INZ tightens student visas from 27 October, including master's work rights
Immigration New Zealand's four student-visa changes from 27 October 2026 end unlimited in-study work for master's-by-research students, strengthen English-language instructions, widen processing suspension powers, and extend post-course visa expiry from 1 month to 2 months where that 1-month rule applies.
Immigration New Zealand published four student-visa changes on 27 October 2026. Three are framed as protecting the integrity of student visas, and a fourth is meant to help students after they finish their course. All four took effect from 27 October 2026.
Unlimited in-study work rights for master's-by-research students have been removed. All master's students now have the same work-rights conditions of 25 hours a week and full-time during holidays. INZ says this reinforces that the primary purpose of a student visa is to study.
INZ has also strengthened immigration instructions so English language ability is specified as a key factor in deciding whether a student can meet their student-visa conditions, and it can now formally suspend student-visa processing in a broader range of circumstances, including while non-compliance by an education provider is still being determined.
Student visas expire on 31 March or 1 month after the course end date, depending on the duration and course of study. INZ is extending that 1-month period to 2 months after the course end date so students have more time to decide their next step. The 31 March date is unchanged.
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- The four Immigration New Zealand student-visa changes took effect from 27 October 2026.
- Unlimited in-study work rights for master's-by-research students were removed; all master's students now share the 25 hours a week and full-time during holidays conditions.
- INZ strengthened instructions so English language ability is a key factor in whether a student can meet student-visa conditions.
- INZ can formally suspend student-visa processing in a broader range of circumstances, including while education-provider non-compliance is still being determined.
- Where visas expire 1 month after the course end date, that period is extended to 2 months; the 31 March expiry date is unchanged.
Official sources
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