Best Credit Cards for International Students With Part-Time Jobs in New Zealand

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Best Credit Cards for International Students With Part-Time Jobs in New Zealand

International students with part-time jobs may qualify for a credit card in New Zealand, but employment alone does not guarantee approval. Banks assess regular income, living expenses, visa validity and New Zealand credit history before deciding whether the applicant can afford repayments.

The available options are also limited because several major banks restrict online credit-card applications to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. ANZ is currently one of the clearest options because it publishes specific eligibility conditions for international tertiary students.

Best Credit Cards for Working International Students

1. ANZ Low Rate Visa — Best Overall Option

The ANZ Low Rate Visa is the most practical starting point for many eligible international students because it offers:

No annual card fee.
No fee for an additional card.
A minimum credit limit of NZ$500.
Up to 55 interest-free days on purchases.
ANZ’s lowest advertised credit-card purchase rate.
Access to selected ANZ Loop cashback offers.

International-student requirements

ANZ states that a tertiary student must:

Be at least 18.
Receive a regular income.
Have enough money remaining after expenses to make repayments.
Have income, a student allowance or student-loan payments credited to an ANZ account.
Study full-time at a recognised institution with at least six months remaining on the course.
Have at least six months remaining on an international student visa.

A part-time salary paid directly into an ANZ account can therefore strengthen the application. Approval remains subject to ANZ’s lending assessment.

Best for: Students who want a low-limit card with no annual fee and can demonstrate stable part-time income.

2. ANZ CashBack Visa — Best for Everyday Rewards

The ANZ CashBack Visa earns NZ$1 back for every NZ$150 spent on eligible purchases. Rewards are normally credited annually to the card account.

Current features include:

NZ$40 annual fee.
NZ$500 minimum credit limit.
Up to 55 interest-free days on purchases.
Unlimited eligible cashback rewards.
Additional offers through ANZ Loop.

The same international-student eligibility requirements apply as for the ANZ Low Rate Visa, including regular income and at least six months remaining on the course and student visa.

Is the annual fee worth paying?

At a reward rate of NZ$1 per NZ$150, a student needs to spend approximately NZ$6,000 per year to earn NZ$40 and recover the annual fee.

Students spending less than this amount will normally receive better value from the fee-free ANZ Low Rate Visa.

Best for: Students whose regular expenses are high enough to offset the annual fee.

3. ANZ Airpoints Visa — Best for Regular Air New Zealand Travellers

The ANZ Airpoints Visa earns one Airpoints Dollar for every NZ$170 spent on eligible purchases.

Its main conditions include:

NZ$65 annual fee.
NZ$500 minimum credit limit.
Up to 44 interest-free days.
Airpoints Dollars that do not expire while the card remains open and the holder remains the nominated earner.
Access to additional ANZ Loop offers.

The card uses ANZ’s published international-student pathway, so eligible full-time students with regular income and sufficient time remaining on their visas may apply.

However, a student would need to spend NZ$11,050 to earn 65 Airpoints Dollars at the standard earn rate and offset the annual fee before considering other benefits.

Best for: Students who regularly fly with Air New Zealand and already use the Airpoints programme.

4. Kiwibank Zero Visa — Best Fee-Free Alternative to Ask About

Kiwibank Zero Visa offers:

No account fee.
A NZ$500 minimum credit limit.
Up to 55 interest-free days.
No fee for joint or additional cardholders.
A NZ$5 late-payment fee.

Kiwibank allows new and existing customers to submit online applications, but its public product page does not clearly confirm whether holders of student visas qualify. It only states that lending criteria and identity-verification requirements apply.

An international student should contact Kiwibank before making a formal application and ask whether their particular visa, income and remaining study period meet its criteria.

Best for: Students who have confirmed eligibility directly with Kiwibank before applying.

Cards Usually Unavailable to Student-Visa Holders

Several attractive cards have eligibility restrictions that exclude most international students.

Westpac Fee Free Mastercard

This card has no annual fee, no foreign-currency fee, a 12.90% purchase rate and up to 55 interest-free days. However, Westpac’s online eligibility criteria require applicants to be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents living in New Zealand.

ASB Visa Light

ASB Visa Light has no account fee and a 13.50% purchase rate. Its online application information states that applicants must be over 18 and New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

BNZ Lite Visa

BNZ’s published eligibility criteria require applicants to be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, at least 18 and earning NZ$15,000 or more per year.

These cards may become relevant after a student gains permanent residence, but they should not be promoted as accessible international-student cards under their current public conditions.

How Much Part-Time Income Do You Need?

ANZ does not publish one fixed minimum income for its student cards. Instead, it assesses whether the applicant receives regular income and has enough money remaining after rent, food, tuition and other commitments to meet repayments.

New Zealand lenders must complete affordability and suitability assessments under responsible-lending rules. This means a higher salary does not guarantee approval when the applicant also has high expenses or existing debts.

International students may be allowed to work up to 25 hours per week during study, depending on the conditions printed on their student visas. The permitted limit increased from 20 to 25 hours for relevant visas from November 3, 2025.

Documents to Prepare

A working international student should prepare:

A valid passport.
A current New Zealand student visa.
Proof of at least six months remaining on the course and visa when applying to ANZ.
A university or education-provider enrolment letter.
A written employment agreement.
Recent income records or payslips.
Three months of bank statements.
Evidence of rent and regular living expenses.
An Inland Revenue number.
Proof of a New Zealand residential address.

New Zealand employers must provide employees with a written employment agreement. Payslips are not legally required in every workplace, but employees may request wage and hours information from their employer.

How to Improve Your Approval Chances

Have your wages paid into the bank where you apply.
Build several months of regular account activity.
Request the minimum available credit limit.
Avoid overdrafts and failed automatic payments.
Pay phone, electricity and other bills on time.
Include all income but disclose expenses honestly.
Check your New Zealand credit report for errors.
Avoid submitting applications to several banks at once.

Consumer Protection warns that repeated credit applications can negatively affect a credit record. It also recommends paying bills and credit-card balances on time and in full.

Should You Choose Rewards or a Low-Fee Card?

A rewards card makes sense only when the rewards exceed its annual fee.

For most working students:

Choose ANZ Low Rate Visa for low costs and simple everyday use.
Choose ANZ CashBack Visa only when annual spending exceeds roughly NZ$6,000.
Choose ANZ Airpoints Visa only when Airpoints rewards are genuinely useful.
Ask Kiwibank about Zero Visa eligibility before applying.

Always repay the full statement balance by the due date. Interest charges can easily exceed the value of cashback or airline rewards.

Final Verdict

The ANZ Low Rate Visa is currently the strongest credit-card option for eligible international students with part-time jobs in New Zealand. It has no annual fee, a low minimum limit and published criteria specifically addressing international tertiary students.

The ANZ CashBack Visa and Airpoints Visa may suit higher-spending students, but their annual fees reduce their value. Kiwibank Zero Visa is an attractive alternative, although student-visa eligibility should be confirmed before submitting an application.

Best Credit Cards for International Students With Part-Time Jobs in New Zealand

Best Credit Cards for Working International Students