The New Zealand government is updating the new criteria for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. This will directly help students who wish to study and work in New Zealand during their course period. The modifications to students’ in-study work rights take effect on October 9, 2023, when the new Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa criteria take effect.
New Zealand also offers a post-study work Visa to students. Students can apply for a post-study work Visa if they have recently finished their studies in New Zealand. It allows them to stay and work in New Zealand for up to 3 years, depending on what they have studied.
With Post Study Work Visa visa they can stay for 3 years depending on their level of study and how long they have studied in New Zealand. They can also work for any employer in any job if they have a degree level 7 or above qualification. Also, they can work in a job that is related to what they have studied if their qualification is non-degree level 7 or below.
The qualification must also be on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list. Many students who come to New Zealand to study want to work while they’re there. While a study visa is required to enroll in a foreign university, students are also authorized to work and earn money while in New Zealand. Working while on a student visa is legal in New Zealand, however, there are several conditions that must be met.
Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week part-time, as well as all scheduled holidays and the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods. The employment rights will be indicated on your student eVisa, the visa sticker in your passport, or in a letter to you.
However, working when students are not authorized is a breach of visa rules. This may have an impact on students’ later visa application or their eligibility to remain in New Zealand.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa – What’s new
References to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa in the in-study work instructions will be eliminated, and the eligible qualification’s program level and type will be stated instead.
Instructions will also eliminate references to the necessity for a course to be relevant to the ANZSCO occupation at skill levels 3-5.As a result of these changes, all full-time students pursuing a New Zealand qualification at Level 4 or higher on the NZQCF will be eligible for in-study work rights. Training programmes and micro-credentials are not qualifications and hence do not qualify for in-study work opportunities.
To be eligible for a student visa and in-study work rights, students must normally be enrolled full-time.
Exceptions for students who are:
Completing a course of study that qualifies for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa points, orIn their final semester of a curriculum lasting at least two academic years.This allows students on a student visa to continue studying part-time in their last semester. These instructions will also be updated to include references to level 4 and above credentials. Immigration instructions will be updated to state that all qualifications at Level 4 and above on the NZCQF will be eligible for in-study work rights. This is to ensure that in-study work eligibility is maintained once the increased Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa qualification criteria take effect on October 9, 2023.
