A New Zealand work visa allows you to undertake your exciting employment opportunity lawfully. The many types of work visas offered cater for various occupations, skill levels and some even provide a pathway to residency.
What do you need to know? In almost all cases you will require a valid and legitimate offer of employment from a lawful and sustainable employer. Depending on the type of role and the skills you bring to it, your future employer may be required to show that have made genuine efforts to recruit local New Zealanders. Further, your work visa may be issued with certain conditions requiring you to work within a specific role, in a specific location, and for a specific employer. Currency of the visa would vary between 12 and 60 months depending on several factors.
What can you do? Firstly, spend some time defining your underlying objectives for wishing to pursue a work visa. Is the work visa a steppingstone for a more permanent stay in New Zealand? Will your immediate family be joining you? Secondly, it’s important to obtain an understanding of how your skill profile matches the needs of New Zealand as this may offer preferential options to you. Are your skills recognised under one of the essential skills in demand lists? Lastly, is your future employer and your employment compliant. Perhaps most importantly, work with a licensed immigration adviser to honestly and candidly assess your circumstances, eligibility and optimal pathway.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS WORK VISA
If you’ve been offered a full-time job, and you have the necessary qualifications and experience to work in that role, you can apply for a temporary visa to work in New Zealand. Your employer must have checked if any New Zealanders were available to do the work, before offering you the job. If you're granted this visa, you may be able to support visa applications for your partner and dependent children.
LONG TERM SKILL SHORTAGE LIST WORK VISA
This visa offers a pathway to New Zealand residence. To apply, you’ll need to have the specified work experience, qualifications and occupational registration to work in an occupation on our Long Term Skill Shortage List, and an offer for work in that occupation. If you continue working in that occupation in New Zealand for 2 years, you can apply for residence.
RELIGIOUS WORKER WORK VISA
This visa is a great pathway to residence for people who are experienced or trained in religious work. To be granted an initial work visa, you’ll need to have an offer of religious work from a religious organisation as well as their sponsorship. If their offer of work and sponsorship continues, you can apply for a second work visa, then after 3 years in New Zealand, for a resident visa.
SPECIFIC PURPOSE WORK VISA
This visa is for people who need to come to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event. To apply you’ll need to have skills related to your specific purpose or event and be able to define the time you’ll need to complete your specific purpose or event. Examples of people who may be able to apply include business people on secondments, sports players, professional coaches, specialist installers or services, and Philippines nurses seeking occupational registration.
