New Zealand expands working hours for international students from November 2025. Apply now!

Highlights: New Zealand Expands Work Opportunities for International Students in 2025

• Starting November 2025, students can work full-time during breaks and part-time during the semester.
• The post-study work visa is extended to two years, allowing more time for work experience.
• The program targets high-demand sectors like IT, healthcare, and engineering, offering more opportunities.
• Degree students will have easier access to work permits, helping them gain relevant experience.
• These changes open better career opportunities, especially for Indian students, with a clear path to employment.
   

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Key Changes to Work Rights for International Students in New Zealand

New Zealand is introducing significant updates to its student visa work rights starting November 2025.

Given below is the list of updates announced for international students:

• Expanded Work Rights: The new 25-hour work limit will apply during the academic terms, and full-time work rights will remain during academic breaks, provided the breaks are noted on the visa.
• Extended Work Rights for More Students: In addition to university students, Exchange/Study Abroad students and secondary school students in Years 12 and 13 will also be eligible for in-study work rights, with parental and school approval.
• Visa Compliance Strengthened: Students switching institutions or course levels will now need to apply for a new visa rather than requesting a variation. This is aimed at improving monitoring and transparency.
• New Post-Study Work Visa: A six-month post-study work visa will be introduced for vocational and sub-degree graduates, bridging the gap to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programme.
• Simplified Multi-Year Student Visas: Plans are underway to simplify multi-year student visa access, making it easier for students to commit to long-term academic programs.
• Ambitious Growth Targets for 2034: The “Going for Growth” strategy sets a goal to increase international student enrolments from 83,400 in 2024 to 119,000 by 2034, with an expected increase in economic contribution from NZ$3.6 billion to NZ$7.2 billion.
• Enhanced Student Services: Key improvements include 24/7 digital support, expanded mental health services, and better accommodation standards.
• Fully Digital Visa Processing: A shift to fully digital visa processing aims to speed up application decisions and enhance communication for international students.
• Implementation Timeline: The 25-hour work limit will begin on November 3, 2025, and will apply to all new visas issued on or after this date. Other changes, including visa compliance updates, are already in effect.

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