New Zealand has quietly become more student-friendly: eligible international students can now work more hours during term. For Sri Lankan students weighing NZ against Australia or the UK, the extra five hours a week is a real difference to your budget — here’s the detail.

What changed

From 3 November 2025, eligible tertiary and secondary students may work up to 25 hours a week during the academic term — an increase from the previous 20-hour limit. The change is part of New Zealand’s International Education Going for Growth Plan, which aims to attract more international students while keeping standards high.

Eligibility was also broadened: in-study work rights now extend to all tertiary students on approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including single-semester courses.

Does it apply to you automatically?

That depends on when your visa was granted:

• check_circle New student visas granted on or after 3 November 2025 carry the 25-hour condition automatically — even if you applied earlier
• check_circle If you already hold a visa with a 20-hour limit and want the extra 5 hours, you must apply for a variation of conditions or a new student visa (the variation fee is around NZD 325, roughly LKR 62,000)
• check_circle Most student visas still allow full-time work during scheduled breaks such as the summer holidays — check whether your visa already includes this

Why it matters for Sri Lankan students

Twenty-five hours a week at New Zealand wage rates meaningfully offsets living costs, especially over a long semester. It doesn’t make NZ “self-funding” — you still need to show genuine funds for your visa and shouldn’t build your core budget around term-time earnings — but it narrows the gap with Australia, where work-hour caps have been a deciding factor for budget-conscious families.

The post-study picture

The in-study change sits alongside New Zealand’s Post-Study Work Visa, which lets eligible graduates stay and work — its length scales with your qualification level and where you studied. Together, the more generous term-time hours and a genuine post-study window make NZ a credible alternative for students who want work experience as part of the deal, not just a degree.

The bottom line

The jump from 20 to 25 hours is a modest but welcome improvement that helps with day-to-day costs. Just be clear about which rule your specific visa carries — and if you’re on an older 20-hour visa, apply for the variation before you take on the extra hours.

Next steps

If New Zealand is on your shortlist, bring us your course and budget. We’ll model your costs against the current work rights and tell you honestly how NZ compares with Australia and the UK for your goals. Our New Zealand student visa guide sets out the work conditions and the rest of the visa requirements in one place.