Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has introduced four changes to student visa rules, revising work rights, compliance requirements, and post-study visa timelines. The changes took effect on October 27, 2026, and affect international students under specific visa conditions.
Under the revised rules, master’s-by-research students will no longer have unlimited in-study work rights. They will follow the same conditions as other master’s students, allowing them to work up to 25 hours per week during term time and full-time during scheduled holidays. INZ has also strengthened English-language requirements when assessing whether students can comply with their visa conditions.
The new rules further allow INZ to suspend student visa processing in more circumstances, including investigations into potential non-compliance by education providers. In addition, some students whose visas expire one month after their course ends will now have two months to decide their next steps. The existing March 31 expiry date remains unchanged for visas that follow that schedule.
