Working while on a student visa

Tertiary students

Tertiary students, for example, university or polytech students — may be able to work part time during semesters and full time during the holidays.

Part-time work

You can work up to 20 hours a week if you’re studying full time and your course:

• is at least 2 academic years long
• results in a NZ qualification at level 4 or above on the NZQCF
• is at least 1 academic year long and is part of an approved tertiary-student exchange programme.

You can still work part time if you’re studying part time:

• for a course that gives you points towards the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, or
• in the final semester of a programme that is at least 2 academic years long.

If you have to complete work experience as part of your training, this is additional to part-time work of 20 hours a week.

Full-time work

You may be able to work full time during the Christmas holidays or scheduled breaks, for example, between semesters.

Scheduled breaks

You can work full time during scheduled breaks if:

• you study full time for at least 1 academic year
• your course is worth at least 120 credits 
• your course has a minimum of 2 semesters over at least 8 months.

Christmas and New Year holidays

You can work full time during the Christmas and New Year period if:

• you’re studying full time
• your course has a minimum of 2 semesters during at least 8 months.

If you’re studying for a masters by research or a PhD

Masters by research and PhD students can work as many hours as they like.

English-language students

If your course is 24 weeks or longer

You can work up to 20 hours each week if:

• you’re studying full time
• the main reason for your study is to improve your English
• you have an acceptable English Language test result that is no more than 2 years old, such as an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate with an overall band score of 5.0 — you’ll need to provide this with your application.

If your course is 14 weeks or longer

You can work up to 20 hours each week if you’re studying English full time at a university or an education provider that has been assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as a Category 1 provider.

If your course is less than 14 weeks

You may be able to work if you have studied English on a previous student visa and your new course:

• follows on from the previous one
• is with the same education provider.

High-school students

Students in years 12 and 13 at secondary school can work up to 20 hours a week during the school year and full time in the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

If you’re under 18, you’ll need letters giving you permission to work from both your:

• school
• parent or legal guardian.

Work you cannot do while on a student visa

International students are not allowed to be self-employed. You must work for an employer and have an employment agreement.

You cannot provide commercial sexual services. This means you cannot:

• work as a prostitute
• operate a New Zealand prostitution business
• invest in a prostitution business.

If you work when you’re not allowed

Working when your visa does not allow you to work is a breach of your visa conditions.

This means:

• you may have to leave New Zealand
• any future visa applications you make may be affected.

Deportation and how you can appeal — Immigration New Zealand

Get an IRD number if you’re going to work

You’ll need an IRD number if you’re going to work. Apply for an IRD number from Inland Revenue after you get your visa.

Give your IRD number to your employer when you start work. Use it for all of your New Zealand tax matters.

New arrival to New Zealand - IRD number application — Inland Revenue 

Find a job

Make sure you have checked your work rights in your visa before applying for a job.

Working on a student visa — Immigration New Zealand

Advice and tips for finding a job

Check out the New Zealand Education website for information about finding a job in NZ as an international student.

• Work on a student visa
• Find a part-time job
• Employee rights
• Getting paid and tax
• Problems at work
• Employability skills