New Zealand expands work rights for accompanying dependants of foreign students

Immigration New Zealand has expanded the eligibility for work visas for partners of some foreign students in the country.

Accompanying dependants can now apply for a Partner of Student Work Visa with open work rights if their partner is studying in "a specified level 7 or 8 bachelor’s or bachelor’s (honours) degree that will lead directly to professional registration required for a Green List role."

Green List roles are occupations that have been classified as being in high demand by the New Zealand government. They include positions in health care, STEM fields, and others.

The new policy offers a significant benefit to accompanying children of Green List-enrolled students as well in that: "For partners who are now eligible, their dependent school-aged children can be treated as domestic students. The children can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa so they will not have to pay tuition fees to go to school. This currently applies to anyone with a Partner of a Student Work Visa."

The news follows the recent announcement of New Zealand's full-year enrolment figures for 2023. The country’s schools, universities, language institutes, and vocational institutions together hosted 69,135 international students last year, a 67% increase in total foreign enrolment over 2022.

This represents 60% of the international student base in 2019, when over 115,000 international students were enrolled.

For additional background, please see:

• "New Zealand hosted over 69,000 international students in 2023"
• "New Zealand: Foreign enrolments climbed steadily through 2023 but full recovery will take years"
• "New Zealand moves to active footing for student recruitment with new national strategy"