Student Visa Working Hours: Australia and New Zealand

Two countries, two sets of rules

International students on a study visa in Australia and in New Zealand may be allowed to work, but the rules are set separately by each country's immigration authority and are not the same. Australia's rules come from the Department of Home Affairs; New Zealand's come from Immigration New Zealand.

This page compares the two at a structural level so you understand that they differ and where to check each. It is general information only and not immigration advice. Work-hour limits change from time to time, so always confirm the current rule for your specific visa on the relevant official government source.

Australia — work limits during study

On the Australian student visa (subclass 500), eligible students are generally permitted to work a capped number of hours while their course is in session, with the cap commonly expressed per fortnight, and typically more freedom to work during scheduled course breaks. The Australian Government has adjusted this cap over time, so the current figure should be taken from the Department of Home Affairs rather than from memory.

• Australian student visa: subclass 500
• Work cap during term is commonly expressed per fortnight
• More work is usually allowed in scheduled course breaks
• Confirm the current cap on the Department of Home Affairs site

New Zealand — work limits during study

On a New Zealand student visa, eligible students may be allowed to work a limited number of hours per week during the academic term, and often additional hours during scheduled holidays, depending on the visa and course. The eligibility and the precise hours are set by Immigration New Zealand and are stated on each visa's conditions.

As with Australia, the rule can change and depends on your circumstances, so read your own visa conditions and verify the current limit on the official Immigration New Zealand source.

• Eligibility and hours are set by Immigration New Zealand
• Work hours during term are commonly expressed per week
• Additional hours may be allowed in scheduled breaks
• Your own visa conditions are the authority — verify on INZ

Why the comparison matters

Because the two countries use different units (Australia often per fortnight, New Zealand often per week) and different eligibility rules, you cannot assume one country's limit applies to the other. Comparing them is useful for planning, but the only reliable figure for you is the one on your own visa and on the relevant official site.

Neither country's working rights should be read as a substitute for your study obligations — your visa is primarily for study, and work is a conditional extra.

Practical reminders

Keep a few things in mind: check your specific visa's conditions, since not every student is eligible to work and limits can differ by course type or level; track official updates, because caps have changed in both countries; and remember that working rights are conditional and tied to maintaining your enrolment.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Verify the current work-hour rules for your visa on the Department of Home Affairs (Australia) or Immigration New Zealand (New Zealand) before relying on them.