New Zealand | Student visa work rights expanded; Guardian Visitor Visa applications move online

Effective Nov. 3, 2025, New Zealand Immigration will implement two key changes impacting international student visa work rights and Guardian Visitor Visas.

Key Points:

Student visa work rights

Eligible student visa holders will be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week during the academic term, up from the current 20-hour limit. This change applies to:

• Tertiary and secondary school students with in-study work rights
• Holders of dependent child visitor visas and Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visas
• Students on approved exchange or study abroad programs, including one-semester courses

Students with existing visas must apply for a “variation of conditions” status to access the increased work hours.

Guardian Visitor Visa applications

All applications for Guardian Visitor Visas must be submitted via the enhanced Immigration Online system starting Nov. 3. The new platform offers:

• Streamlined forms tailored to applicant circumstances
• Real-time status updates and improved self-service features
• Continued access to draft or submitted applications in the legacy system until further notice

Additional Information: These updates reflect New Zealand’s ongoing efforts to support international education and improve visa processing efficiency.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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