If you need to employ someone temporarily for a specific purpose or event, they can apply for a work visa. The visa will usually be for a period of three to twelve months, although this can be approved for longer depending on circumstances.

The people who qualify for this visa have skills and expertise that will benefit New Zealand. They can include people in roles as diverse as corporate secondments, sports players, professional coaches, performing artists, specialist technicians and film crews.

What you need to do

As an employer, you need to:

• make a job offer to the person you want to employ and provide them with a completed Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113) PDF [171KB].
• provide the prospective worker with supporting information to include in their work visa application which clearly demonstrates:
  • the special need for their skills, talent or experience and why it is a special need
  • the nature of the specific project or event that they are required to work on in New Zealand
  • that no New Zealanders will be disadvantaged work-wise by this person being employed.
• before they start work, check your employee has a valid visa to work for you.

Entertainment industry

If your prospective worker is a performing artist, an entertainer, film and video production crew, or associated support personnel, you will need to complete the supplementary form attached to the Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application [INZ 1187] PDF [882 KB].

You must also provide this evidence to the relevant professional association, union or guild unless your worker’s contract in New Zealand:

• is for 14 days or less, or
• will be undertaken on an official co-production, or
• your company holds entertainment industry accreditation.