The Minister of Immigration today announced enhancements to immigration policy that will make it easier for international students to work and study in New Zealand.
The following changes will take effect from 4 July 2005:
- International students who have graduated from a course that would gain points under Skilled Migrant Category will be eligible for a six-month open work permit.
- The pool of students eligible to work part time while studying will be expanded to include Year 12 and 13 school students and some English language students, provided certain conditions are met.
- Eligible students will be able to apply to work for up to 20 hours a week during term, instead of the current 15 hours.
- Anyone undertaking a course of 12 months or more will be able to apply to work full-time over the summer holidays.
- Partners of students studying in areas of absolute skill shortage and partners of all postgraduate students will be able to apply for an open work permit valid for the duration of the student’s course of study.
The changes are the result of a review of immigration student policy carried out over the last year by the Department of Labour, which worked closely with other government agencies and with Education New Zealand (ENZ), which represents New Zealand’s international education industry.
The following changes will take effect from 4 July 2005.
New Guiding Statement
The following is a new guiding statement for immigration student policy.
Immigration student policy contributes to New Zealand’s sustainable economic development by:
- facilitating the entry of genuine students, with a focus on attracting and developing students who have the skills and talent New Zealand needs
- increasing global connectedness
- supporting the sustainable growth of export education capability
- earning foreign exchange, and
- strengthening New Zealand education, while managing risk to New Zealand and maintaining social cohesion.
Expanded Work Opportunities for Students (and Some Partners)
Term-time work rights
Term-time work rights of 20 hours per week will be available to the following students:
- all students enrolled in a full-time course of at least two years
- all students enrolled in a course that would result in points under the Skilled Migrant Category (see section SM14 of our Operational Manual) (regardless of length of course or type of institution)
- secondary students engaged in full-time, full-year course of study in Year 12 or Year 13 with written permission from their school and parental consent
* English language students with an IELTS overall band score of 5.0 or above at the time of application for a visa or permit to study a full time course of at least six months duration.
Christmas holiday work rights
The right to work full-time in the Christmas holiday period will be available to any student enrolled in a course of 12 months or more duration.
Partner’s work rights
Open work permits will be available to the partners of the following students:
- students enrolled in courses of study towards qualifications in areas of absolute skill shortage as specified in the Long Term Skill Shortage List
- students enrolled in postgraduate qualifications i.e. levels 8, 9, or 10 on the qualifications table.
Facilitating the Pathway from Study to Work to Residence
New work permit for some graduates
- Any student regardless of institution type who successfully completes a course in New Zealand resulting in a qualification that would get points under the Skilled Migrant Category will be eligible to apply for a six -month open work permit.
- Once they have secured relevant employment they can then apply for either a post-study two-year work permit (currently specified in our Operational Manual at U7.20.15) or proceed directly to the Skilled Migrant Category.
Special Conditions for NZAID Students
Work rights for some NZAID students NZAID students to be granted term-time work rights if:
- the student has written approval from NZAID and the education provider, and
- the work is a compulsory course requirement or is related to their postgraduate course of study.
Work rights for some partners of NZAID students
Partners of NZAID students will be eligible for a work permit which will not need a labour market test if:
- they have a job offer, and
- written approval of NZAID.
Further permits restricted
NZAID students, their partners and dependants may only be issued with further visas or permits for New Zealand in the two-year period following completion of their scholarship with NZAID approval (with the exception of a work permit to complete course requirements, or a short-term visitor’s visa).
