Working in New Zealand on a visa: student, working holiday and work visas
If you are not a New Zealand citizen or resident, your visa decides whether you can work, for whom and for how many hours. Here is how to check, and how to show an employer.
ManyJobs guide · Checked against official sources on 3 November 2026 · General information, not tax, legal or immigration advice.
Immigration rules change often, and the conditions printed on your own visa always take priority over any general guide. Before applying for a job, read your visa conditions in your Immigration New Zealand account and check Immigration New Zealand's website for current rules. ManyJobs cannot give immigration advice; for advice about your situation, use a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer.
Know your visa conditions
Every visa lists its conditions, including whether you may work and any limits on the type of work, employer, location or hours. Common situations include:
- Student visas: many tertiary students may work part-time during study. Since 3 November 2025, eligible students can work up to 25 hours a week during term (previously 20), and many can work full-time during scheduled holidays. Existing visa holders may need to apply for a variation to get the higher limit. School students in Years 12 and 13 also need parent and school permission.
- Working holiday visas: young people from partner countries can usually work for most employers while travelling, with conditions that depend on the country scheme.
- Employer-specific work visas: such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa, which lets you work only for the employer, in the role and location, named on your visa. Changing jobs usually requires a new visa or a variation.
- Open work visas: some partner visas and post-study work visas allow you to work for almost any employer.
- Visitor visas: generally do not allow you to work, including unpaid "trial shifts" for a business.
Showing an employer you can work
Employers must check that anyone they hire is entitled to work for them. You will usually be asked for your passport and visa details, and the employer can confirm your conditions using Immigration New Zealand's online VisaView service with your permission. Keep a copy of your visa approval letter handy when you apply. Mentioning your work rights briefly in your CV or cover letter, for example "Student visa: entitled to work up to 25 hours a week during term", answers an employer's first question quickly.
Hours, rosters and limits
If your visa limits your hours, it is your responsibility to stay within them, even if a manager offers extra shifts. Keep track of the hours you work across all jobs each week, and tell employers about your limit when you discuss rosters. Working beyond your conditions can put your visa and future applications at risk.
Your employment rights
Migrant workers have the same minimum employment rights as everyone else: at least the minimum wage, holiday and leave entitlements, a written employment agreement, and a safe workplace. An employer must not take your passport, charge you a premium or fee for a job, or make you pay back part of your wages. If something feels wrong, Employment New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand both accept reports, and there is a dedicated process for migrant exploitation.
Red flags
- Being asked to pay money to secure a job or a job offer.
- An employer offering to "sort out" your visa if you work unpaid first.
- Cash-only pay with no payslip or employment agreement.
- Pressure to work more hours than your visa allows.
Our safe job search guide covers scam warning signs in more detail.
Before you apply: checklist
- Read your current visa conditions in your Immigration New Zealand account.
- Get an IRD number and a New Zealand bank account.
- Prepare a copy of your passport and visa approval.
- Note your work-hours limit, if any, on your CV.
- Check that the role, employer and location fit your visa.