Under our work exchange scheme policy, applicants may be granted a Work visa or permit to take part in a work exchange scheme that has been pre-approved by us or is a government-to-government exchange agreement.
Establishing an approved work exchange scheme
To establish a new work exchange scheme a proposal must first be sent to us for approval. The proposal must include:
- organisations and scheme sponsors
- participating countries
- eligible participants
- accommodation
- maintenance and employment
- medical insurance
- length of the exchange
- expected annual numbers
- travel arrangements
- selection of participants
- any other relevant information.
Detailed information regarding the proposal for a new work exchange scheme is available in our Operational Manual, under Temporary entry, Exchange schemes (P3).
Applicant’s eligibility and work visa application
Individual applicants are required to submit their application for a work visa prior to leaving for New Zealand.
In addition to meeting our health and character requirements, applicants need to:
- provide evidence that they have been accepted into an approved work exchange scheme from the scheme organiser, and
- have medical and dental insurance cover for the length of the exchange, and
- have made travel arrangements to leave New Zealand when they have finished the work exchange scheme.
These are some of the larger work exchange schemes currently approved by INZ (this list is not exhaustive):