FAQ

 
 

Can students work while they’re studying? 

The main purpose of a student visa or permit is to allow international students to study full time in New Zealand.  However, in some cases students from overseas can have the conditions of their student permit varied to allow them a limited opportunity to work while studying.

They can undertake work:

  • To meet a course requirement for practical work experience

  • For up to 20 hours in any given week during the academic year (including holidays within the academic year) if they are:

  • Undertaking a full-time, course of study at a private training establishment or tertiary institution and taking at least two academic years to complete, or

  • Undertaking a full-time course of study culminating in a qualification that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category, or

  • Undertaking a full-time, full secondary school year course of study in Years 12 or 13, provided they have written permission from their school and written parental consent, or

  • Engaged in a full-time, course of study of at least six months duration, at a Private Training Establishment or Tertiary Institution, and a visa or immigration officer is satisfied that the primary purpose of the course of study is to develop English language skills, and, at the time of application for a student visa or permit, the student has an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall band score of 5.0 or above

  • During the Christmas-New Year holiday period if they are undertaking a full-time course of study of 12 months or more duration.

 

Can students work in New Zealand after they finish their course of study?

  • Students can also work after they finish their course of study if:

  • They have successfully completed in New Zealand a qualification that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category (see SM14); and

  • Apply for a work visa/permit no later than 3 months after the end date of their student permit for that qualification; and

  • Have met requirements set out in U11.1(f) if their studies have been supported by NZAID

  • May be granted a work visa and/or permit for a maximum of 12 months.

  • To be eligible for a work visa and/or permit under this policy, applicants must not previously have been issued or granted a visa or permit under this policy (unless WD2.1 applies).

  • Evidence of an offer of employment is not required.

 

Applicants must provide:

  • A completed work application form and fee; and

  • Evidence that they have completed a qualification in New Zealand that would qualify for points under Skilled Migrant Category (see SM14); and

  • Evidence that they have a minimum of $2,100 in funds available to maintain themselves during their 12 month stay in New Zealand (travelers' cheque or bank documents in the applicant's name are acceptable); and

  • Evidence that the work visa/permit application is being made no later than 3 months after the end date of their student permit for that qualification.

 

Any work visas/permits issued or granted under this policy, may be endorsed with conditions that allow work for any employer.

 

WD2.1 Transitional graduate job search work visa and/or permit

  1. People who hold a graduate job search work visa and/or permit (see WD2) granted before 26 November 2007 may be granted a further graduate job search work visa and/or permit for a maximum of 12 months from the grant of their original graduate job search visa and/or permit.

  2. Applicants must provide a completed work application form and fee.

  3. Evidence of an offer of employment is not required.

  4. Any work visas and/or permits issued or granted under this policy may be endorsed with conditions that allow work for any employer.

    Effective 26/11/2007