Getting a New Zealand work visa: full guide
New Zealand is an
attractive expat destination, famed for outstanding natural beauty and a great
work life balance. If you’re thinking of getting a work visa for New Zealand
you’re in the right place.
This guide covers the New Zealand work visa
requirements and options, including who can get a working holiday visa for New
Zealand.
Moving overseas can be exciting, but living between
countries can be pretty expensive too.
That’s why this guide also covers how you can cut
the costs of currency exchange and international transfers with Wise, to make your money go further when
you move.
Can you get a work visa for New Zealand
from the USA?
There are several different ways
you can apply for a work visa for New Zealand from the USA. The right visa for
you will depend on your circumstances, including:
· Whether you have a job offer already
or not
· Whether you’re in New Zealand already
or not
· What sort of work you will do
· How long you want to stay
· Your age and personal situa
We’ll cover some of the most popular New Zealand
work visa options a little later so you can research the one which may suit you
best.
There’s also a handy checker tool on the New
Zealand government website which lets you enter a few details about yourself
and generate details of the visas which may be available for you to consider¹.
New Zealand work visa requirements
If you already have a job lined up in New Zealand
your employer will be able to help you with the visa application. They’ll
normally need to demonstrate that you’re suited to the job and that there were
no local candidates which could have performed the duties equally well.
Whether you, your employer, or a professional agent
are organising your New Zealand work visa, you’ll usually need to provide
supporting evidence to prove a few things²:
|
|
|
|
Your identity and personal details |
You’ll need to provide a passport
and other personal documentation and data |
|
You’re entering New Zealand for a
genuine purpose |
By showing a legitimate job offer
for example |
|
You intend to stay in New Zealand
on a temporary basis only |
By showing you retain links to your
home country |
|
You’re of good character |
This may involve providing a
criminal records check |
|
You’re in good health |
Medical checkups may be required |
The exact documents you must provide will depend on
a range of factors including the visa route you’re applying to, where you’re
coming from and the job you want to do. We’ll go into the types of paperwork
commonly needed in a little more detail later.
New Zealand work visa types
There are lots of different visa types available
for people who want to work in New Zealand. Choosing the right one for you will
require a bit of research — here are the key visa types for people applying to
work in New Zealand from the US.
Temporary work visas
Temporary work visas for New Zealand fall into a
range of categories, from visas which allow holders to take on seasonal work,
to temporary permission for people with specific skills to work in the country.
You’ll usually need a job offer from a New Zealand
based employer before you can apply, and you’ll also be required to show that
you have the same skills and qualifications that a local job holder would have.
Temporary work visas are usually offered in
industries where there is a skills shortage — which means you won’t be taking
work away from qualified local candidates.
The online New Zealand skills shortage checker tool
can be a helpful way to assess if your application for a temporary work visa
may be accepted, based on your role and industry³.
Working holiday visas
New Zealand has working holiday arrangements with many
countries, which allow young people to work and travel in New Zealand for a
fixed period.
If you’re aged between 18 and 30, and from the US
you may be able to apply for a working holiday visa to live, work and travel in
New Zealand for up to 12 months⁴.
You’ll need to complete an application and prove
you have funds of at least 4,200 NZD to live on while you’re there to get
started.
Resident visas
If you’re planning on staying in New Zealand for
longer a resident visa class may be better for your needs. Here are a few of
the most common.
Skilled migrant visa
The New Zealand skilled migrant visa allows holders
to live and work in the country indefinitely. It’s offered to people who the
government feels will contribute to the economic development of New Zealand⁵.
To apply for this visa you’ll need to send an Expression
of Interest which is assessed by issuing points for different skills,
experiences and potential contributions you can make. Factors like your
qualifications, language abilities and the industry you work in all make a
difference to your suitability. If you score enough points you may be issued a
visa.
Entrepreneur visa
The New Zealand entrepreneur visa is aimed at
people who have been self employed in New Zealand for at least 6 months, or who
have run a business there for 2 years or more⁶.
To qualify you may need to demonstrate the capital
you’ve invested in your business, and show you’ve created 3 or more jobs for
local people.
Accredited employer visa
If you have a job offer from an accredited employer
in New Zealand you may qualify for this visa category. It’s worth noting that
the terms of this visa are changing in the middle of 2022 — the older type of
accredited employer visa is only being issued to people who are renewing a visa
at the time of research⁷.
Under the new accredited employer visa which will
be active from July 2022, holders may be able to apply for New Zealand resident
status as long as they’ve been employed by the same employer for 2 years, and
are paid double the median wage or more⁸.
Work to residence visa
Depending on the type of work visa you have, you
may be able to change to a longer term residence visa in future. Different
criteria and eligibility requirements are in place based on the original visa
you held, and your longer term intentions.
How to get a New Zealand work visa:
application process
In most cases you can apply for your New Zealand
work visa online, although there are a small number of visa categories where
you need a hard copy of the paperwork to get started.
The exact process you need to go through will
depend on the visa type — but the basic steps will be as follows:
Step 1. Decide on the type of visa that
best suits your needs — your employer may help with this
Step 2. Gather the paperwork you’ll
need to submit your application
Step 3. Submit your application — this
can usually be done online
Step 4. Wait for a visa decision —
you’ll be notified if you need to provide any supporting materials
Important information on New Zealand
work visas and permits
Let’s look at some other key information to be
aware of if you’re considering applying for a work visa for New Zealand.
How long is the processing time for
work visas?
The processing time for your visa application will
depend on the specific visa type, and whether you’re applying from outside or
inside of New Zealand.
There’s a handy tool on the New Zealand immigration
services website which allows you to review the average waiting times for
different visa types based on your nationality and location.
Here are some example wait times at the time of writing⁵:
|
Visa Type |
Timeframe |
|
Essential skills visa |
90% of applications are processed
within 4 months |
|
Accredited employer visa |
average processing time of 78 days |
|
Working holiday visa for US
citizens |
average processing time of 80 days |
How much does it cost to get a work
visa in New Zealand?
The application fees for different visa types can
vary based on where you’re applying from and your nationality. Here are a few
examples, based on a US citizen applying from the US prior to travel to New
Zealand.
|
New Zealand working visa type |
Cost |
|
Working holiday visa |
35 NZD application fee |
|
Skilled migrant visa |
· 530 NZD initial application fee · 3,310 NZD application for residence fee |
|
Entrepreneur resident visa |
4,140 NZD application fee |
|
Accredited employer visa |
No application fee for US residents |
Which documents will you need to get a
New Zealand work permit?
The documents you need to support your New Zealand
work visa application vary based on the visa type. As an example, let’s look at
the requirements for the skilled migrant visa type⁹:
|
· 2 passport photos · Your valid passport · Your birth certificate · Clear police record check · Health certificate · English language proficiency test if you’re not a
native speaker · Evidence of your suitability for the job you’ve
been offered — usually provided by your employer · Evidence of your qualifications and work experience · Expression of interest showing why you want to
apply for this visa |
|
Documents may need to be certified, and if they’re
not issued in English will usually have to be translated by an approved
translator.
How will getting a work visa in New
Zealand affect your spouse and family members?
You may be able to apply for New Zealand visas for
your spouse and dependent children, according to your visa type.
In this case your family members will often need to
apply separately and demonstrate that they fulfil the visa requirements around
good character, health and English language proficiency themselves.
Moving to a new country is exciting but there’s a lot to do — and it can be a relatively stressful process. However, there’s plenty of help on hand and the New Zealand government and immigration service website is very comprehensive, offering guidance, information and support for applicants.
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