Can You Work on a Student Visa in New Zealand?
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New Zealand is a country of opportunities, and many who are staying there on a student visa may like to take up work. Working is a good way to build up bank reserves and provide for expenditures. Apart from that, taking up work gives practical exposure. In New Zealand, students who are enrolled in a degree program are eligible for post-study work rights. However, the applicants will not be allowed to apply for a post-study work visa for the second time during the course of their study. The applicants can apply for work opportunities that are related to the course you are pursuing in New Zealand.
Part-time work permit eligibility for students
Students pursuing vocational or foundation courses can work up to 20 hours a week. You can opt to work daily for a few hours or during weekends.
The course being pursued should be in the tertiary education category. The tertiary course is any course that can be pursued after clearing school or higher secondary level (class XII boards). Certain diploma courses in the country can also be taken up after clearing Class X boards. Tertiary courses include diploma, undergraduate, graduate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program courses.
While on a New Zealand student visa, you can take up part-time work in the country with a legal entity. Your employer needs to issue an employment agreement. As a student, you cannot start a self-employed business.
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To be eligible for a New Zealand work visa as a student, you need to:
- Enroll in a skilling course of level 4 or higher foundation course.
- Skilling course should be of at least two years duration
- The Foundation course duration should at least be of one academic year.
Check: Part time work options in New Zealand
Full-time work permit eligibility for students
Full-time work with no restrictions on working hour limit can be taken up during session breaks, and long vacations of Christmas or New Year. For taking up full-time work, you need to be enrolled in a course with 120 or more credits.
Students pursuing a master’s level or doctoral programs in research can take up full-time work. Students who are required to undergo practical training under their study programs are also given work permit visas. The work can be part-time or full-time, depending upon the course program objectives and schedules.
Read more: Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand
Student visa New Zealand for English language courses
Students pursuing English language courses in New Zealand are eligible to work even if they have enrolled for short-duration courses.
You can work part-time while pursuing English courses in New Zealand if:
- You have enrolled for a full-time six months or longer course in English
- You have scored 5+ in recognized international English language tests
- Your score is not more than two years old
- Your objective is to improve my English knowledge and skills
Students pursuing full-time continuous shorter English courses of 14 weeks duration can also work part-time in the country. Students who take up courses in less than 14 weeks can also apply for work. The shorter course being pursued should be in continuance with the previous course cleared and with the same university or institute.
Also read: How to get PR (Permanent Residency) in New Zealand after study?
Work permit label on New Zealand student visa
It is best to get a work permit label on your visa if you want to work in New Zealand while pursuing your studies there. Choose courses from universities and institutes recognized by the New Zealand qualification framework. When you apply for a visa, apply for the work permit label as well, which can be full-time or part-time depending upon your course criteria. Once the work permit is cleared, you will be able to see it in your e-visa, on your passport visa label, or on a separate work permit letter issued to you.
If you are planning to extend your stay and continue your work, make sure you apply for a visa and work permit renewals within the stipulated time limits. Students who are about to complete their courses can also apply for post-study work visa New Zealand. Working and continuing your stay without a permit can have serious implications as New Zealand laws, though student-friendly, are stringent on permits.
Read more:
Q: Is New Zealand good for Indian students?
With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.
Q: What is the acceptance rate for Lincoln University New Zealand?
According to various unofficial sources, Lincoln University New Zealand acceptance rate is around 60%. The acceptance rate indicated that the university is moderately selective at the time of admission. So, to get into the university, make sure to have a good academic record and meet the entry requirements such as having 12 years of schooling and minimum percentage for admission to bachelor’s courses. For admission to postgraduate courses, a relevant degree is required with the minimum grade.
Q: How much funds are needed for a New Zealand study visa?
International students need to show sufficient funds for getting a New Zealand student visa. Students need to show NZ$ 20,000 for a full year of study or NZ$ 1,250 per month for getting a New Zealand study visa.
Cost of New Zealand Student Visa Application
- New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 19,200 (approximately).
- Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees.
- Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520.
Q: Which course is better, Master in Management or Master in Project Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand?
The University of Auckland offers the best UG and PG programs for international students at an affordable tuition fees. Auckland Unversity Master in Project Management is slightly better than the Master in Management because of its tuition fees for first year. Mentioned below is the tuition fees for first-year for international students:
| Program | First Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| Master in Project Management | INR 25.11 L |
| Master in Management | INR 26.11 L |
Q: What is the cost of studying in New Zealand?
The tuition fees that a student would need to pay will depend on the type of qualification and the university they are looking at to pursue their education. While courses such as humanities, education, and arts are likely to cost less pursuing subjects such as medicine and engineering costs on the higher side.
The below table sheds light on the tuition fee charged level-wise in New Zealand from international students applying to their universities:
Study Program Level | Annual Costs in NZD |
|---|---|
Diploma or Certificate courses | NZD 23,000 - NZD 47,000 |
English Language courses | NZD 350 (per week) |
Undergraduate degree | NZD 22,000 - NZD 32,000 |
Master's degree | NZD 26,000 - NZD 37,000 |
Doctoral degree | NZD 6,500 - NZD 9,000 |
Q: Is living in New Zealand expensive?
The cost of living does not includes only the tuition fee but also other expenses like textbooks, NON-tuition fee, accommodation cost and other personal expenses. The moment a student lands in New Zealand, they need to pay $35 international visitor and tourism conservation levy. The living cost can vary as per the accommodation option, location and personal spending habits.
In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment.
Q: How much will it cost to study in New Zealand?
The cost of study in New Zealand for international students will vary from student to student. The cost of living will depend on many factors such as lifestyle, type of course and accommodation. Here we have given a breakdown of cost of living in New Zealand for international students.
Tuition Fees
Level of Study | Estimated Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
Diplomas/Certificates | NZD 23,376 to NZD 46,752 |
Bachelor’s Degree | NZD 20,000 to NZD 40,000 |
Postgraduate Degree | NZD 20,000 to NZD 45,000 |
PhDs | NZD 6,500 to NZD 7,500 |
Living Expenses
Type of Expenses | Cost |
|---|---|
Accommodation | NZD 140 – NZD 484 (per week) |
Entertainment | NZD 55 (per week) |
Food | NZD 80 – NZD 120 (per week) |
Electricity | NZD 200 – NZD 300 (per month) |
Transportation | NZD 37 (per week) |
Phone | NZD 19 (per month) |
Internet | NZD 90 (per month) |
Q: Is New Zealand good for international students to study?
New Zealand is one of the top destinations for international students going abroad for higher education. All of eight universities in New Zealand are ranked among the top 3% universities in the world. New Zealand education sets up students with a globally recognised qualification and real-world skills. Each year thousands of students from India apply for various universities in the New Zealand. As per Govt. of India, there are more than 2,500 Indian students that went to study in 2022 in various universities in New Zealand.
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