Four changes to New Zealand student visas

What has changed

New master’s by research students no longer get unlimited work rights: they can now work up to 25 hours a week in term and full time in holidays. English ability is now a key factor in student visa decisions, and INZ can pause processing for providers under investigation. Visas that ended 1 month after the course now end 2 months after.

What this means for you

If you apply for a New Zealand student visa now, your English ability matters more in the decision, so a strong IELTS or PTE score helps. Research master’s students should plan their budget around 25 hours of work a week in term.

After your course, most student visas now last 2 months instead of 1, giving you more time to apply for a post-study work visa.