We have a range of policies for employing people from overseas to work temporarily in New Zealand.
You may be eligible to temporarily employ an overseas worker if the position they’re seeking to fill is an occupation in which New Zealand has a recognised shortage of qualified workers. We’ve listed these occupations on our Immediate Skill Shortage List.
Even if the vacant position isn’t an occupation on our Immediate Skill Shortage List, employing an overseas worker may still be an option, if you:
- have previously gained our approval in principle to recruit overseas workers (note: applications for approvals in principle for workers to undertake seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture industries received after 30 September 2007 will not be approved)
- can prove there are no suitable New Zealand workers available for the job
- are seeking the worker’s skills, attributes and expertise for a specific purpose or event in New Zealand
- are employing a student or trainee to provide them with practical work experience
- are employing a worker who has completed studies in New Zealand, and is now eligible under the Study to Work policy
- are employing a participant of a pre-approved work exchange scheme
- are looking for seasonal labour in the horticulture and viticulture industries.
We also provide for the employment of people who have highly specialised skills, are involved in religious missions or ministry, are interpreters from Japan or crew members of foreign fishing vessels. We have a number of requirements for these areas of work.
We’ll check:
- that the job offer to the prospective employee is genuine and sustainable
and
- that the employer meets all their obligations under New Zealand employment and immigration law.
What do we mean by employment?
What do we mean by ‘employment’? We regard employment as being work undertaken for gain or reward. That is, money or anything that can be valued in terms of money, such as food, clothing, accommodation and transport.
And, ‘working in New Zealand’ is work conducted anywhere within New Zealand’s economic zone or territorial waters.