NEW ZEALAND – Update on working rights for international students.

July 25, 2025

By: Patricia Clarino, Senior Manager, Newland Chase Advisory

Increasing the working hour limit for student visa holders in New Zealand is a beneficial change for international students, as it allows greater financial support and the opportunity to gain practical work experience during their studies. Employers should take note of this update and ensure accurate tracking of international students’ work hours to remain compliant with immigration regulations.

Starting from November 3, 2025, eligible secondary and tertiary students will be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week during the academic term. This is an increase from the previous limit of 20 hours. The change will apply to all new student visas approved from this date, regardless of when the application was submitted.

It is important for foreign students holding existing visas with a 20-hour limit to apply for a new visa or for a variation of conditions to be able to access the new 25-hour limit.

Most student visas already allow full-time work while on summer or scheduled breaks. For this group of foreign students, it may be best to delay applying for the change until after the break so long as the visa remains valid.

Students in Years 12 and 13 are still required to obtain both parental and school approval to work during the academic year. This requirement remains in place notwithstanding the changes to working hour limits.

Please reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement. We are here to help.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.