Working part-time if you are a dependent child waiting for a residence visa

You may be able to work part-time in New Zealand if you have applied for, or are included in your parent's application for an eligible residence visa.

Eligibility for part-time work rights

You may be able to work part-time in New Zealand if you:

  • have or meet the criteria to apply for an eligible visitor visa
  • meet our age requirements, and
  • have applied for, or are included in your parent's application for an eligible residence visa.

Your current visa

You must currently have, or meet the criteria to apply for:

  • a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa, or
  • a Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa.

Child of a Worker Visitor Visa

Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa

You may also be eligible for part-time work rights if:

  • you currently have a Visitor Visa, or meet the criteria to apply for one, and
  • you used to have a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa or a Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa.

Visitor Visa

Your age

You must be aged:

  • 18 to 24 years old, or
  • 17 years old and have evidence that you have finished secondary school.

Evidence that you have finished secondary school can include:

  • your graduation certificate
  • your final school report, or
  • a letter from your school, confirming that you have finished school.

Eligible residence visas

You must have applied for, or have been included in your parent's application for one of the following residence visas:

  • Dependent Child Resident Visa
  • Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
  • Straight to Residence Visa (based on a Green List role)
  • Work to Residence Visa (based on a Green List role)
  • Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
  • Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa
  • Partner of a New Zealander Residence Visa

Green List

How many hours you can work

If you are eligible you will be able to work up to:

  • 20 hours a week between 1 February and 30 November, and
  • 40 hours a week between 1 December and 31 January.

How to apply

You already have a visitor visa

You must apply for a variation of conditions of your visitor visa if:

  • you already have a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa
  • you already have a Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa, or
  • you had one of these visas, or a Dependent Child Student Visa, but now have a Visitor Visa.

You cannot work until your application for a variation of conditions is accepted.

You can apply for a variation of conditions by using the paper variation of conditions form.

Changing the conditions of a visitor visa

Application for a Variation of Conditions or a Variation of Travel Conditions (INZ 1020) PDF 574KB

You have not applied for your visitor visa

If you have not applied for a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa or Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa you can apply for work rights when you complete your visa application.

Child of a Worker Visitor Visa

Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa

If you are planning to apply for a Visitor Visa, you cannot apply for part-time work rights as part of your application. You must apply for a variation of conditions after your Visitor Visa is granted.

Visitor Visa

Changing the conditions of a visitor visa