Work Visas
Work Visas have strict policy instructions under which the applicant needs to qualify. Most work visas include restrictions to work in a particular occupation, for a specific employer, or in a particular region of New Zealand.
The main work visa that is available for applicants looking to work in New Zealand is the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Since this visa's introduction, Immigration New Zealand has made employer accreditation mandatory for employers to hire migrant workers on this visa. This visa is restricted to a particular job & employer.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
This visa allows you to stay in New Zealand for up to 3 years if you have a job offer from an accredited employer and the skills and qualifications for the job.
On this visa:
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if you are eligible, you can apply for a Straight to Residence Visa, Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce, or Transport Work to Residence Visa.
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if you are eligible, use skilled work experience in New Zealand to claim points towards the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
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you can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period, or do any study required as part of your employment.
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you can support a work visa for your partner and visitor or student visas for your dependent children.
This visa ties you to the employer - if your situation changes, you will need to vary the conditions of your visa or apply for a new visa. If in doubt, contact us.
Partnership based Work Visas
Partner of a student work visa
This visa allows you to work in New Zealand for the duration of your partner's student visa if you have a partner who is studying an eligible level 7 or 8 qualification or any level 9 or 10 qualification.
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
This visa allows you to work in New Zealand if you have a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Partner of a Worker Work Visa
This visa allows you to work in New Zealand for the duration of your partner's work visa.
Others:
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Partner of Military Work Visa
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Partner of an NZ Scholarship Student Work Visa
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Victims of Family Violence Work Visa
Post-Study Work Visa
This visa allows you to stay and work here for up to 3 years, depending on what you studied.
You can apply for this visa if you have recently finished your studies in New Zealand.
You can work for any employer in any job if you have a degree level 7 or above qualification.
You can work in a job that is related to what you studied if your qualification is non-degree level 7 or below. Your qualification must also be on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list.
Entrepreneur Work Visa
This visa allows you to work in your own business in New Zealand if you have a business plan, at least NZD $100,000 to invest, and are able to claim 120 points on Immigration New Zealand's points scale.
With this visa, you can:
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Come to New Zealand to buy or set up your own business.
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Work in your own business in New Zealand for up to 3 years in total.
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Include your partner, and dependent children aged 19 and under, in your visa application.
If your business is in the science or ICT sectors and shows a high level of innovation or export potential, Immigration New Zealand may consider waiving the NZD $100,000 capital investment requirement.
You can stay 12 months in the start-up stage. Once you can show that the business has been set up, then you can stay another 24 months.
Entrepreneur Residence Visa
You can apply for this visa if you have been self-employed in New Zealand for at least 6 months, or have operated a self-employed business for 2 years on another visa.
This visa allows you to stay in New Zealand indefinately.
Working Holiday
Working Holiday Visa
Citizens of certain countries can apply for this visa if they want to work and study in New Zealand. You must be between 18 to 35 years old.
With this visa, you:
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can work in New Zealand for up to 12 months.
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can study or train for up to 6 months in total.
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can’t accept a permanent job.
Working Holiday Extension Work Visa
This visa allows you to stay in New Zealand for another 3 months if you are on a Working Holiday Visa and have done seasonal work in the viticulture or horticulture industries.
You can only be granted one Working Holiday Extension Visa
Your seasonal work doesn’t need to be continuous or for the same employer.
You don’t have to have a job offer to apply.
If approved your extended visa will retain the same conditions as your initial Working Holiday Visa.
Others
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports)
You can apply for this visa if you have exceptional talent in the field of art, sport, or culture.
With this visa, you can
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You can stay up to 30 months on a work visa, and then if your residence application is successful, indefinitely.
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Start your pathway to residence in New Zealand by being actively engaged in your field of art, culture or sport in New Zealand for up to 30 months.
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Apply for residence after 2 years of being actively engaged in your field of art, culture or sport in New Zealand, which if granted, will allow you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.
Specific Purpose Visa
This visa allows you to come to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event. This includes migrants traveling to New Zealand to work in the recovery from extreme weather events.
Singapore Work Exchange Programme Visa
You can apply for this visa if you are 18 to 30 years old and a citizen of Singapore. This visa allows you to work and study in New Zealand for a short amount of time.
Jobs in demand
Green List Roles
The Green List contains a small number of highly skilled roles that have been identified as being in ongoing shortage in New Zealand.
These roles will have registration, qualification, or experience requirements.
Employers won’t need to provide proof of advertising for these occupations.
Eligible migrants working in these occupations will have clear pathways to residence, either through a direct-to-residence application or after working for in New Zealand depending on the role.
Their partners will have open work rights. Both residence pathways will be limited to migrants 55 years or younger.
Green List - Tier 1 Occupations
Straight to Residence pathway
Eligible migrants in these occupations can apply for residence now.
External Auditor
Internal Auditor
Construction Project Manager
Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman)
Quantity Surveyor
Surveyor
Chemical Engineer
Materials Engineer
Civil Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Structural Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Electronics Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Industrial Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Production or Plant Engineer
Engineering Professionals nec
Civil Engineering Technician
Electrical Engineering Technician
Electronic Engineering Technician
Telecommunications Engineer
Telecommunications Network Engineer
Clinical Dental Technician (Dental Prosthetist)
Dentist (Dental Practitioner or Dental Surgeon)
Dental Specialist
Dental Technician
Dental Therapist
Endodontist
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral medicine specialist
Oral Pathologist
Oral surgery specialist
Orthodontist
Paedodontist
Periodontist
Prosthodontist
Public health dentistry specialist
Restorative dentistry specialist
Special needs dentistry specialist
Oral Health Therapist
General Practitioner
Resident Medical Officer
Anaesthetist
Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
Cardiologist
Clinical Haematologist
Medical Oncologist
Endocrinologist
Gastroenterologist
Intensive Care Specialist
Neurologist
Paediatrician
Renal Medicine Specialist
Rheumatologist
Thoracic Medicine Specialist
Specialist Physicians nec
Psychiatrist
Surgeon (General)
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Otorhinolaryngologist
Paediatric Surgeon
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Urologist
Vascular Surgeon
Dermatologist
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Ophthalmologist
Pathologist
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
Radiation Oncologist
Medical Practitioners nec
Midwife
Nurse Practitioners
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
Registered Nurse (Community Health)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
Registered Nurse (Medical)
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
Registered Nurse (Surgical)
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
Registered Nurses nec
Enrolled Nurse (Nursing Assistant)
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Anaesthetic Technician
Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician
Medical Laboratory Technician
Clinical Psychologist
Educational Psychologist
Organisational Psychologist
Psychologists nec
Psychotherapist
Physicist (Medical)
Orthoptist
Veterinarian
Addiction Practitioner / Alcohol & Drug Clinician
Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
Audiometrist
Chiropractor
Clinical Physiologist
Careers Counsellor
Family and Marriage Counsellor
Rehabilitation Counsellor
Student Counsellor
Counsellors NEC
Dietician
Dispensing Optician
Optometrist
Genetic Counsellor
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Osteopath
Ambulance Paramedic
Perfusionist (cardiac)
Hospital Pharmacist
Industrial Pharmacist
Retail Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Play Therapist (hospital)
Speech Language Therapist
Operating Theatre Technician
Sterile Processing Technician
Social Worker
Audiologist
Medical Imaging Technologist
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
Medical Radiation Therapist
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Sonographer
Occupational Therapist
Podiatrist
Other Spatial Scientist
Environmental Research Scientist
Food Technologist
Chief Information Officer
ICT Project Manager
ICT Managers nec
Analyst Programmer
Developer Programmer
Software Engineer
Software Tester
ICT Security Specialist
Software and Applications Programmers nec
Multimedia Specialist
Green List - Tier 2 Occupations
Work to Residence pathway
Eligible migrants in these occupations can apply for residence after two years:
Building Associate
Building Construction supervisor
Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator
Factory Process Worker
Slaughterer
Health and Social Services
School Principal
Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher)
Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher)
Primary School Teacher
Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher
Secondary School Teacher
Special Needs Teacher
Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
Teacher of the Sight Impaired
Special Education Teachers nec
Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher – registered
Telecommunications Technician
Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)
Backhoe Operator
Bulldozer Operator
Excavator Operator
Grader Operator
Loader Operator
Automotive Electrician
Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
Motor Mechanic (General)
Motorcycle Mechanic
Electrician (General)
Plumber (General)
Drainlayer
Gasfitter
Dairy Cattle Farmer (Dairy Cattle Farm Manager)
Dairy Farm Manager
Assistant Dairy Farm Manager
Dairy Herd Manager
Migrants paid at least twice the median wage in other roles can also apply for residence after two years.