New Zealand Work Visa Guide: How To Legally Hire or Relocate Employees

A job offer can open the door to working in New Zealand, but it doesn’t ensure a legal right to start working there. Most foreign nationals need a New Zealand work visa that specifies their role, employer, and reason for entering the country.

For employees, navigating the visa system means confirming eligibility and gathering required documents. Employers hiring or relocating talent have their own responsibilities, which may include providing compliant employment terms and supporting the employee’s application.

Read up on the main New Zealand visa options for work, including applicants’ and employers’ responsibilities. Whether you want to work in New Zealand or hire an employee there, here’s what you need to know to complete the process compliantly.

What are the types of work visas available for New Zealand?

New Zealand has multiple types of work visas. The right one depends on the applicant’s nationality, occupation, employer, and plans to stay temporarily or pursue residence. Some countries require foreign nationals to obtain both a work visa and work permit to enter and work in a country. But in New Zealand, the visa usually carries the conditions to authorize work.

The most common work visas available in New Zealand are:

• Accredited Employer Work Visa. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a temporary work visa lasting up to five years. The applicant needs a full-time offer of at least 30 hours per week from an accredited employer. The employer must submit a separate application to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to have the applicant’s job approved.
• New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. Country-specific working holiday visas let eligible young people (typically ages 18 to 30) from 45 partnered countries travel and take temporary work in New Zealand. It’s a common New Zealand work visa for United States citizens because under the U.S. scheme, visa holders can stay for up to 12 months without needing a job offer to apply.
• Green List residence pathways. A person with a Tier 1 Green List job (i.e., a role in high demand) may qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa. A person in a Tier 2 role may qualify for a Work to Residence Visa after 24 months of eligible work in New Zealand.
• Recognized Seasonal Employer Limited Visa. This seasonal visa covers short-term horticulture and viticulture work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer. It’s normally limited to eligible Pacific nationals for a maximum of seven months in an 11-month period.
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. Sometimes called the New Zealand skilled migrant visa, this is a residence pathway for those who qualify based on a points-based eligibility system.
• Post-Study Work Visa. The Post-Study Work Visa allows eligible graduates of New Zealand institutions to stay and work for up to three years.

New Zealand’s Long Term Skill Shortage Work List used to be a popular work visa but is no longer available. INZ closed it to most new applications and replaced it with the AEWV in 2022.

What are the work visa requirements in New Zealand?

Anyone looking to work in New Zealand, or companies relocating a team member to the country, need to choose the appropriate visa type. Most applicants need to meet some combination of the following New Zealand work visa requirements:

• Identity and genuine intent. A valid passport and evidence that the stated reason for entering New Zealand is genuine.
• A qualifying job offer. Employer-linked visas usually require a signed offer and employment agreement. For an AEWV, the employer must be accredited and hold an approved job check for the role.
• Skills and experience. AEWV applicants generally need at least two years of relevant experience or qualification at level four or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
• Health and character. Medical examinations or police certificates may be required based on the visa type and applicant’s circumstances.
• English and occupational registration. Some roles carry English-language requirements, while some professions require registration with a specific organization before starting work.
• Visa-specific evidence. Working holiday applicants may need proof of funds and medical insurance. Green List applicants must meet the qualification, registration, pay, and experience rules for the listed occupation.

How to obtain a working visa for New Zealand

Obtaining a work visa for New Zealand may require action from both the applicant and the hiring company. The employee submits the visa application and personal evidence, while the employer completes accreditation, job check, and employment-related documents when applicable. Although the details vary by visa, a typical application process follows these steps:

• Choose the visa route. Compare the role, applicant, intended stay, and residence goals against current INZ criteria to ensure you’re applying for the correct visa.
• Complete the employer steps. For an AEWV, the employer gains accreditation, secures a job check, and sends the candidate the application link.
• Gather documents. The applicant gathers identity documents, the employment agreement, qualifications, work-history evidence, and any required medical or police certificates.
• Submit the New Zealand visa application. The applicant applies through a RealMe account, uploads the evidence and documents, and pays the applicable fee.
• Respond and wait for approval. Applicants and employers should respond quickly and thoroughly if INZ requests more information about the application. The employee shouldn’t begin work until the visa is approved.

Tips for streamlining the visa application process

A smoother visa application starts with accurate documents and close coordination between the employee and employer. Use the checklist for the exact visa for requirements from INZ, not a generic document list. Double-check information, making sure the job title, duties, location, hours, and pay are the same across the offer, job check, and application.

Apply well in advance of planned employee travel, ideally as part of the company’s broader global mobility strategy that accounts for accreditation timelines. Stay in contact with your employer/employee throughout the process and confirm current fees and thresholds directly with INZ. Loop in legal counsel or a global relocation provider if necessary.

How long does it take to get a New Zealand work visa?

INZ updates processing time averages as application volumes change. Its current published figures include:

• AEWV. The average wait time ranges from one day to three weeks, depending on the role.
• U.S. Working Holiday Visa. INZ processes 80% of applications within two weeks. Timelines for other working holiday schemes may differ.
• Straight to Residence Visa. INZ processes 80% of applications within three and a half months.
• Work to Residence Visa. The average processing time is 8 weeks, and INZ updates the average wait times weekly on its resident visa wait-times page.
• Recognized Seasonal Employer Limited Visa. INZ processes 80% of applications within two days.
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. The average processing time is 10 weeks.
• Post-Study Work Visa. INZ processes 80% of applications within 5 weeks.

Employers using the typical AEWV route also need to allow time for the steps that come before the employee’s application. Employer accreditation and job checks both take an average of two working days.

These timelines don’t include document collection, medical appointments, or police-certificate lead times. Applicants and employers can use INZ’s visa application processing-time tool to select a visa and application date and see estimated dates for 50% and 80% completion. These estimates use working days and are planning guides rather than guaranteed decision dates.

How can employers sponsor a work visa in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, employer support and formal sponsorship aren’t interchangeable. For an AEWV, the usual employer-side route is accreditation and approved job check. Formal sponsorship is a separate undertaking that applies only when the visa allows or requires it.

For an employer-linked hire, the company may need to:

• Use a New Zealand hiring entity. AEWV accreditation requires business details such as a New Zealand Business Number and Inland Revenue number. A global company without an entity may use an employer of record (EOR) in New Zealand as the legal employer, subject to visa eligibility.
• Gain or maintain accreditation. The business must meet INZ accreditation rules and choose the correct accreditation type for its hiring model and volume.
• Test the local labor market when required. The employer may need to advertise the role and engage with Work and Income before requesting a job check.
• Secure the job check and issue the offer. The employment agreement must match the approved position and comply with New Zealand employment law. Employers can’t shift job-placement or recruitment costs to the migrant.
• Support the employee after approval. Accredited employers must provide settlement information. They need to maintain global hiring compliance requirements after the visa is issued.

For an organization to act as a formal sponsor, INZ generally requires it to be registered in New Zealand. It must also show a clear connection between its activities and the sponsorship, authorize a responsible contact person, and remain outside receivership or liquidation.

Hire confidently in New Zealand with Pebl

Hiring someone on a work visa in New Zealand can be a lengthy process. Employers are tasked with getting accredited, passing a job check, and staying compliant for as long as the employee is on staff. Companies won’t necessarily have the right infrastructure in place, especially if they’ve never hired in the country before.

Pebl removes the biggest barrier first. As an EOR, Pebl can act as the hire’s legal employer without requiring your company to establish a local entity. Depending on the employee’s circumstances and visa eligibility, Pebl’s global immigration team can also offer support. Afterward, you can handle payroll and benefits administration compliantly from the same platform.

Contact Pebl to get started.

FAQ

Can I get a work visa in New Zealand without a job offer?

Sometimes, depending on the visa. Employer-linked visas such as the AEWV require a qualifying job offer, but some open work visas don’t. These include Working Holiday Visas, Post-Study Work Visas and Partner of a Worker Work Visas.

Is it easy to get a New Zealand work visa?

No route to getting a New Zealand work visa is automatic. Non-sponsored options such as the Working Holiday Visa are straightforward for eligible applicants. Employer-linked visas such as the AEWV take more coordination, since the employer needs accreditation and a passed job check before the employee can even apply. A well-prepared application with a genuine job can help reduce avoidable delays.

This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided “as is,” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.

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