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Work Visa Permit

General Work Policy

You may be eligible for a Work Visa or Permit under General Work Policy if you have an offer of employment for which you are suitably qualified and experienced. The requirements are as follows:

1. Offer of Employment is in an occupation that is included on the current Occupational Shortage list which is issued by the NZIS.
2. Offer of Employment is from an employer who has a current approval in principal from the NZIS for your recruitment.
3. If the NZIS is satisfied that there are no suitable New Zealanders available or no New Zealanders readily able to be trained to do the job.

Other categories

Ministers of Religion, Missionaries, and member of religious order

You may apply for a Work Visa or Permit if you are a Minister of Religion, Missionary or Member of a Religious Order belonging to a religious denomination or group specifically recognised under immigration policy, coming to New Zealand for both short term and long term engagements.

Interpreters from Japan

You may be eligible if recruited by a New Zealand employer in tourism related industries who can satisfy New Zealand Immigration that they are unable to obtain suitably qualified New Zealanders.

Crew of Chartered Foreign Fishing Vessels

You may apply for a Work Visa with evidence you hold a contract to work on a vessel in New Zealand. The normal maximum stay is 2 years and for several crew travelling together, a group visa form for New Zealand may be used. Your New Zealand agent will need to contact the local office of the New Zealand Immigration Service and obtain approval in principal before you travel to New Zealand.

New Religious Denominations

• Campus Crusade for Christ
• Reformed Churches of New Zealand
• Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand

Exchange Schemes

You may apply for a Work Visa to come to New Zealand as part of an approved exchange scheme like Government to Government, established formal exchanges or private exchanges arranged for once only situations.

Part-time Work

If you are a visitor in New Zealand and wish to work part-time, you may apply for a variation of conditions. You also have to compete with local New Zealanders. You are to provide an Offer of Employment which is checked to see if suitable New Zealanders are available.

Specific Purpose or Event Policy

You may apply for a Work Visa or Permit under this policy if you are coming to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event for a particular period. In this case you are to demonstrate skills, attributes or expertise in areas relevant to that specific purpose or event that are likely to benefit New Zealand. You also have to prove your employment in New Zealand is not likely to harm employment opportunities for New Zealanders.

These may include the following:

• Senior or specialist business person on short term settlements may have an Offer of Employment either in a substantial New Zealand company or a New Zealand subsidiary of an overseas company.
• Sports referees, show display or exhibition judges have to provide a written invitation for the particular event.
• Dance and music examiners of recognised international teaching institutions. You must provide a written invitation or offer of employment to conduct examinations in New Zealand.
• Pastors and lay missionaries must have a written guarantee of accommodation, maintenance and repatriation from a sponsoring body in New Zealand.
• Installers or servicers of specialised machinery or equipment supplied by an overseas company. You must provide evidence that installing or servicing the equipment in New Zealand is a condition of service.
• Entertainer, performing artists, film and production crew, and associated support personnel who intend to engage in any form of private or public performance in New Zealand or work on any film or video production in New Zealand.

Unions and Professional Associations

• Business investor category principal applicant investigating direct investment opportunities and/or making direct investments in New Zealand.
• Chief executive or senior staff member of a multi-national company.
• Sports players and professional sports coaches taking up a paid position in a New Zealand sports club and have a written letter of employment from the particular club.

Student and Trainee Policy

• You may apply for a Work Visa or Permit under this policy if you are a medical or dental trainee wishing to fulfil a compulsory training requirement by undertaking practical training in New Zealand. You should be appropriately qualified and experienced. You should have a letter of acceptance from a New Zealand hospital and should not hold a student or visitor permit.
• Students in your home country wishing to fulfil a course requirement by undertaking practical work experience in New Zealand should have the support of your educational institute and an offer of work from a New Zealand educational institute or employer.
• Jockeys wishing to undertake and apprenticeship in New Zealand should have an offer of employment from a New Zealand trainer, guarantee or maintenance and accommodation from the New Zealand Racing Conference and a guarantee or repatriation from your New Zealand trainer should you not continue the apprenticeship.