Immigration laws that came into effect on 29 November 2010 mean employers need to be more careful when checking that prospective employees are entitled to work for them.

If you are applying for a job – whether you’re a New Zealander or from overseas – don’t be surprised if your prospective employer asks for evidence that clearly shows you are a New Zealand citizen or resident (and therefore entitled to work in any job in New Zealand) or have a visa that allows you to legally do the job you’re applying for.

To help employers meet these new obligations, Immigration New Zealand has set up a free online service called VisaView that allows registered employers to check if prospective employees are entitled to work here. The service has been developed to make these checks quick and easy, while at the same time protecting individual privacy.

See our VisaView pages for more information.

The chart below shows which documents you can use to show you can work in New Zealand.

See how to obtain a birth certificate for more information (www.bdmonline.dia.govt.nz).

For more information about the introduction of the Immigration Act 2009 see www.immigration.govt.nz/act.