Purpose
A New Zealand work visa allows you to work temporarily in the country, supporting local businesses by bringing in global skills and knowledge. It’s designed to help you contribute to New Zealand’s workforce while ensuring fair treatment for all workers.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
Accreditation Requirement: The employer must be accredited by Immigration New Zealand. This accreditation demonstrates that the employer has met specific criteria regarding employment practices, compliance with New Zealand employment and immigration laws, and commitment to training and developing New Zealand workers.
Job Offer: You must have a genuine job offer from an accredited employer in New Zealand. The job offer must align with the employer’s accreditation and meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirements.
Visa Requirement: To secure a work visa in New Zealand, applicants must be Suitably Qualified, and possess the necessary education, skills, or experience for their intended job. They must also meet the Minimum Skill Threshold by demonstrating three years of relevant work experience or holding a qualification at Level 4 or higher on the NZQCF. These requirements ensure they can effectively contribute to their role in New Zealand.
Duration: The AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) is granted for a specific duration, which varies based on factors such as the job’s skill level according to ANZSCO classification, the offered pay rate, and any sector agreements in effect. These elements determine the length of the visa, ensuring alignment with employment conditions and industry standards in New Zealand.
Health and Character Requirements: You must meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements. This involves providing medical certificates and police certificates from your home country or any country you’ve lived in for more than 5 years since the age of 17.
Employment Conditions: The accredited employer must offer wages and employment conditions that meet New Zealand employment laws and standards. This includes compliance with minimum wage regulations, providing safe working conditions, and fulfilling any other employment obligations.
Dependents: Depending on your visa type and conditions, you may be able to bring your spouse, partner, and dependent children to New Zealand. They may have their visa conditions to meet.
Renewal or Extension: The AEWV can be renewed or extended if you continue to meet the visa conditions and your accredited employer still requires your services. The extension depends on the candidate’s job skill level according to ANZSCO, pay rate, and sector agreements.
Employer’s Obligations: The accredited employer must continue to comply with all immigration and employment laws throughout your employment period. They are responsible for maintaining accurate employment records and notifying immigration authorities of any changes to your employment status.
Visa Conditions: Specific conditions may apply based on the type of AEWV and the individual circumstances of your application. These conditions could include restrictions on the type of work you can do or where you can work in New Zealand.
Post Study Work Visa
Qualification Requirement: You must have completed an eligible qualification in New Zealand, usually at a Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).
Duration and Working Rights: The visa duration varies based on the level of the qualification obtained, for example:
Job Offer: An offer of employment is not required.
Renewal: You can only apply for this visa once.
Health and Character: Must meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements, including providing medical and police certificates if required.
Partnership Work Visa
Genuine and Stable Relationship: Candidate must meet fourfold test such as:
- Credibility: Both the principal applicant and their partner must be truthful and reliable in their statements and evidence submitted.
- Living Together: The principal applicant and their partner are expected to live together, except for genuine and compelling reasons for any periods of separation.
- Genuine Partnership: Both partners must demonstrate genuine reasons for their relationship (marriage, civil union, or de facto), and their intention to maintain a long-term, exclusive partnership.
- Stable Partnership: The couple must show that their relationship is stable and likely to endure over time.
Supporting Partner: Your sponsoring partner must provide support and sponsorship for your visa application.
Duration: The visa duration typically depends on the supporting partner’s visa, provided the relationship remains genuine and stable.
Work Rights: Allows you to work in New Zealand for any employer.
Health and Character: Must meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements, which may include providing medical and police certificates.
Renewal: You can renew to further partnership-based work or residence visa depending on the partner’s visa status.
Dependents: You may include dependent children in your visa application, each with their visa conditions.
Working Holiday Visa
Eligibility Requirements: To apply for a working holiday visa in New Zealand, you need a valid passport from a participating country, be aged 18-30 (varies), and meet travel requirements.
Health and Character Requirements: Meet New Zealand’s health and character standards by providing necessary certificates.
Residency and Previous Visas: Be ordinarily resident in your home country and follow any restrictions on previous visa approvals.
Employment and Study Opportunities: Work temporarily without a job offer and enrol in courses for up to 6 months during your stay.
Conditions for Permanent Employment: For permanent work, you’ll need a separate work visa specific to your job.
Recognized Seasonal Employer Limited Visa
Employer Sponsorship: Requires sponsorship from a New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) who must meet Agreement to Recruit (ATR) requirements.
Seasonal Work: Intended for seasonal agricultural work approved under the RSE scheme.
Duration: Issued for the duration of the seasonal work approved by the RSE employer.
Health and Character: Applicants must meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements.
Accommodation and Transportation: Employers are responsible for providing suitable accommodation and transportation arrangements for RSE workers.
Renewal: May be renewable with further limited visa based on continued sponsorship and seasonal work availability. You cannot apply for any other kind of visa while you hold a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa.
Click here for Different types of Work visas
Working Holiday Visa, A working holiday visa allows young adults from specific countries to travel to New Zealand, work temporarily, and explore the country for up to 12 months (or up to 36 months for some nationalities). It promotes cultural exchange and offers opportunities for temporary employment without requiring a job offer in advance.
Accredited Employers Work Visa, An Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in New Zealand allows skilled workers to work for employers accredited by Immigration New Zealand. It streamlines the hiring process for employers while providing opportunities for skilled individuals to work in New Zealand.
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Limited Visa in New Zealand allows foreign workers to participate in approved seasonal agricultural work in horticulture and viticulture industries sponsored by employers recognised under the RSE scheme.
A Diplomat Work Visa is issued to diplomats and their families to facilitate their official duties in a foreign country like New Zealand.
A Partner of a Student Work Visa in New Zealand allows spouses or partners of student visa holders to work during their partner’s studies.
An Entertainer Work Visa in New Zealand allows individuals involved in entertainment activities to legally work in the country for a specified period.
A Fishing Crew Work Visa in New Zealand allows foreign crew members to legally work on fishing vessels in New Zealand waters for a specified period.
A Post-Study Work Visa in New Zealand allows international students who have completed an eligible qualification in the country to work for a specified period. This visa enables them to gain practical work experience related to their field of study.
A Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa allows the partner or spouse of a New Zealand citizen or resident to work in New Zealand.
A Partner of a Worker Work Visa allows the partner or spouse of a temporary worker in New Zealand to work while their partner is employed in the country.
A Religious Worker Work Visa in New Zealand permits individuals to work in religious roles for recognized religious organizations operating in the country.
The Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa in New Zealand is intended to provide temporary protection to individuals who have experienced or are at risk of exploitation in the country. It allows them to leave exploitative situations and grants open working rights for a short period. During this time, immigration authorities review and address their circumstances to ensure their safety and well-being.
The Victim of Family Violence Work Visa in New Zealand provides temporary protection and work rights to individuals who are victims of family violence, allowing them to remain in the country while their circumstances are addressed by immigration authorities.
The Talent (Arts, Culture, and Sports) Work Visa in New Zealand allows individuals with exceptional talents or skills in arts, culture, or sports to work in their respective fields for a specified period. This visa category supports New Zealand’s cultural and sporting sectors by attracting and retaining talented individuals from around the world.
The Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa in New Zealand allows employers in agriculture to hire extra seasonal workers during peak periods of demand.
The Entrepreneur Work Visa in New Zealand lets skilled business people start or buy businesses, boosting the economy through their entrepreneurial ventures.
FAQs
In most cases, yes. You typically need a job offer from a New Zealand employer to support your work visa application, unless applying under specific categories like working holiday visas, post-study work visas etc.
The ability to bring your partner and dependent children with you on a work visa in New Zealand generally depends on the specific type of visa you hold.
Yes, some visa categories, such as the Partnership work visa category or Entrepreneur Work Visa, allow individuals to apply without a job offer if they meet specific criteria, such as having a genuine and stable relationship or entrepreneurial experience.
The Skilled Migrant Category visa is designed for skilled workers seeking residence in New Zealand. This points-based visa assesses factors such as qualifications, income, occupation registration, work experience, and other criteria to determine eligibility.
If your employment ends, you may also apply for a variation of conditions or a different visa to stay in New Zealand legally.
No, most work visas in New Zealand do not have specific age restrictions. However, certain residency pathways, such as the Skilled Migrant Category Residence instructions, may consider age as a factor in the assessment process.
The duration of stay in New Zealand varies depending on the type of work visa you hold. For instance, the duration of an AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) is determined by factors such as the visa grant date, ANZSCO skill level, pay rate, sector agreements, and other relevant considerations.
Yes, for a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand, you generally need to demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay.
Yes, AEWV applicants need to take an English language test if their role is equivalent to ANZSCO skill level 4-5 or higher. This typically requires an IELTS overall score of 4 bands or an equivalent English competency exam.
Yes, if they applied for the visa application on or before 26 July 2024. Workers under ANZSCO skill levels 1-3 can still apply. However, those under ANZSCO skill levels 4-5 or higher without a residency pathway, can no longer support visa applications for their partners and dependent children for work, visitor, or student visas.
No, you cannot apply for any other kind of visa while you hold a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa.
The validity of the Diplomat Work Visa depends on the term of the diplomat’s or official’s assignment in New Zealand, typically aligned with their official duties.
The Partner of a Student Work Visa in New Zealand allows partners to work full-time if the student is enrolled in a level 7 or 8 qualification specified in the Qualifications Eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa list or the Green List (Appendix 13). Additionally, partners can work full-time if the student is enrolled in a degree-level 9 or 10 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).
No, this visa is specifically for the migrant worker who has experienced or is at risk of exploitation. Family members are not included in this visa application.
Visa holders have open work rights, allowing them to work for any employer in New Zealand while their situation is being assessed.
Holders of the Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa do not need to meet English language requirements at the time of residence application. However, their family members are required to meet English language requirements.
Holders of the Religious Work Visa need to meet English language requirements at the time of their residence visa application. However, their family members are not required to meet these English language requirements.
The Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) Work Visa is available to individuals currently in New Zealand on a student or visitor visa, who have not held any type of work visa since their most recent entry to New Zealand. To qualify, applicants must have a job offer from a recognized seasonal employer in the horticulture or viticulture industries. This visa allows them to undertake seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealanders available to fill these roles, helping to address labour shortages during peak seasons.