Why New Zealand
Work rights while studying
Part-time work rights are printed as a condition directly on your visa, not left to interpretation, and the current limit is more generous than most students expect. It also depends on what and how you're studying, so it's worth knowing the specifics rather than a rounded-off number.
These figures can change, always confirm before you rely on them
University rankings, safety indices, visa work-hour limits, and living cost requirements are set by independent bodies and Immigration New Zealand, and they're updated periodically. The details on this page were checked against official sources in September 2026, but always confirm current figures at immigration.govt.nz or with our team before making a decision.
Recently updated
From 3 November 2025, Immigration New Zealand increased the standard part-time work limit for student visa holders from 20 to 25 hours a week. If your visa was issued before that date and still shows the old 20-hour limit, you can apply for a variation of conditions to move to 25 hours.
Key facts
- Standard part-time limit: up to 25 hours a week during term time (increased from 20 hours on 3 November 2025)
- Full-time work is allowed during scheduled breaks, for tertiary students studying at least 1 academic year across 2+ semesters
- PhD and Research Master's students have no hourly limit at all
- Secondary school students (years 12–13) can work full-time only during the Christmas and New Year break
- Your exact entitlement is a condition printed on your visa, always check it rather than assuming
The details
Why the limit depends on your qualification
Immigration New Zealand ties work rights to the type and length of study, a one-semester exchange programme is treated differently from a full degree, which is why two students at the same university can have different visa conditions.
What counts as a "scheduled break"
This means official university or institution holiday periods, not just any week you happen to have lighter coursework, and tertiary students need to be enrolled in a qualification of at least 120 credits across 2 or more semesters to qualify for full-time work during these breaks.
If you're doing a PhD or Research Master's
These programmes carry no work-hour restriction at all, reflecting that doctoral and research master's study is treated more like independent research work than coursework.
Common questions
Do all student visas now have the 25-hour limit?
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New visas issued from 3 November 2025 onward include the 25-hour limit by default. If you hold an older visa still showing 20 hours, you'll need to apply for a variation of conditions to update it, it doesn't change automatically.
Can I work full-time the whole time I'm not in class?
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Only during officially scheduled breaks, and only if your qualification meets the length and credit requirements. Outside of those breaks, the standard 25-hour weekly limit applies during term time, even in weeks with a lighter timetable.
University rankings, safety indices, visa work-hour limits, and living cost requirements are set by independent bodies and Immigration New Zealand, and they're updated periodically. The details on this page were checked against official sources in September 2026, but always confirm current figures at immigration.govt.nz or with our team before making a decision.
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