Immigration Act 2009

Core provisions and matters in relation to decision making - Persons unlawfully in New Zealand

21: No right for person unlawfully in New Zealand to work or study

You could also call this:

“People without permission to be in New Zealand can't work or study here”

If you are in New Zealand without permission, you cannot work or study here. This means you can’t have a job in New Zealand or in the waters around New Zealand that belong to the country. You also can’t go to school or take classes, except for the education that all children must have. Even for this required education, there are rules in the Education and Training Act 2020 that you need to follow.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1440605.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
Education and learning > School education

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20: No right for person unlawfully in New Zealand to apply for visa, or

“People in New Zealand without permission can't apply to stay, except with special approval”


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Part 2 Core provisions and matters in relation to decision making
Persons unlawfully in New Zealand

21No right for person unlawfully in New Zealand to work or study

  1. A person who is unlawfully in New Zealand may not—

  2. work in New Zealand or in the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand; or
    1. study in New Zealand, except in compulsory education (but subject to the Education and Training Act 2020).
      Notes
      • Section 21(b): amended, on , by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).