Migrant school leavers to get part-time work rights

The Government has announced it will increase access to part-time work rights for migrant high school leavers who are awaiting the outcome of a family residence application.

Dependents of a work visa holder or New Zealand citizen/resident will be able to apply for rights allowing them to work part time, provided they hold an eligible visitor visa and have applied for residence under an eligible category.

To be eligible to apply for part-time work rights, migrants must be an applicant on an already-lodged application for one of the following residence visas:

• Dependent Child Resident Visa
• Skilled Migrant Category Visa (either new or previous visa criteria)
• any of the Skilled Migrant Category sub-categories (Straight to Residence Visa, Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa).

Migrants must also:

• hold an eligible visitor visa and be a dependent child of work visa holder or New Zealand citizen/resident, and
• be aged 17 and have completed high school, or aged 18 to 24 years old (inclusive).

They will be entitled to work up to 20 hours per week during the school year, and up to 40 hours per week over the summer holiday period. This aligns with work rights for available to Year 12 and 13 students on a Dependent Child Student Visa.

This change will be implemented at the end of October, and we will provide more details about how and when people can apply in late August.

Read more on the Beehive website:

Migrant school leavers to get part-time work rights — Beehive website