New Zealand Work Visa: Types, Application, Requirements & More

This article explains how to get a New Zealand Work Visa and which one is best for your career. Immigration policies and processes must be understood before applying for international jobs. All countries have different skills, legal documents, and age limits. New Zealand is becoming a popular place to study and work, so people from around the world apply for work permits and student visas.

Who Needs a Visa?

You can apply for a temporary work visa if you meet the following requirements:

• Have a job offer from a New Zealand employer
• Are coming for a specific work-related purpose or event
• Have a partner here and want to join them and work
• Are from a country with a special work scheme, or have been studying and want to work here.
• Some work visas can also lead to permanent residence, or the right to live, study, and work indefinitely. To apply, you must have the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications for employment in New Zealand.

New Zealand Work Visa Requirements

In total, there are more than 80 categories of Visas that New Zealand offers to its visitors. Every Visa category has its own requirements and conditions. However, there are requirements that are common for everyone applying for a New Zealand work visa. These requirements are as follows:

• You must have a Real work account. This account works as your profile with the New Zealand Immigration Department and is used for formal communication.
• Identity proof and Character proof, which must be recent.
• Getting Medical certificates showing physical fitness
• Translation of documents into English, if they are originally made in a native language.
• Official passport or certificate of identity and two acceptable visa photographs.
• Proof of good character (completed character questionnaire, Police Certificates from your country of origin and any country where you’ve lived at least five years since turning 17)
• Proof of being bonafide

New Zealand Work Visa Application Process

The New Zealand Immigration website handles most visa applications. Simple and quick, the online form should take 15 minutes to complete. You can also submit the visa application form and supporting documents to the authorized site or center. You will be notified whether to submit your passport or receive an e-Visa depending on the visa you applied for. The immigration system stores this electronic visa instead of a passport sticker or stamp. This New Zealand e-Visa covers the following visa types:

• Work Visa
• Visitor Visa
• Student Visa
• Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
• Dependent Child Resident Visa
• Business Visitor Visa
• Group Visitor Visa

New Zealand Work Visa Processing Time

Most visa applicants are on hold due to COVID-19. However, on average, the New Zealand Work permit processing time can be anywhere from 3 months to 7 months depending upon a number of conditions such as:

• Type of work visa
• Applicant profile
• Visa staff availability
• Embassy regulations

Currently, the application process for visa applications is online and the country is only issuing visas for the following categories:

• Border Exceptions,
• Essential Skills work visas,
• Work to Residence visas,
• Partnership visas (temporary and residence),
• Post-study work visas,
• Student visas,
• Visitor visas, and
• Section 61 requests.

Types of New Zealand Work Visa

Work visas in New Zealand are classified into two types: permanent and temporary. Except for Australian citizens, New Zealand does not provide permanent visas on arrival. All those applying for work Visas should be aware of the following major categories and their requirements:

• Temporary Work Visa

Individuals who intend to work in New Zealand for a limited period can apply for a Temporary Work Visa. These Visas vary greatly depending on the qualities of individuals and the nature of their jobs. The following are the most common types of Temporary Work Visas.

• Essential Skills Work Visa

People who provide services in in-demand fields in New Zealand can apply for an Essential Skills work visa. The New Zealand government lists these job descriptions on the skill shortage list, which is updated based on labor market demands. These people will also find it easier to apply for a Work from Residence Visa because skill-shortage positions receive more points on the Residence Visa point charts.

How to Apply for Essential Skills Work Visa

You will need the following documents to apply for an Essential Skills work visa:

• A job offer for a full-time position, as well as a copy of your employment contract.
• Your company must demonstrate that the post could not be filled by a New Zealander.
• An “Employer Supplementary Form” describing your job offer by the employer.
• Official past transcripts, certificates and records.
• Occupational registration form (if applicable)

Employer-Endorsed Work Visa

Employers who have advertised a job in New Zealand but have been unable to identify a qualified New Zealand citizen or resident for the vacancy may consider hiring migrant employees. In this case, you can apply for an Essential Skills work visa, and your employer can assist you with immigration by providing supporting documents and demonstrating their attempts to hire New Zealanders first. Because of the scarcity of inland workers, New Zealand employs them as well.

Work to Residence Visa

The most popular option for obtaining a Skilled Migrant Resident Visa in New Zealand is through a Work to Residence Visa. It is valid for 30 months, and the employee must work for at least 24 months at that time to be eligible for a permanent visa. The following are the two pathways for obtaining a residence visa from work.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

This form of Visa, often known as a Talent Visa, is provided by a certified recruiter. This is typically utilized when the job requirements are highly specialized. Employees who obtain this Visa may apply for a Residence Visa under the Residence from Work (Accredited Employers) Category. For this, the employee must have a basic wage of at least NZ$79,450 each year and be on a permanent payroll for at least 24 months.

Long-Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa

Under this category, if your job profile is listed on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, the employees are awarded extra points on the Skilled Migrant Resident Visa application, increasing their chances of getting citizenship. Here are the main categories of such jobs:

• Education
• Engineering
• Finance
• Business
• Health and social services
• ICT and electronics
• Oil and Gas Engineering
• Recreation
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Science
• Trades
• Transport

These employees must work for a minimum duration of 24 months while being permanently employed at a base salary of at least NZ$45,000.

Skilled Migrant Resident Visa

Individuals who wish to stay and work in New Zealand permanently must get a Skilled Migrant Resident Visa. There are several ways to obtain a Skilled Migrant Resident Visa, but the most popular is to upgrade from a Work to Residence Visa. When applying for a Skilled Migrant Resident Visa, Indian citizens must meet the following criteria:

• Character
• Health
• Skilled Employment
• Qualifications
• Work Experience
• Expression of Interest
• Invitation to apply for residence
• English Language Proficiency

Entrepreneur Visa

A non-job New Zealand work permit or Entrepreneur Visa is for persons who want to work independently in New Zealand. This visa allows people to start a business for 12 months. If they prove their success in the establishment, their Visa is extended by 12 months. To form a business, applicants must invest NZ$ 1,000,000. The business is assessed on fraud, bankruptcy, and the Entrepreneur’s character.

New Zealand Work Visa 2023 Cost

Work visas are often associated with two types of fees or costs: a visa fee and an immigration levy. However, some countries charge more than others, and some may have a fee-waiver agreement with New Zealand, so always double-check your specific requirements. A credit card (Visa or MasterCard) can be used to pay for the visa online. However, if you are travelling from a Pacific country, the visa fee will be different. Regardless of the type of visa you apply for, the New Zealand Work permit charge is 55 NZD.

New Zealand Work Visa Type Fee in NZD

• Partnership/Work to Residence Work Visa – 580
• Entrepreneur Work Visa – 3310
• Working Holiday Visa – 190
• Working Holidaymaker Extension Visa – 190
• Other work visas – 440

How To Apply for Working Visa in New Zealand

In order to work in New Zealand, foreign nationals need to apply for a New Zealand work permit. Foreign nationals can apply for a work visa in New Zealand under the following conditions:

• Have a job offer from a New Zealand employer
• Are coming for a specific work-related purpose or event
• Have a partner here, and you want to join them and work
• Are from a country that has a special work scheme, or
• Have been studying here and wish to work in the country

FAQs

Q1. How much money do you need for a New Zealand work permit?

Ans. This varies by nationality, but for immigration purposes, you normally need to be able to prove a minimum of NZ$350 per month or NZ$4200 over a 12-month period to cover living expenses. As proof of available funds, a copy of your bank statement may suffice.

Q2. Is New Zealand Open for a work visa?

Ans. Post-study work visas are available to people who have completed an appropriate qualification in New Zealand. If you are given a visa, you can work for any employer and undertake nearly any job in New Zealand.

Q3. How long does a New Zealand work visa take?

Ans. On average, it takes around 21 to 67 days to get an application completed and approved for a New Zealand work visa.

Q4. What jobs are in demand in New Zealand?

Ans. Here is a list of New Zealand’s skill shortages for immigration which includes:
Arts and Media.
Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation.
Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining.
Construction and Infrastructure.
Business.
Health and Community.
IT and Telecommunications.
Education and Social Sciences.

Q5. Can I get a work visa without a job offer in New Zealand?

Ans. The sole exception is if you qualify for one of our ‘open’ work visa categories, such as a Working Holiday visa, a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, or a Post-Study Work Visa.