The New Zealand government has unveiled key reforms as part of its newly introduced International Education: Going for Growth Plan. A standout change is the extension of allowable work hours for international students—from 20 to 25 hours per week during academic terms—starting November 3, 2025.
This increased limit will apply to all new student visas granted from that date, no matter when the application was submitted. Students with existing visas capped at 20 hours can gain access to the extra five hours by applying for a variation of conditions or a new visa, subject to standard immigration processing fees.
