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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:
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:
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.
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The New Zealand government announced additional changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to simplify the investment process.
Additional Information: In addition, authorities stated that newborn children of investors will also qualify for a Dependent Child Resident Visa through their parent’s Permanent Resident Visa. Overall, the government believes these changes will help attract high value investment and incentivize people to invest in New Zealand. Officials stated that the changes (simplifying settings and incentivizing active investment classes) are a direct result of feedback from industry stakeholders and are meant to provide the most effective options available to attract new investors.
The New Zealand government will soon implement updates to income thresholds for migrants supporting a partner or parent as well as regarding work rights for people on interim visas.
Additional Information: As BAL reported, a number of changes have been announced recently for AEWVs, and changes to the median wage and work rights for people on interim visas correspond with government reforms to make immigration settings more flexible and responsive to the differing needs of businesses in certain sectors and regions. Immigration New Zealand is expected to roll out additional changes over the course of 2025 as a result. BAL will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.
Upcoming changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) are expected March 10 and will impact both employers and workers.
Additional Information: In addition, as BAL reported, the government is transitioning from the ANZSCO to the National Occupation List (NOL). Effective March 10, officials will clarify the classification of certain ANZSCO skill level 3 roles to align with their skill level in the NOL. More information on the specific roles can be found here.
These important updates are designed to support employers and allow them to better fill skill gaps. The changes are also being implemented to ensure migrants are sufficiently skilled while addressing key issues the government is focusing on in 2025.
The New Zealand government announced changes to the allocation process for international student visa applications and the Active Investor Plus Visa.
Additional Information: While the government is reducing the time Growth and Balanced category visa holders must make their investments (within six months of their approval), they are offering the option to apply for a six-month extension. Overall, the government believes the changes will help attract high value investment and incentivize people to invest in New Zealand.
For the change in allocation process for international student visa applications, the government intends to improve visa processing times for international students and provide more flexibility and efficiency before the peak summer period.
The New Zealand government announced relaxed visitor visa conditions for those who work for overseas employers while visiting New Zealand.
Additional Information: Visitor visa holders are not able to work for a New Zealand employer, provide goods or services to people or businesses in New Zealand or do work that requires them to be physically present at a workplace in New Zealand.
Officials stated that these new conditions are designed to encourage tourists to stay longer in New Zealand and allow them to keep in touch with work in their home country without breaching their visa conditions as digital nomads. More information about this change and how it relates to the government’s economic growth priorities can be found here.
The New Zealand government announced significant changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in 2025.
Additional Information: In addition, the government is introducing greater work rights for interim visas in April and two new pathways for seasonal workers in November. Officials also stated that a new job check process will be introduced in mid-2025 to further streamline the process for low-risk employers and help reduce processing times.
BAL Analysis: More information about these changes is expected in early 2025. These important updates — including removing the median wage threshold, reducing experience requirements to two years and introducing new seasonal visa pathways — are designed to support employers and allow them to better fill skill gaps. The changes are also being implemented to ensure migrants are sufficiently skilled while addressing key issues the government is focusing on in 2025.
Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The New Zealand government announced changes to provide open work rights to more partners of migrant workers, allowing them to work for any employer.
Additional Information: Current holders of partner work visas with specific employment conditions will be able to apply to vary their visa conditions to switch to open work rights beginning Dec. 2 if their partner meets any of the above situations.
BAL Analysis: As BAL reported, the government also recently increased the maximum duration of work and visitor visas for partners of New Zealand citizens and residence class visa holders. The government hopes these changes will help families stay together, provide additional flexibility and attract and retain the workers New Zealand needs to fill gaps in sectors facing skill and labor shortages.
The New Zealand government announced the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) will soon be replaced with separate systems for both countries.
Additional Information: More information on the new National Occupation List from Statistics New Zealand can be found here. Officials stated that the replacement of ANZSCO resulted from a consultation period between the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand that determined separate systems would be preferred due to significant changes in the labor market in both countries.
The New Zealand government is increasing the maximum duration of work and visitor visas for partners of New Zealand citizens and residence class visa holders.
Additional Information: Current visa holders will not have their visas automatically extended and will need to submit a new application to receive the longer duration. The government intends the change to provide additional flexibility for partners of New Zealand citizens.