Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced three changes to protect the integrity of student visas, and a fourth change to help students after they finish their course. They take effect from October 27, 2026.
Unlimited in-study work rights for master’s-by-research students have been removed. All master’s students will now have the same work-rights limit of 25 hours a week and full-time during holidays. This reinforces that the primary purpose of a student visa is to study.
INZ has strengthened immigration instructions to specify that English language ability is a key factor in determining whether a student can meet the conditions of their student visa.
The changes also allow INZ to formally suspend processing of student visas in a broader range of circumstances, including when non-compliance by an education provider is still being determined.
Currently, student visas expire on March 31 or one month after the course end date, depending on the course duration and field of study. INZ is extending that period from one month to two months after the course end date, to give students more time to decide their next step. The March 31 date remains unchanged.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news becomes available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.