Can I get a part-time job while studying, and how much can I earn?

The 25 hour figure is specific to a New Zealand student visa and is higher than the 20 hour cap common in the UK or Ireland, so it is worth confirming this number against your own visa conditions rather than assuming a single global standard applies across every study destination.

Work Rights on a New Zealand Student Visa

• Term time: up to 25 hours a week for eligible students enrolled in a qualifying full time course.
• Scheduled breaks: full time work is generally permitted during official holiday periods.
• Employment type: you must work as an employee; self employment is not permitted under standard student visa conditions.

What 25 Hours a Week Pays

At the New Zealand minimum wage of NZD 23.95 an hour, effective from 1 April 2026, working the full 25 hours a week comes to NZD 598.75 before tax, or roughly NZD 2,395 across a 4 week month. Earnings tend to rise during scheduled breaks when full time work is allowed, though most students still treat part time income as a contribution toward living costs rather than a way to cover tuition. Common part time roles for international students sit in hospitality, retail and administrative support.

My Advice

Track your hours carefully against your visa conditions, especially in weeks with irregular shift patterns, since going over the 25 hour cap even occasionally can be treated as a breach of your student visa. Treat part time earnings as a buffer for day to day costs like groceries and transport rather than a substitute for the funds you already had to demonstrate when your visa was approved, since New Zealand employers rarely guarantee a fixed number of hours every week.