If you are after work permits for New Zealand, the country has plenty going for it: it is safe and stable, English is the working language, and it takes a warm view of entrepreneurs and international money. Most work visas turn on a job offer from an accredited employer, so your first task is usually to land the role. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton pull in most newcomers who want to start a business or take up a job.
If you are moving to New Zealand from Australia, you will not need a work permit or work visa to work here. Everyone else does.
New Zealand has several work visa categories, and each has its own rules. The Immigration New Zealand website is the place to work out which one fits your situation.
Useful links
- Immigration New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa
- Immigration New Zealand: Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Immigration New Zealand: Business Investor Work Visa
Types of work permits in New Zealand
Working Holiday Scheme
New Zealand’s Working Holiday Scheme is open to young people from around 45 countries, among them Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The visa lets you stay and work for up to a year. Canadians get up to 23 months, and UK citizens up to 36 months. It is a great way to fund your travels around the country.
Most applicants must be aged 18 to 30, although a few nationalities can apply up to 35, the United Kingdom and Canada among them. You will also need funds to support yourself, evidence of onward travel out of New Zealand, medical insurance for your stay, and a legitimate plan to holiday rather than work full-time.
You apply online, and a complete application is usually turned around quickly, often within a few weeks. Get your paperwork in order to avoid holdups.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is for those with a job offer from an accredited employer. You are paid the market rate for the role. In construction, employers only need 15 percent of their relevant workforce to be New Zealanders, so they have more scope to hire from overseas.
You will need at least two years of relevant work experience or a recognised NZQA Level 4 qualification.
If you hold an interim visa while your AEWV is processed, you can keep working in the meantime. A skill level 4 or 5 role comes with a visa of up to three years, which corresponds to the maximum continuous stay for these positions.
Skill level 3 roles account for about half of all AEWV applications, and they require basic English proficiency. The standard is the level of everyday workplace English, roughly IELTS 4.0. If you are from an English-speaking country, your citizenship will suffice. If you can prove you’ve studied or done work in English, that can count too. Otherwise, you may have to take a language test.
Skilled Migrant Visa
The Skilled Migrant Visa is the one to aim for if you want to move to New Zealand to live and work for good. To be eligible, you must be under 55. You also have to pass health and character checks and show a good command of English.
The visa uses a points system. You claim points from whichever single category scores you highest: your qualifications, your professional registration, or your income. Skilled work experience in New Zealand can add more on top. You need six points to qualify.
To apply, you submit an expression of interest that sets out your skills and circumstances. If successful, you’ll receive an invitation to apply. The process can be competitive, but there is no cap on how many people can gain residence this way. It is a strong option if you have sought-after skills in healthcare, IT, engineering, or project management.
The invitation to apply often arrives within days. The residence application will take longer, commonly several months, so make sure to submit complete and accurate documentation.
Business Investor Work Visa
The Business Investor Work Visa is the route to take if you want to invest in a New Zealand business and run it. You can buy a business outright or take a stake of at least a quarter, as long as your investment clears the set threshold and the business has been trading for several years and employs staff.
There are two tiers. A larger investment opens a fast track to residence in about a year; a smaller one sets up a three-year work-to-residence pathway. You must be 55 or under and able to support yourself and your family while you settle in. You will also need basic English and a clean bill of health and character. The visa can run for up to four years, and it leads on to the Business Investor Resident Visa.
If you would rather invest passively than run a business day to day, the separate Active Investor Plus Visa is the usual route. A pathway for innovative startup founders is in the works, so check the latest position before you commit.
Applying for a work permit for New Zealand
Applying for a work permit for New Zealand usually runs through your employer, not you. For the main route, the Accredited Employer Work Visa, there are three steps. First, the employer gains accreditation with Immigration New Zealand. Second, they pass a job check for the specific role. Third, you apply for the visa itself as soon as they send you a job check token.
Your part is the supporting evidence: a passport, proof you meet the experience or qualification threshold, a health and character check, and an employment offer that corresponds to the approved job check. If you've submitted everything that is needed, the application is usually processed within a few weeks.
On the job hunt, two things are major helps. Immigration New Zealand publishes a public register of accredited employers, so you can target the firms that are already cleared to sponsor migrants. Mainstream job boards such as Seek and Trade Me Jobs have a lot of listings, and many let you filter for accredited employers.
Visa rules can change at short notice, so always check with your embassy or consulate for the latest details.