Working in New Zealand

Working on a Student Visa

Many students like to work part time to help pay for their studies.  As well as the obvious financial benefit, working in New Zealand is also a great opportunity to improve your English skills, meet new people and experience Kiwi life.  Immigration New Zealand has a set of guidelines in place for visitors who wish to work in the country, so before you start reading the Help Wanted ads, read on to ensure you are legally able.

Travellers who hold a student visa can work in New Zealand if they have a Variation of Conditions on their permit.  You can organise this through Immigration New Zealand (you may be charged a fee.)  Once you’ve got your Variation of Conditions, you may work under the following conditions.

Full time students may partake in any work experience that is a necessary requirement of their course.  They may work during the summer break if they are enrolled full time in a course of study for at least twelve months, and up to 20 hours per week if they are:

• enrolled at a tertiary institute or private training establishment for at least six months and can prove that the purpose of their stay is to improve their English (student must have an International English Language Testing System Score [IELTS] of at least 5.0), or
• enrolled at a tertiary institute or private training establishment for at least one year as part of a student exchange programmer, or
• enrolled at a tertiary institute or private training establishment for at least two years, or
• enrolled in a degree that will culminate in a New Zealand qualification listed in the Skilled Migrant Category.
• Full time secondary students who meet these requirements must thave a signed form of consent from their parents.

Part time students with a Variation of Conditions student visa may work in New Zealand if they are:

• enrolled in study for at least three years and the work is a required part of their course load, or
• in the final year of study that will culminate in a New Zealand qualification listed in the Skilled Migrant Category, or
• studying for at least nine months at an approved institute, have paid for their course and meet the guidelines set out by Immigration New Zealand.

For any more information about working on a student visa, visit the Immigration New Zealand website.