The government of New Zealand has announced its decision to raise the student work limit to 25 hours per week starting from November 3, 2025.
This means eligible international students will be able to work for 25 hours a week, an upgrade from the current 20-hour cap.
It was gathered that the changes to New Zealand’s student work limit are part of the government’s broader International Education Going for Growth Plan, which is aimed at strengthening the country’s appeal to foreign students.
Below is everything to know about the recent changes;
• Starting November 2025, tertiary students and secondary school students in Years 12 and 13 will be allowed to work 25 hours a week during the academic term.
• This applies to all new student visas issued from November 3, 2025, even if the application was submitted earlier.
• Current visa holders who want the additional 5 hours will need to either apply for a variation of conditions or get a new visa. Standard processing fees will apply.
• Students with existing full-time work rights during breaks (like summer) may choose to wait until after the break to apply, if their current visa is still valid.
• Also, the government of New Zealand has allowed in-study work rights to all tertiary-level students enrolled in approved exchange programs, or study abroad programs, including one-semester courses.
• Until now, these short-term academic programs didn’t always come with the right to work.
To understand the significance of the New Zealand student work limit, Pan-Atlantic Kompass compares it to other popular study destinations:
Australia: Australia caps international student work at 48 hours per fortnight (roughly 24 hours per week) during study periods.
Canada: Canada allows international students to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during scheduled breaks.
United Kingdom: The UK permits 20 hours per week for degree-level students during term time, with full-time work allowed during holidays.
United States: The U.S. has stringent rules, allowing only 20 hours per week of on-campus work for F-1 visa holders during term time.
