VisaEnvoy provides professional New Zealand Immigration services from our offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Our registered and licensed New Zealand migration advisers are specialised in all kinds of New Zealand visas including:
-
Visas to New Zealand
- Business Investor Work Visa
- Accredited Employer Work Visa
- Active Investor Plus Visa
- Straight to Residence Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Specific Purpose Work Visa
- Student Visa New Zealand
- Visitor Visa New Zealand
Complete our Online Visa Assessment New Zealand so that we can give you customised advice on your particular situation.
With its clean green natural image and natural beauty, New Zealand is often rated as one of the best tourist destinations. New Zealand has a low-density population but is rich in its multicultural identity and combines a diverse mix of cultural and historical influences including Maori, European, Pacific and Asian cultures.
Over the last 30 years New Zealand’s economy has gone from being highly regulated to one of the least regulated and most free market based economies in the world and accordingly it has become an attractive country for people to migrate to and to invest and do business in.
Employing Foreign Workers in New Zealand
New Zealand has a wide range of visa options available ranging from visas for young people wanting to undertake a working holiday to those wanting to run their own businesses eventually leading to residence. New Zealand’s immigration policies are aimed at developing and supporting economic growth by tapping into international skills, talent and investment while not displacing New Zealanders from employment opportunities or hindering improvements to wages or working conditions.
Immigration New Zealand is an agency under the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment responsible for overseeing the employment of foreign workers in New Zealand. The agency manages migration to New Zealand and issues travel visas.
Immigration New Zealand has used the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to review the skill levels of jobs. From 9 March 2026 it is moving to the National Occupation List (NOL), which recognised 47 more occupations as skill level 1 to 3. Both systems set out the qualifications and/or experience needed for each job and classify jobs into five skill levels, depending on the range and complexity of the tasks.
Types of Work Visas in New Zealand
All foreign nationals who intend to work in New Zealand need a visa that allows them to work. The most common work visas are:
- the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), for people with a job offer from an accredited employer
- the Specific Purpose Work Visa, for a specific purpose or event
- the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa, for seasonal work (since 8 December 2025)
- partner, post-study and working holiday work visas
The Essential Skills Work Visa and the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa closed in 2021 and 2022 and were replaced by the AEWV.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
To hire a migrant on an AEWV, the employer must first hold employer accreditation (Standard, High-volume or Triangular employer) and pass a Job Check for the role. The worker must show that:
- they have a genuine job offer from an accredited employer for at least 30 hours a week
- they are suitably qualified, and have at least 2 years of relevant experience if the role needs it
- they will be paid at least the market rate for the job (there has been no general median wage requirement since 10 March 2025)
- they meet health and character requirements
Job Check (replacing the old labour market test)
Before offering a job to a migrant, the employer must show in the Job Check that they genuinely tried to recruit New Zealanders. This usually means advertising the role for at least 14 days. For skill level 4 and 5 roles, the employer must also engage with Work and Income. Roles paid at least twice the median wage (NZD $70.00 an hour) do not need to be advertised. The Job Check fee is NZD $735.
Family members of AEWV holders
Partners of AEWV holders in skill level 1 to 3 roles can get an open work visa if the AEWV holder earns at least NZD $28.00 an hour. If the AEWV holder is in a skill level 4 or 5 role, they must earn at least NZD $52.50 an hour, or work in a Green List role paid at least NZD $35.00 an hour, or in an eligible transport or care role. Partners who do not qualify can apply for a visitor visa, or a work visa in their own right.
For children
Dependent children of AEWV holders can usually apply for visitor or student visas. Children of workers who meet the income threshold (NZD $55,844 a year from 10 March 2025) may be able to study as domestic students at primary and secondary school.
Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa
This category is for those people who are coming to New Zealand to complete a specific purpose or event as described in the Instructions. They must meet the specific requirements of this Category depending on the specific purpose they are coming to undertake. Visas issued under this category are granted in line with the length of their objective and there are maximum visa durations depending on the applicant’s specific purpose or event.
A specific purpose or event may include any of the following circumstances:
- Senior or specialist business persons on short-term secondments, who receive job offers in a New Zealand company or New Zealand subsidiary of an overseas company;
- Business people seconded to New Zealand to take up a position in a multinational company as an executive or senior manager or specialist;
- Applicants searching for investment opportunities;
- Any other specific purpose or event for a specific time-period that need specialist skills, expertise or attributes likely to benefit New Zealand without taking opportunities away from New Zealanders.
Employer obligations towards these visa holders is restricted to ensure that the remuneration and any benefits, that were confirmed in writing, in support of the application are maintained during the visa holder’s stay in New Zealand. The applicant must be suitably qualified to undertake the work they are coming to do. Once they have achieved their specific purpose they must return to their home country. The applicant must also meet health and character requirements.
Labour Market Test Not applicable.
General Requirements of the Sponsoring Entity
- Description of the specific purpose or event for which the person is coming to NZ General Requirements of the Applicant
- Application form;
- Passport;
- Two (2) recent photographs or digital photograph if lodging on line
- Police clearance certificate, if required;
- Medical certificate, if required;
- Support letter from home entity;
- Support letter from New Zealand entity
- Original or certified copies of education qualifications;
- Evidence of previous work experience;
- Occupational registration, if required;
- Proof of residency at the country of application;
- Application fee/s
Validity of Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa
Validity of Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa is tied to the length of the job contract. First time application is usually granted between three (3) to 12 months depending on the purpose or event.
Processing Time
Processing times vary by country and visa type, so check the current timeframes before you apply.
Processing fees payable will depend on whether the application is lodged on line or if it is filed by hard copy. Application fees will also depend on the passport that the applicant holds and where the application is lodged. Each family member included in an application pays a separate application fee.
Residence pathways for skilled workers
The Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa has closed. Skilled workers now usually move to residence through:
- the Straight to Residence Visa, for Tier 1 Green List roles
- the Work to Residence Visa, after 24 months in a Tier 2 Green List role
- the Skilled Migrant Category, which since 24 August 2026 has a 6-point system plus the Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways
General Process Overview
| Steps | Type of Application | Authorities | Location | Estimated Timeline at the Authorities |
| Step 1 | Work Visa (Accredited Employer and Specific Purpose) | Immigration New
Zealand or Visa Application Centre |
In/outside NZ | Varies, so check the current timeframes |
| Step 2 | Medical and X ray reports (if required) | List of Approved Panel doctors on INZ website will indicate where to attend both in and outside NZ | As per location provided on Panel doctors list in INZ website | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Step 3 | Police report (if required) | As per information on INZ website for obtaining police
reports |
As per location provided on INZ website | Depending on the country of application |
Business Traveler
Business visitors to New Zealand are required to obtain a Business Visitor Visa prior arriving in New Zealand. However, if you are from a visa waiver country such as Singapore, Hong Kong or the United States, you do not need a visa, but you must get a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel and usually pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (NZD $100).
Allowable activities under Business Visitor Visa:
- Carry out an official trade mission recognized by the New Zealand Government;
- Sell goods and services in New Zealand;
- Purchase of goods and services;
- Negotiate or discuss the set-up, expansion or wind-up of a business in New Zealand;
- Carry out any business with the authorized representatives of an overseas company, body or person.
Business visitors may travel to New Zealand for a total of three (3) months each year. Travel to New Zealand must not be for the purpose of work.
General Process Overview of Business Visitor Visa Application
Most visitor visa applications, including business visits, are now made online through Immigration New Zealand.
General requirements of the Sponsoring Entity
- Letter from home-country employer stating job position, length of employment, salary and leave approval dates granted;
- Invitation letter from New Zealand entity.
General requirements of the Applicant
- Application form;
- Two (2) recent photographs;
- Passport;
- Proof of residency in the country of application;
- Flight itinerary;
- Proof of temporary accommodation in New Zealand;
- Bank statement for the last three (3)
Recent changes: 2025 and 2026
- 10 March 2025: AEWV median wage requirement removed, experience reduced to 2 years and skill level 4 and 5 AEWVs extended to 3 years.
- 1 April 2025: Active Investor Plus Visa simplified (NZD $5 million Growth or NZD $10 million Balanced category).
- 29 September 2025: Parent Boost Visitor Visa opened.
- 3 November 2025: student work rights increased to 25 hours a week.
- 24 November 2025: Business Investor Work Visa opened, replacing the Entrepreneur Work Visa.
- 8 December 2025: Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa opened.
- 9 March 2026: median wage rose to NZD $35.00 an hour and the National Occupation List started replacing ANZSCO.
- 24 August 2026: Skilled Migrant Category changes, including the Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways.
- 16 November 2026: post-study work visa changes and a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa.
Immigration fees and levies were last increased on 1 October 2024.
Compliance
Every employer commits an offence against the Immigration Act 2009 if they allow any person to work in their service knowing that the person is not entitled under the Act to do that work – the penalty for this offence is a fine not exceeding NZD50,000
Every employer also commits an offence against the Immigration Act if they allow any person to work in their service (without knowledge) – the penalty for this offence is a fine not exceeding NZD10,000
An employer convicted of exploiting an employee who is in their employ unlawfully may be guilty of an offence in certain defined circumstances – the penalty for any such offences renders the employer liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, a fine not exceeding NZD100,000 or both.
Breaching employment standards
Employers that have incurred a penalty for a breach of employment standards will face a set stand-down period preventing them from taking on migrant labour for six months, one year, 18 months or two years, depending on the severity of the breach.
Employment standards related penalties extend from formal infringement notices issued by the Labour Inspectorate (following a Labour Inspectorate Investigation) through to penalties issued by the Employment Relations Authority or the Employment Court, or banning order issued by the Employment Court.
Employers issued with penalties as a result of private actions taken by employees either through the Employment Relations Authority or the Employment Court are also included.
Employers who receive an employment standards penalty will be included on a list provided to INZ by the Labour Inspectorate.
Mohamed Anas Sirajur Raheem
Barrister and Solicitor, New Zealand
Australian Lawyer
Mohamed is a New Zealand Immigration Lawyer with VisaEnvoy and an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. He is also admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
- Senior Immigration Consultant
- Registered Migration Agent No. 1576670
- New Zealand Migration Adviser: 202505791
Marney Richardson offers friendly and trustworthy migration advice for investors, businesspeople, skilled professionals, and companies looking to establish in Australia or New Zealand.
Marney has over 10 years’ migration experience in commercial and government sectors. She was the former Manager of Migration Queensland, the Queensland government agency responsible for business and skilled visas and part of Trade and Investment Queensland. She was responsible for state nominated visa policies and creation of Queensland Government visa programs such as the 491 Small Business Owners (SBO) program, Business Innovation and Investment Program – Entrepreneur Stream and the National Innovation Visa (NIV).
Marney specialities include (but are not limited to):
- General Skilled Migration Program
- Employer Sponsored Visas
- Business and Investor Visas (in both Australia and New Zealand)
- Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)
Book a consultation with Marney here.
