Changes to in-study work rights for students will be updated from 9 October 2023 when the new criteria for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa comes into effect.

The changes include:

• References to Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa in the in-study work instructions will be removed and instead state eligible qualification's programme level and type.
• References to the requirement for a course to be relevant to the ANZSCO occupation at skill levels 3-5 will also be removed from instructions.

As a result of these changes, all students studying a full-time programme resulting in a New Zealand qualification at Level 4 or above on the NZQCF will be eligible for in-study work rights. Training schemes and micro-credentials are not qualifications and remain ineligible for in-study work rights.

Students generally need to be studying full time to be eligible for a student visa and in-study work rights.

However there is an exception for students who are:

• completing a course of study which would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, or
• in their final semester of a programme that is of at least 2 academic years’ duration.

This allows students who may have a part time study load in their last semester to remain on a student visa. These instructions will also be updated to reference level 4 qualifications and higher.

Changes will be made to immigration instructions to specify that all qualifications at Level 4 and above on the NZCQF will be eligible for in-study work rights. This is to maintain in-study work right eligibility once the higher Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa qualification threshold comes into effect on 9 October 2023.

Working on a student visa

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa