New Work Rights for Foreign Students in New Zealand Announced

Foreign students enrolled in English language courses in New Zealand meeting certain criteria will be able to work 20 hours per week as was announced by the New Zealand Immigration Minister.  August 27, 2012 is the date on which the new policy will become effective.

Under the current immigration policy, part-time work eligibility for English Language students is limited to those who already have a reasonable level of English and are enrolled in programmes of at least six months.

Nathan Guy, the New Zealand Immigration Minister, has made the announcement that work rights for English language students in Canterbury are being extended in a bid to boost the foreign education sector in the region.

The Minister said, “Foreign students are an important industry for Canterbury, but numbers have taken a hit since the major earthquakes.”

“This new initiative will help attract more international students to Christchurch,” said Nathan Guy, “stimulating the industry and local economy.”

The international students will be able to benefit from the new provision if they are enrolled in educational institutions located in Canterbury and meeting certain standards. The program is an eighteen month trial will be closely monitored for its affects on the foreign education sector in New Zealand.

Students will be eligible to work 20 hours per week provided they are studying an English Language programme of at least 14 weeks duration or a Level 4 Foundation Certificate of one academic year’s duration.

The Minister said, “The sector has told us that eligibility for work rights will help attract students, and is a practical way in which we can help in the rebuild of Canterbury.”

“This trial will help to boost student numbers, and have flow-on effects for the wider economy by attracting more people to live, work and spend in the region,” Mr. Guy further added.

Tags: foreing students, Nathan Guy, New Zealand, New Zealand Immigration, Study abroad, Study in New Zealand