New Zealand New Policies 2025–26: Why It’s Becoming a Top Destination for International Students

New Zealand is known for its world-class universities, student-friendly culture, and high quality of life. It consistently ranks among the safest and most peaceful countries in the world, a major consideration for Indian families sending children abroad.

Globally recognised education system

All eight New Zealand universities rank in the top 2% globally, offering high academic quality and strong industry connections. Refer an official Link Education New Zealand

Safe, multicultural, and welcoming

New Zealand offers a calm environment, low crime rates, and strong international student support. New Zealand is ranked the 4ᵗʰ most peaceful country in the world and is ranked the 1ˢᵗ in the world for work-life balance. Refer an official Link Education New Zealand

Excellent part-time work opportunities

With updated work policies, students now have more chances to gain real, paid experience.

Clear pathways for post-study work

New Zealand offers structured post-study work visas that help students gain relevant industry exposure after graduation.

1. Increase in Part-Time Work Hours (Effective November 2025)

International students can now work up to 25 hours per week during term time, an increase from the previous 20 hours.

This means students can better manage living expenses while gaining valuable New Zealand work experience.

For more information on recent amendments refer to the link Immigration New Zealand

2. Work Rights for Exchange & Study-Abroad Students

Students joining New Zealand for short-term programs such as semester exchange or study-abroad modules will now also be eligible for in-study work rights.

This makes New Zealand a strong choice even for short-term or flexible programs.

3. Faster Visa Processing with New Online System

A new digital visa processing system has been introduced, significantly reducing decision timelines.

• More predictable outcomes
• Greater transparency

This ensures smoother planning for students and families, below is the latest data on it. This table displays the number of work days to decide student visa applications for universities processed in the last 4 weeks.

Median (50% of applications) – 12 Working Days

80% of applications – 27 Working Days

90% of applications – 37 Working Days

To view the full information on current processing times and performance refer the link of Immigration New Zealand

4. New Rules for Course and Provider Changes

Students who want to change institutions or shift to a lower level of study must now apply for a new student visa, rather than simply modifying their existing one. This gives the system better structure, but requires students to plan their academic path more carefully.

5. New Zealand’s International Education Growth Strategy

The government aims to:

• Increase international enrolments
• Strengthen student employability
• Make New Zealand globally competitive
• Improve long-term pathways
• Enhance student experience and welfare

In short: New Zealand wants more international students and is building supportive policies to welcome them.

Many Indian students travel with their spouse or partner, making dependant rules an important part of decision-making. The 2025-26 policy updates bring both clarity and structure to this area.

• Dependant Work Rights for Eligible Programs

Spouses/partners of students studying master’s degrees, PhDs, and certain postgraduate qualifications can still apply for an open work visa, giving them full-time work rights in New Zealand.

• More Structured Pathways

New Zealand now places greater emphasis on students enrolling in higher-level, skill-shortage aligned programs when seeking dependant privileges. This aligns with the country’s focus on building a future-ready workforce.

• Clearer Rules, Less Confusion

While dependant rights remain available, lower-level programs may offer more limited options. This means students must plan their course choices strategically.

• Family-Friendly Destination

New Zealand remains one of the most family-friendly study destinations, providing:

• Strong spouse work rights (for eligible students)
• Smooth school enrolment options for children
• Safe and peaceful living conditions

With My Study Offers, students and families receive personalised guidance on:

• Eligibility for dependant visas
• Spouse work rights
• Program-level requirements
• Family settlement planning