New Zealand Student Visa Work Hours: What 25 Hours a Week Really Covers

TL;DR: Most international students on a New Zealand student visa can work up to 25 hours a week during study and full-time in scheduled holidays. Students in a PhD or a research master's have no limit on hours. You must work for an employer under an employment agreement, not for yourself. Your own visa conditions decide what you can do, so check them before you accept any job, and do not plan to pay tuition from part-time income.

Part-time work is one of the first things families ask about when they look at New Zealand. The rules changed in November 2025, when the limit for newly granted student visas went from 20 to 25 hours a week. Here is what that allowance covers, who gets more, and what it should and should not mean for your budget.

Not sure which New Zealand course fits your background and budget? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

The basic rule: 25 hours in term, full-time in holidays

Immigration New Zealand explains working on a student visa this way: most tertiary students can work part-time for up to 25 hours a week during the academic year and full-time during scheduled breaks.

INZ announced the change in its guidance on getting ahead of the student visa peak: from 3 November 2025, newly granted student visas allow up to 25 hours of work a week in term time, up from 20.

Who can work, and how much

These are INZ's general rules. The conditions printed on your own visa are what actually apply to you.

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Check your visa conditions first

INZ tells students to check the conditions of their visa, which set out exactly what you can and cannot do. You can see them in your eVisa or approval letter. If your conditions say you cannot work, or give a lower limit, those conditions apply regardless of what a friend's visa allows.

If your situation changes, for example you move from a taught master's to a research master's, INZ has a process for checking or changing your student visa conditions.

Two limits people miss

You must have an employer. INZ is clear that international students cannot be self-employed. Freelancing, running an online business or delivery work where you are a contractor rather than an employee does not fit. You need an employment agreement with an employer.

The limit applies week by week. The rule is up to 25 hours a week during term, so plan your shifts so that no single week goes over, even if you work fewer hours the next week.

What 25 hours means for your budget

Work helps with day-to-day costs. It does not replace the money you must show for your visa. INZ asks tertiary students to show NZD 20,000 a year for living costs before the visa is granted, on top of tuition. Our guide to New Zealand student visa funds explains how to show it.

From what we see in applications, the families who struggle are the ones whose plan only works if the student finds a job in the first month. Jobs take time to find, especially in your first term while you settle into study. Treat part-time income as a support for groceries and transport, not as the way you pay rent or your next fee instalment.

A simple way to plan your first term

1. Budget your first three months without any work income at all.
2. Once you start studying, look for roles that fit around your timetable, such as campus jobs, retail or hospitality shifts, or tutoring through an employer.
3. Keep a simple log of your weekly hours, so you can show you stayed within your conditions if you are ever asked.
4. Keep your employment agreement and payslips together with your visa documents.

Think about the course, not only the job

The most useful work is experience that connects to your field. A course with a work placement or industry project often gives you more relevant experience than a part-time job unrelated to your study. That also matters after you graduate. Our article on the graduate diploma route to a New Zealand post-study work visa explains how your qualification shapes what you can do after your course.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can I work on a New Zealand student visa? Most tertiary students can work up to 25 hours a week during study and full-time in scheduled holidays. Your visa conditions decide the exact limit.

When did the limit change from 20 to 25 hours? From 3 November 2025 for newly granted student visas.

Can PhD students work full-time in New Zealand? Yes. INZ says there is no limit on hours for students in a PhD or research master's.

Can I be self-employed on a student visa? No. You must work for an employer under an employment agreement.

Can I use part-time work to meet the visa funds requirement? No. You must show NZD 20,000 a year for living costs, plus tuition, before your visa is granted.

PS: Work rights are a small part of choosing New Zealand. The course you choose decides your experience, your costs and your options after graduation. If you want a clear view of which New Zealand courses fit your background, check your eligibility with Prosper and we will go through them with you.

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