New Zealand just made studying there a bit easier to afford.
From 3 November 2025, eligible international students can work 25 hours a week during term time. Up from 20. That’s five extra hours every week. Sounds small. It isn’t.
Let me show you the maths. And what this actually means if you’re an Indian student planning to study in New Zealand.
What changed
The rule is simple. During the academic term, you can now work up to 25 hours per week. During scheduled breaks, you can work full-time.
That full-time bit isn’t new. Students have always been able to work unlimited hours during the mid-year break and the Christmas and New Year holiday period. What changed is the term-time limit. 20 hours became 25.
The change took effect on 3 November 2025. It also applies to two other groups. Dependent children on visitor visas who are old enough to work. And people on Skilled Migrant Category interim visas. Their part-time work limit also went from 20 to 25 hours.
For the first time in a while, the direction of travel is clear. New Zealand is actively trying to make itself more attractive to international students.
What you can actually earn
Numbers matter here. Let’s be blunt about them.
New Zealand’s adult minimum wage. NZ$23.95 an hour. From April 2025. Some employers pay the living wage instead. NZ$28.95. Not all. Some.
Now the maths.
23.95 times 25. That’s NZ$598.75 a week. Call it NZ$2,395 a month.
Over a 30-week academic year, that’s roughly NZ$17,960 before tax. During breaks, full-time. Four months at 40 hours a week. Another NZ$15,000 or thereabouts.
Add it up. NZ$25,000 to NZ$33,000 in a year. Depending how hard you work the breaks.
That’s real money. Not pocket change.
Immigration New Zealand pegs student living costs at NZ$15,000 to NZ$20,000 a year. So a student who works 25 hours during term, full-time in breaks. They can cover most of their living costs. Sometimes all of them.
Think about what that means. Food. Rent. Transport. Paid for by your own part-time work. That changes the whole affordability equation for studying abroad.
Who can actually work these hours
Work rights aren’t automatic. Your visa conditions decide. Here’s the short version.
Tertiary students. Full-time study, and your course is either two academic years or longer, or Level 4 or higher on the NZQCF, or an approved English course, or one semester on exchange. That Level 4 rule catches most degree students. Bachelor’s. Grad diploma. Master’s. All fine.
PhD and research master’s. No limit. None. Work as much as you want. Just keep studying full-time. You won’t find that in many other countries.
English language students. Course of 24 teaching weeks plus, and an IELTS 5.0 or better. Or a 14-week course at a Category 1 provider. Either works.
Secondary school. Year 12 or 13. Up to 25 hours. Written permission from school and parents.
The one thing you can’t do. Self-employment. No freelancing. No gig work. You need an employer and an employment agreement. That’s non-negotiable.
If you already hold a student visa
This is the part most people miss.
If you got your student visa before November 2025 and it says 20 hours, that’s still your limit. The new 25-hour rule doesn’t automatically update existing visas.
You need to apply for a variation of conditions. That’s a form. Online. You submit it through Immigration Online, and if approved, your work limit updates to 25 hours.
If your visa already allows full-time work during breaks, you might not need the extra five hours right away. But if you want to work 25 during term, you’ll need that variation.
New visas issued from November 2025 already carry the 25-hour condition. No action needed. Only older visas need the update.
How this fits the bigger picture
This isn’t happening in isolation.
New Zealand’s international education strategy is called Going for Growth. The target. Grow international enrolments from around 83,700 to 119,000 by 2034. Double the sector’s value to NZ$7.2 billion.
Student satisfaction sits at 87%. That’s high by global standards. And it’s rising.
The Green List gives you a residence pathway if you study the right subject. The post-study work visa gives you up to three years to work after graduation. And now the in-study work rights have expanded too.
Put it together. You can work 25 hours a week while studying. Full-time during breaks. Then up to three years on a post-study work visa. Then potentially residence through the Green List if you’re in a shortage occupation.
That’s a complete pathway. Study, work, settle. New Zealand has quietly built one of the more coherent international student offerings in the English-speaking world.
Compare it to the UK, where the Graduate Route is being cut from two years to 18 months. Or Australia, where the 485 age limit dropped to 35 and the two-year extension ended. New Zealand is moving the other direction.
A few things to watch
The minimum wage. It changes every April. NZ$23.95 is the 2025 number. It’ll move. Recalculate when you land.
Tax. Your earnings are taxed. First NZ$15,600 or so at 10.5%. Student income mostly sits in that bracket. But it’s still income. Get an IRD number the moment you arrive.
The variation of conditions. Old 20-hour visa? Don’t just start working 25. That’s a visa breach. Apply first. It takes time to process. Don’t leave it to the last week.
Course requirements come first. Work rights are a condition of your student visa. Not the other way around. Grades slip, or you drop below full-time. Your visa’s at risk. Work rights don’t shield you from that.
Seasonal work. Summer break. Fruit picking. Horticulture. It’s everywhere in regional New Zealand. Full-time, minimum wage or better. Plenty of students fund a big chunk of their year this way.
FAQ
How many hours can international students work in New Zealand?
25 hours a week during term. Full-time during breaks. From 3 November 2025. Was 20 hours before.
Does the 25-hour rule apply to my existing student visa?
Not automatically. Old visa listing 20 hours? You need a variation of conditions to get 25. New visas already carry 25.
What’s the minimum wage for student workers in New Zealand?
NZ$23.95 an hour from April 2025. Living wage, NZ$28.95, paid voluntarily by some employers. At 25 hours, minimum wage earns about NZ$598 a week.
Can PhD students work unlimited hours?
Yes. PhD and research master’s. No hourly cap. Work as much as you like. Just stay full-time in your studies.
Can international students work full-time during breaks?
Yes. Course of at least one academic year, 120 credits, two semesters over eight months. Then you can work full-time in scheduled breaks.
Can I be self-employed on a New Zealand student visa?
No. Employer and employment agreement required. Freelancing and running your own business. Not allowed.
Do I need a visa variation to get the extra 5 hours?
Only if your visa says 20 hours. Submit a variation of conditions through Immigration Online. New visas from November 2025 already include 25.
What happens to my work rights when my course ends?
Your 25-hour condition runs for the full visa duration, including after your course ends while it’s still valid. Then a Post Study Work Visa may be available.
The short version
New Zealand raised the in-study work limit to 25 hours a week.
At minimum wage, that’s about NZ$598 a week. During breaks, you can work full-time. Over a year, a diligent student can earn NZ$25,000 to NZ$33,000. Enough to cover most living costs.
Eligible students include most tertiary degree seekers, PhD students with no limit, English language students, and some secondary school students.
If you hold an older visa with a 20-hour condition, apply for a variation of conditions. New visas already carry 25 hours.
This is one piece of a broader shift. New Zealand wants more international students. It’s expanding work rights, holding post-study pathways open, and offering residence routes through the Green List.
For Indian students comparing destinations, the direction matters. The UK is tightening. Australia is tightening. New Zealand is opening up.
That’s worth paying attention to.
