Study Abroad > NZ

Work Rights While Studying:

Students can work up to 20 hours a week during the academic year while enrolled in a full-time course of study that meets one of the criteria listed below:

• The student is undertaking a course of at least 2 years at a private training establishment or tertiary institution.
• The course leads to a New Zealand qualification that qualifies for points under the Skilled Migrant Category of Immigration New Zealand’s Residence Instructions. The course is at least one academic year long, and the student is taking part in an approved tertiary exchange scheme.
• The student is studying in Year 12 or Year 13 and has written permission from their school and parents.

Post-Study Work Rights

Students completing either of the following New Zealand qualifications are eligible for a twelve-month open work permit:

• A qualification at Level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and studied that qualification in New Zealand for at least one academic year; OR
• A two-year qualification at Levels 4 to 6 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and studied that qualification in New Zealand for at least two academic years OR
• Two individual qualifications at Levels 4 to 6 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, where each qualification involves at least one academic year of study in New Zealand, provided that the second qualification is at a higher level than the first.

Bringing Your Dependants:

Usually, the spouse and dependant children of a student can be granted visitor visas for the same duration as their partner’s or parent’s stay. Spouses of students on work visas can work full-time in New Zealand. However, dependants of students on visitor visas are not entitled to work.