Announcement
Upcoming changes to student visa work rights
Published
21 October 2025
A new government plan to support international education growth, announced in July 2025, will see its immigration changes take effect this November.
As part of the International Education Going for Growth Plan, we are changing some immigration rules to help the country grow in a sustainable way, attract more international students, keep education standards high, and manage immigration risks.
On Monday 3 November 2025, we will:
- increase the number of hours eligible students can work while you have a student visa, from 20 to 25 hours a week
- extend eligibility for in-study work rights to all tertiary students on approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including 1-semester courses
- clarify that if you change your education provider or lower your level of study, in most cases you will need to apply for a new student visa, not just a variation of conditions
- increase the number of hours eligible holders of dependent child visitor visas and Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visas can work while on their visa, from 20 to 25 hours a week.
Learn more about the International Education Going for Growth Plan on the Ministry of Education website:
International education — Ministry of Education
Increased in-study work hours
From 3 November 2025, eligible tertiary and secondary school students will be allowed to work up to 25 hours a week during the semester — an increase from the current 20-hour limit. This will apply to all new student visas granted from that date, even if the application was submitted earlier.
Those on a student visa with a 20-hour work limit who want to work up to 25 hours will need to apply for a variation of conditions or a new student visa.
Most student visas already allow full-time work during summer and other scheduled breaks. If your visa includes this condition, you might not need to apply for the extra 5 hours right away. You can choose to apply for the variation of conditions after summer, if your visa is still valid. Check your visa details to see your work rights.
School students in years 12 and 13 require parental and school permission for 20 hours in-study work rights during the year. This permission will still be a requirement with the increase to 25 hours a week.
There are currently 40,987 student visa holders with in-study work rights. Of these, 29,790 visas are set to expire on or before 31 March 2026, while 11,197 will expire after that date.
Not all visa holders are expected to apply for the additional 5 hours of work rights. Some may choose to wait until their next visa application to include the change, rather than pay to vary their current visa conditions. Others may be nearing the end of their studies and therefore unlikely to apply for the extra work hours.
Applying for a variation of conditions for current student visa holders
If you have a student visa, including if you are a tertiary student on an approved exchange or Study Abroad programme, you can apply for a variation of conditions to increase your work rights to 25 hours a week from Monday 3 November 2025.
The process for applying for a variation of conditions will depend on which system your student visa was issued in. If you are unsure which system your visa was issued in or which form to use, contact us for support before applying.
If your student visa was issued in our old system (if you applied before 18 August 2025) and includes a 20-hour work condition, you will be able to apply to increase your work hours to 25 hours a week by submitting a variation of conditions form online.
The form will only be for increasing work hours. For any other changes to visa conditions, applicants must use the INZ 1020 Variation of Conditions form.
If your student visa was issued in our new enhanced Immigration Online system (if you applied after 18 August 2025) and includes a 20-hour work condition, you will be able to apply to increase your work hours to 25 hours a week by submitting a variation of conditions through enhanced Immigration Online.
The fee to apply for a variation of conditions under any system is NZD $325.
Check or change your student visa conditions
Changing your education provider or lowering your level of study
If you currently have a student visa and are planning to change your education provider or lower your level of study (for example, from a degree to a diploma), you will generally need to apply for a new student visa, not just a variation of conditions. However, in special circumstances where the change is beyond your control, such as a provider closing down suddenly, a variation of conditions may be considered.
Before making any changes, check the visa webpages for guidance on how to apply for a new student visa on enhanced Immigration Online. Make sure you apply in advance to avoid any disruption to your studies.
Dependent child visitor visa and Skilled Migrant Category Interim visa holders
If you currently have a visa with part-time work rights of 20 hours a week, you may also be eligible to increase your work hours to 25 hours a week.
You may qualify if you meet the work rights requirement and have one of the following visas:
- a dependent child visitor visa, if you are waiting for the outcome of a family resident visa application
- a skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa, if you held a student visa at the time your resident application was submitted.
To apply to increase your work hours, submit an application using the INZ 1020 Variation of Conditions form.
For more information, visit:
Working part-time if you are a dependent child waiting for a residence visa
Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa information
More changes coming
Subject to Cabinet agreement, we are exploring further changes, including a new short-term work visa for some vocational graduates and streamlined visa processes.
More information will be shared as it becomes available.