Student Work Rights
Work in New Zealand on a Student Visa
If your course qualifies, your student visa lets you work up to 25 hours a week during term, and full-time during scheduled breaks. Your visa conditions decide exactly what you can do, so check them before you start looking for work.
How much can you work?
A university, ITP or PTE student
Up to 25 hours a week
Scheduled breaks: if you study at least 1 academic year, in a course worth 120+ credits, with at least 2 semesters over 8+ months. Christmas–New Year: if you study full-time in a course with at least 2 semesters over 8+ months
A full-time New Zealand qualification at Level 4 or above. Training schemes and micro-credentials don’t count
An English language student (24+ teaching weeks)
Up to 25 hours a week
Check your visa conditions
Full-time study, with the main purpose of improving your English, and an acceptable English test result no more than 2 years old (for example IELTS overall 5.0)
An English language student (14+ consecutive teaching weeks)
Up to 25 hours a week
Check your visa conditions
Full-time study at a university or an NZQA Category 1 provider. Earlier English study with the same provider can count toward the 14 weeks
A PhD or research master’s student
No hour limit
If you work full-time, you must keep studying full-time
Enrolled at a New Zealand tertiary institution
An exchange or Study Abroad student (1+ semester)
Up to 25 hours a week
Check your visa conditions
An approved exchange scheme or Study Abroad programme, studied full-time
A secondary school student (Year 12 or 13, aged 16+)
Up to 25 hours a week
Full-time in the Christmas–New Year holiday
Written permission from your school and your parent or guardian
- Student visas are for full-time study. If you want to study part-time, you need a different visa.
- If your course requires practical experience, your visa can include conditions to let you complete it.
- If your course ends while your visa is still valid, a 25-hour condition applies for the rest of your visa. Full-time work over summer is allowed only if your visa says so.
Before you start work
Check your conditions
Your eVisa or INZ letter shows if and how many hours you can work. Contact INZ if it doesn’t match.
Get an IRD number
Your tax number. Apply after you get your visa, then give it to your employer.
Sign an agreement
Sign a written employment agreement before day one. Self-employment isn’t allowed.
Know your pay
Most employees aged 16+ must earn at least NZ$23.95 an hour before tax.
Finding work and what to expect
Most students look for casual or part-time roles, and finding one can take time. Good places to start are SEEK NZ, Student Job Search (casual and summer work for students), Careers New Zealand, and your institution’s careers service. Tell employers your work conditions upfront. They must check that you’re allowed to work before you start.
Working 25 hours a week at the minimum wage earns roughly NZ$599 a week before tax. That can help with living costs, but it should supplement your funds, not replace them. Immigration New Zealand still requires you to show proof of funds when you apply for your visa.
After you graduate
Your student visa work rights apply while your visa is valid. After you graduate, degree-level graduates can apply for a Post Study Work Visa to work for any employer for up to 3 years: 3 years for a master’s or doctorate studied in New Zealand for 30+ weeks, otherwise the length of your study. If you’ve submitted your PhD thesis, you can apply before you graduate. From 16 November 2026, a new Short Term Graduate Work Visa also gives eligible graduates up to 6 months of open work rights.
Ready to plan your study in New Zealand?
Our consultation and application service is free. Talk to our team about courses, visas and work rights, and we’ll help you plan each step from choosing a course to arriving in New Zealand.
