! New Zealand expands its student visa working hours, allowing students to work 25 hours a week during classes; this is now also applicable for all tertiary students on approved exchange or study abroad programmes even for one-semester courses.

New Zealand has recently updated its student visa policy for international students giving them the relief they need on earning money to manage their finances and gain relevant work experience both at the same time.

As part of the government’s International Education Going for Growth Plan strategy, the new policy effective from November 03rd, 2025, states that now international students can work for up to 25 hours per week during their course of study.

The news also comes out to be advantageous for students who are pursuing exchange programmes of one-semester as they can also gain additional experience through working part-time for 25 hours a week.

These immigration changes and extension of work hours, which is not in full force, are implied with the aim of strengthening New Zealand’s international education sector by promoting sustainable growth, maintaining academic quality and addressing workforce shortage of skilled workers.

This new rule is effective from November 03rd, 2025, under this rule, students who have their visas expiring soon can apply for the new visa that permits them to work for 25 hours a week while they can still work as much as they want during breaks or holidays.

Furthermore, students who have just got their visas renewed can apply for the variation of conditions or a new student visa for to take the advantage of the additional work hours.

Immigration officials also expect that not all students will immediately seek the 5-hour extension as some may prefer to include the change in their next visa application rather than paying NZD325 as the renewal fees.

This change is also implied for dependent child visitor visa holders and Skilled Migrant Category Interim visa holders who has part-time work rights, they can now also work for 25 hours per week. Though willing to take up the change can apply through the INZ 1020 Variation of Conditions form avialable on Immigration New Zealand’s website.

In final words, New Zealand’s expansion of time for students to work part-time in a way to help them support their finances and earn relevant work experience in their chosen field.

Source: BUSINESS TODAY

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