Working on a student visa

Immigration New ZealandVerified 16 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

Whether you can work on a student visa, and how many hours, depends on the work conditions on your visa. Since 3 November 2025, eligible students can work up to 25 hours a week during study (it used to be 20), and many courses also allow full-time work in the holidays. PhD and Research Masters students have no limit on hours. If your visa still says 20 hours, you can pay NZ$325 to apply to change it to 25.

Key facts

Work limit during study: Eligible student visas: up to 25 hours a week during study (part-time)¹
Increase from 20 to 25 hours: From 3 November 2025; all new student visas granted from that date get 25 hours, even if the application was submitted earlier³
PhD and Research Masters students: Studying at a New Zealand tertiary institution: no limit on work hours; if you work full-time, you must also keep studying full-time¹
Tertiary students who can work: You must study full-time and meet one of these: your course is at least 2 academic years; you are studying for a New Zealand qualification at Level 4 or higher on the NZQCF; you are on an English language course that meets certain conditions; or you are on an approved exchange or Study Abroad programme for at least 1 semester¹
What counts as 1 academic year: A programme worth 120 credits or more that lasts at least 8 months or 2 semesters¹
Courses that do not allow work: Training schemes and micro-credentials are not qualifications, so you cannot work while studying them¹
Full-time work in scheduled study breaks: You study full-time for at least 1 academic year, your course is worth at least 120 credits, and it has at least 2 semesters over at least 8 months¹
Full-time work over Christmas and New Year: You study full-time and your course has at least 2 semesters over at least 8 months¹
Secondary school students (Year 12 and 13): If you are 16 or older, in Year 12 or 13, and have written permission from your school and your parents or legal guardian: up to 25 hours a week during the school year, and full-time in the Christmas and New Year holiday between school years. The permission must be for up to 25 hours; they cannot set a lower limit (for example, 15 hours)¹
English language students (courses of at least 24 teaching weeks): Full-time study, the main purpose is to improve your English, and an English test result no more than 2 years old, such as IELTS with an overall band score of 5.0 (provided with your visa application): up to 25 hours a week¹
English language students (courses of at least 14 consecutive weeks): Full-time English study with a university or an education provider assessed by NZQA as Category 1: up to 25 hours a week¹
Minimum age: Whatever you study, student visas only include work conditions if you are 16 or older¹
Work you cannot do: You cannot be self-employed. You must work for an employer and have an employment agreement. You cannot provide commercial sexual services¹
Fee to change your conditions from 20 to 25 hours: NZ$325 (applying from inside New Zealand; Immigration New Zealand fees guide, May 2026)⁴
Where to check your visa conditions: Your eVisa, the letter Immigration New Zealand sent when your visa was granted, or the online Visa Verification Service²

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Whether you can work, how many hours a week, and whether you can work full-time in the holidays all depend on the work conditions on your own visa (in your eVisa or visa letter).
Student visas are for full-time study. If you want to study part-time instead, you need a different visa.
If practical work experience is a requirement of your course, Immigration New Zealand will normally include conditions that let you do it.
If you meet the requirements to work but the conditions on your eVisa, passport label or letter are wrong, contact Immigration New Zealand.
If your visa does not allow work and you are eligible, you can apply for a variation of conditions to add work rights.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Check the work conditions on your visa
Open your eVisa or the letter Immigration New Zealand sent when your visa was granted, or use the online Visa Verification Service. Check three things: whether you can work 20 or 25 hours a week during study, whether you can work full-time in scheduled study breaks, and whether you can work full-time over Christmas and New Year.
Visa still says 20 hours? Apply to change it to 25
If your student visa was granted before 3 November 2025 and allows 20 hours a week, you need a variation of conditions to work up to 25 hours. The fee is NZ$325. If you applied for your visa before 18 August 2025 (old system, with an 8-digit eVisa application number such as 12345678), use Immigration New Zealand's online form: you need a RealMe login and a Visa or Mastercard card to pay. If you applied after 18 August 2025, apply through enhanced Immigration Online (if your eVisa application number starts with SV, you cannot use the old form). If you are not sure which applies to you, contact Immigration New Zealand before you apply.
No rush? You can apply after summer
Most student visas already allow full-time work during summer and other scheduled breaks. If yours does, you do not have to apply for the extra 5 hours straight away. You can apply after summer, as long as your visa is still valid.
Make sure you are an employee with an agreement
International students must work for an employer under an employment agreement. You cannot be self-employed. Get an IRD number before you start work (see our guide on IRD numbers), and check the rules on pay, agreements and trial periods in our minimum wage guide.
Keep track of your weekly hours
The limit on your visa is the number of hours you work each week, so if you have more than one job, add them together. Keep a record of your start and finish times and your payslips, and make sure you stay within the hours on your visa during study.

What documents do I need?

Your eVisa or visa letter (to check your work conditions)
To change your conditions: a RealMe login and a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card (to pay NZ$325)
Your employment agreement
Your IRD number

What should I watch out for?

Course finished but visa still valid: if your visa allows up to 25 hours a week, that applies for the whole time your visa is valid, before and after your course. If it allows full-time work over summer, you can work full-time that summer even after finishing. If it only allows full-time work in scheduled holidays, you cannot work over summer after your course ends, because a scheduled holiday means you are returning to the same course and provider after the break.
PhD students who want to pause study and work full-time need their education provider to agree to the suspension and tell Immigration New Zealand, and the provider may say no. If you end your studies, you need another visa to stay. Once you have submitted your PhD thesis for examination, you can apply for a Post-Study Work Visa.
Changing your education provider, or moving to a lower level of study (for example, from a degree to a diploma), usually needs a new student visa, not just a variation of conditions. The exception is when the change is outside your control, such as your provider closing.
Visa conditions are rules you must follow. If you apply to change your course or other conditions, do not leave your current course until the change is approved, or you will breach your visa conditions and may have to leave New Zealand.
Students who work have the same basic employment rights as other employees, including the minimum wage. See our guides on the minimum wage and on workplace disputes and unpaid wages.
This page is a plain-language summary of public information, not immigration advice. Your own visa conditions and the Immigration New Zealand website have the final say; if you are unsure, ask Immigration New Zealand.

What has changed recently?

2025-11-03
The work limit for student visas during study rose from 20 to 25 hours a week. Tertiary students on approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including 1-semester courses, can now work too. Changing education provider or moving to a lower level of study now usually needs a new student visa rather than a variation of conditions.Source: immigration.govt.nz ↗

Common questions

How many hours can I work per week on a student visa?

Eligible student visas allow up to 25 hours a week during study. This went up from 20 hours on 3 November 2025. Your own eVisa or visa letter shows exactly what you can do, and PhD and Research Masters students have no limit on hours.

My student visa still says 20 hours. How do I change it to 25, and what does it cost?

Apply for a variation of conditions; the fee is NZ$325. If you applied for your visa before 18 August 2025, use Immigration New Zealand's online form with a RealMe login and a Visa or Mastercard card. If you applied after that, use enhanced Immigration Online. If unsure, contact Immigration New Zealand first.

Can I work full-time during the semester break or summer holidays?

Often yes, but it depends on your visa conditions. Full-time work in scheduled study breaks needs full-time study for at least 1 academic year, at least 120 credits, and at least 2 semesters over at least 8 months. Full-time work over Christmas and New Year needs full-time study and at least 2 semesters over at least 8 months.

Is there a limit on work hours for PhD or Research Masters students?

No. If you are enrolled in a PhD or Research Masters programme at a New Zealand tertiary institution, there is no limit on your work hours. If you work full-time, you must also keep studying full-time, and pausing your study needs your provider's agreement.

Can I work while studying English at a language school?

Yes, up to 25 hours a week if your course meets the conditions. For courses of at least 24 teaching weeks, you need full-time study, English improvement as the main purpose and an English test result no more than 2 years old, such as IELTS 5.0. For courses of at least 14 consecutive weeks, you must study full-time with a university or an NZQA Category 1 provider.

Can a high school student in Year 12 or 13 work? Whose permission do I need?

Yes, if you are 16 or older and have written permission from your school and your parents or legal guardian. You can work up to 25 hours a week during the school year and full-time in the Christmas and New Year holiday between school years. The permission must be for up to 25 hours, not a lower limit.

My course has finished but my visa is still valid. Can I keep working?

It depends on your visa conditions. If your visa allows up to 25 hours a week, that applies for the whole time your visa is valid, including after your course. If it allows full-time work over summer, you can work full-time that summer, but not if it only covers scheduled holidays.

Can I be self-employed or work as a freelancer on a student visa?

No. International students cannot be self-employed. You must work for an employer and have an employment agreement. You also cannot provide commercial sexual services.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Working on a student visaImmigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz
Check or change your student visa conditionsImmigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz
Upcoming changes to student visa work rightsImmigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz
Fees Guide (INZ 1028)Immigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz
Application for a variation of work conditions for student visa holdersImmigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz

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