Work Visas
New Zealand Immigration offers several visa options for Skilled individuals to come to New Zealand.
Currently, the Accredited Employer Work Visa pathway is the main visa stream for work visas in New Zealand.
This visa allows you to come to New Zealand and undertake work that contributes to the current labour supply in New Zealand.
Accredited Employer Work Visas are employer-assisted work visas, meaning that if granted, one of the conditions of the visa is that you are only able to work in a specific role for one particular employer.
Less common work visa categorys offered by Immigration New Zealand include:
- Specific Purpose Work Visa
- Partnership-based work visa
- Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa
- Post Study Work Via
- Limited Visa (RSE)
Key points:
- Breach of visa conditions is a common problem for employer assisted work visas, due to the restriction on work requirements/role, particularly if the role is not what is expected.
- Full-tim employment is considered by Immigration New Zealand to be at least 30 hours per week.
- Family members (spouses and dependant children) have to apply for their visas separately.
- Not all work visas have the ability to sponsor their family and their respective visas i.e. the work visa holder must earn at least $29.66 per hour to be able to sponsor their spouses work visa.
- Work is defined by Immigration New Zealand as any activity undertaken for gain or reward that can be valued in terms of money i.e. payment, reward or benefit.
