Part-Time Work Rights Announced For Migrant Youngsters

Young migrant students who have just completed high school will soon be allowed to work part-time while a decision on their parents’ residency application is pending. 

"They're stuck on visitor visas because they can't afford international student fees or qualify for skilled work visas," Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said.

"We want migrant teens, aged 17-24, who’ve finished school and applied for residence to contribute and live meaningful lives in New Zealand."

To be eligible, you need to have finished high school and already lodged an application for a skilled residence visa or dependent child residence visa.

This new policy kicks off at the end of October this year, with all the details on how to apply dropping in late August.

This move is set to unleash a wave of opportunities for migrant teens who’ve been sidelined for too long.

“This is a great move,” says Vandana Rai of Auckland-based Immigration Advisers New Zealand Limited. “Migrant communities have been demanding this for years. They want their dependent children to gain work experience while waiting for the outcome of a family residence application.”

Vandana points out that many migrant high-school graduateshave been left idle for far too long without studying or working. Their parents are waiting for them to step out and work and keep themselves engaged. Many families are not able to afford the international student fees and can now delay the study plan considering that they can claim the relatively lower domestic fees for tertiary education only after their residence visa has been granted.

There are a few grey areas that still have to be clarified, as per Vandana. One is the scenario where these migrant high school graduates have exceeded the maximum permitted stay on a visitor visa. 

These dependent children of migrant families have to travel overseas now and be separated while waiting for an outcome of the Residence Application.

As part of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) changes in 2023, an interim visa was created for applicants awaiting the outcome of an SMC application. However, the interim visa option is currently not available to those who have submitted a residence application under other skilled residence categories.

Here's what you need to do to work part-time while a decision on residency application is pending:

• Hold an eligible visitor visa.
• Be a dependent child of a work visa holder or a New Zealand citizen/resident.
• Be 17 and finished with high school, or between 18 and 24 years old.
• Be part of an already-lodged application for one of these residence visas:
  • Dependent Child Resident Visa
  • Skilled Migrant Category Visa (new or old criteria)
  • 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

Eligible teens can work up to 20 hours a week during the school year and up to 40 hours a week during the summer. This matches the work rights for Year 12 and 13 students on a Dependent Child Student Visa.