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28 August 2024
2 minute read
In July the Government announced it will increase access to part-time work rights for migrant high school leavers who are awaiting the outcome of a family residence visa application.
Migrant school leavers to get part-time work rights
We can now confirm that this change will come into effect on 1 October 2024.
If you are eligible and already on a visitor visa, you will be able to apply for a variation of your visitor visa conditions to get these work rights from 1 October.
Changing the conditions of a visitor visa
If you are eligible and applying for a visitor visa, you will be able to apply for work rights as part of your visa application from 1 October.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for part-time work rights, you 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 current or pre-October 2023 visa criteria)
- Straight to Residence Visa
- Work to Residence Visa
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
- Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa
You must also:
- already have or be eligible to apply for a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa, or Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa, and
- be 18 to 24 years old (inclusive), or 17 years old and have evidence of high school completion.
If you are eligible you will be able to work up to:
- 20 hours per week between 1 February and 30 November, and
- 40 hours per week between 1 December and 31 January.
These are the same work rights for Year 12 and 13 students on a Dependent Child Student Visa. This change makes sure the same work rights are available across visas open to migrant school leavers awaiting a residence decision.
