New Zealand is a great country to complete your studies and also to look into part-time job opportunities while studying.
So, if you’re an international student who is heading to New Zealand. It is a must for you to know about the working conditions during your studies.
This is because most of the students tend to work more than the time frame that they have and fall into unnecessary issues when renewing their visas.
Therefore, in this guide, we will be taking you through everything that you need to know about work rights on your student visa.
In that way, you can stay on the right track without facing any issues.
What Are the Standard Working Hours for International Students?
When you’re studying in New Zealand during the term time, you can work up to 20 hours each week.
It’s a nice way to earn some money while focusing on your studies.
On the other hand, during your breaks, like summer and winter holidays, you’re free to work as much as you want.
Which allows you to earn much more than you did before.
However, if you’re doing a PhD or any research work, you might get even better options. As in some research students can work unlimited hours because of their research commitments.
Recent Changes to Student Visa Work Rights
New Zealand has recently updated how student visa work rights operate.
As a result of it, they’ve kept the 20-hour limit during term time and they’ve made it much clearer what counts as work hours.
Moreover, if you already have a visa, you don’t need to worry about anything. This is because they’ve included transition periods to support each and every one to settle.
Term-Time Working Restrictions
As mentioned before, the 20-hour weekly limit during term time isn’t flexible, so you need to stick to it.
Remember that this includes your exam periods as well.
Anyway, most students are losing their track of recording when it comes to their working hours.
Therefore, make sure to keep a track of your hours much more carefully. And when it comes to your employer, he/she also has a responsibility to check whether you’re following the rules or not.
Note: Going over these hours can get you in trouble, as in you might even lose your visa or have problems when getting your visa renewals.
Holiday Period Work Rights
When you’re on official breaks, you can work as much as you want.
This includes your summer break (usually from December to February) and those mid-year breaks.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to get something in writing from your school or university that shows when your breaks are. As those can be different depending on your school/university/institute.
Note: Having a letter is important as it helps to prove to the employers and immigration officers that you’re allowed to work full-time.
Special Categories and Exceptions
If you’re doing a PhD or any research work, you often get more freedom with your working hours.
In fact, many of you can work full-time throughout your studies.
On the other hand, English language students have stricter rules with limited work rights.
However, if your course includes any required internships or practical work, these might not count towards your regular working hours. And if you have a partner, they might be able to work too, depending on what and how long you’re studying.
Working Types that are Permitted
You can work at most jobs, as in both on and off campus.
Speaking of which, on campus, you might work as a research assistant, in the library, or at campus shops.
On the other hand, off campus, you can work in lots of different places, though some jobs might be off-limits if they need special licenses.
Note: Starting your own business isn’t something that you can do with a student visa.
Points to Note down
- Your employer will check your visa and he\she will also keep track of your working hours.
- You should also keep your own records and make sure that you have an IRD number for your taxes.
- Keep copies of everything, including your contract, visa papers and other important documents.
- Talk regularly with your employer about your hours to make sure that everything is on the correct path.
Working while studying in New Zealand is actually wonderful, but you need to follow their rules much more carefully.
Therefore, to help yourself, keep talking with your employers and school by maintaining good records, and staying up to date with what you can and can’t do.
In that way, if you follow these guidelines and stay informed about any changes, you’ll be able to successfully manage both work and study without any issues.
Always remember that breaking the working hour limit will definitely bring you serious problems and might even send you back to your home country if the immigration wants to.
Contact TEVS a New Zealand student visa consultants in Sri Lanka for more details.