Erica Stanford, the Minister of Education, has introduced a new strategy to boost international student enrollments with a plan to double the economic interests brought into the country by them.
As a part of this plan, there have been some impactful changes in the immigration rules by Immigration New Zealand (NZ) to promote sustainability within the country, attract more international students, uphold high standards, and reduce immigration risks.
Starting November 2025, the following changes will
- Post-study work visas will now allow international students to work up to 25 hours during their ongoing session. An increase in work hours from 20 to 25 is one of the major changes in this new strategy.
- Expanding in-study work rights to include all higher education students participating in approved exchange or study abroad programs, including those enrolled in one-semester courses.
- NZ Immigration has also clarified that if you decide to switch your education provider or choose a different, lower level of study, you’ll need to apply for a new student visa instead of just requesting a variation of your current conditions. This ensures you’re meeting the requirements and staying compliant with the regulations.
The NZ Government will also consider introducing a short-term work visa of up to six months for international student graduates who do not qualify for post-study work rights, which will give them additional time to look for jobs under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) pathway.
The main goal is to boost tertiary education’s annual economic contribution to NZD 7.2 billion by increasing student enrolments from 83,700 in 2024 to 119,000 in 2034 through this new policy.
This newly introduced strategy sets out actions for agencies to boost New Zealand’s presence overseas, attracting talented and dedicated students, and supporting the university sector through system improvements.
Stanford stated, “For a short period, New Zealand will be focusing more on its promotional efforts on markets with the highest growth potential”.
