With this visa you can
- Come to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event.
- Work for a specific employer for the time allowed to complete your specific purpose or event.
Specific purpose or event
Things to note
- If you have a current visitor visa, which you were granted as a guardian accompanying a student to New Zealand, you won’t be eligible for this visa.
- If you’re an Entertainment industry worker in New Zealand for a specific purpose or event, you should apply for an ‘Entertainers Work Visa’ instead.
- If you’re a Tour Guide from China, you should apply for a China Special Work Visa instead
- You can’t include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
How long you can stay on a Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa
The time you can stay in New Zealand will depend on the specific purpose or event you need to complete.
The time you can stay in New Zealand to complete your specific purpose or event is detailed in the following table.
| Specific purpose or event | How long you can stay |
|---|---|
| Senior or specialist business people on short-term secondments | 12 months |
| Business people being transferred from one part of a multinational company to another in New Zealand | 3 years |
| Business visitors who need to stay in New Zealand for more than 3 months for business reasons | 12 months |
| Investors who have applied for residence and want to investigate investment opportunities | 12 months |
| Sports referees and people in New Zealand to judge a show, display or exhibition | For the length of your engagement – not usually more than 6 months |
| Dance and music examiners | For the time needed to conduct the exams – not usually more than 6 months |
| Installers and services of specialised machinery or equipment | 3 months |
| Sports players and professional coaches | If you’ll be coaching at a national or regional level, you can stay up to 3 years, otherwise 12 months. |
| Philippines nurses seeking occupational registration | Up to 3 months |
| Other | For the time it takes to carry your specific purpose or event – not usually more than 6 months |
Overview of Specific Purpose Visa Requirements
Specific purpose or event
You must need to come to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event
There are a number of specific purposes or events that are acceptable. The evidence you will need to provide depends on the specific purpose or event you will be undertaking in New Zealand.
If you’re coming to New Zealand to investigate investment opportunities, or you want to continue to operate your business while you await the outcome of your Entrepreneur residence application, we’ll use our records to check whether or not you’ve applied for residence under one of our Investment or Entrepreneur categories.
We won’t normally grant a visa if you have an offer of employment from an employer who is included on the list of non-compliant employers maintained by the Labour Inspectorate.
Time in New Zealand
You must specify the amount of time you need to complete your specific purpose or event
Your evidence may include the following:
- a job offer
- a letter of invitation
- a schedule of events.
Dance or music examiners who have a written invitation don’t have to provide an ‘Employer Supplementary Form’.
Qualifications and/or work experience
You may need qualifications and experience
Examples of evidence include:
- employment records or references
- recognised international dance or music teaching qualifications
- Philippines nurse qualifications
- documents that show you have international merit or distinction
- any other relevant qualifications.
Onward travel
You must have made arrangements to leave New Zealand
Evidence can include:
- a travel ticket out of New Zealand, or proof you have enough money to buy one
- a letter from your New Zealand employer guaranteeing they’ll cover the cost of your return home if you’re unable to.
Funds
You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for your maintenance and accommodation while you are in New Zealand.
You can demonstrate you have sufficient funds by providing:
- Bank statements
- Evidence of wages, salary or other payment that will be sufficient to support you while you are in New Zealand
- A guarantee of maintenance and accommodation by your employer
- Sponsorship by a relative or friend in New Zealand.
Immigration costs
Application cost
This is the fee for Immigration New Zealand to process your application.An immigration levy is payable and is included in the total amount above.
Receiving centre fees
Passport Fee
NZD $ 35 per applicant
After you apply online you must send us your passport. The passport fee is for the Visa Application Centre (VAC) to receive and handle your passport.
Passport Fee
NZD $ 30 – 60 per applicant
Timeframes
Processing
90% of applications are currently completed within this time. Timeframes are in calendar days.
Mohamed Anas Sirajur Raheem
BA (Political Studies), LLB (VUW)
Mohamed is a New Zealand Immigration Consultant with VisaEnvoy and an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
He is a former New Zealand Immigration Officer (Visa Services) and Border Officer at Auckland International Airport. He has several years of experience working in various Government Departments in New Zealand and has also worked as a Licensed Immigration Adviser at a prominent New Zealand Immigration firm.
His areas of expertise and interest are in the fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child Visa streams.
Mohamed was inspired to pursue a career in immigration by his own migration experiences. Over the years he has assisted individuals, families, large corporations, Professional sportspeople, and Entertainers (singers, speakers, and actors) to come to New Zealand.
Green List and other immigration changes
Employing overseas chefs and median wage threshold
New Zealand’s International Border Reopening Plan
Claiming Points for your Age
Claiming Points for your Partners Recognised Qualifications
Claiming Points for Recognised Qualifications