Holders of Silver Fern Job Search visas who successfully find skilled employment in New Zealand may apply for a Silver Fern Practical Experience visa. This will allow them to work in that employment for up to two years.

There is no annual limit to the number of people who can apply for the Silver Fern Practical Experience visa.

To be eligible

You must:

• hold a Silver Fern Job Search visa, or an initial Silver Fern Practical Experience visa valid for less than 24 months
• have an offer of skilled employment which is current for a period of at least 12 months
• hold a full or provisional registration in New Zealand if it is required for the job
• meet our health and character requirements
• not have held previous Silver Fern Practical Experience visas totalling more than two years.

Skilled employment requirements

To qualify as skilled employment for a Silver Fern Practical Experience, your offer of employment must meet the requirements for skilled employment under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Skilled employment is employment that requires specialist, technical or management expertise.

An offer of employment in an occupation included as a skill level one, two or three occupation in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) may be considered skilled employment (providing certain policy requirements are met). All skill level one, two and three occupations are listed at Appendix 6 of the Operational Manual.

For more details on how skilled employment is assessed, see the Skilled Migrant Category information about claiming points for skilled employment.

Other employment requirements

To be eligible for a Silver Fern Practical Experience visa, your job offer must also:

• be current for at least 12 months
• be for full-time employment
• be genuine
• be paid by salary or wages or in terms of a contract for service (not by commission or retainer)
• meet the generic work visa instructions at W2.10 of the Operational Manual.

Health requirements

You will have submitted a medical and chest X-ray certificates with your Silver Fern Job Search application and will not normally need to submit a new certificate with this application.

Note: If you are applying for a second Silver Fern Practical Experience visa and the medical certificate and chest X-ray certificate you submitted originally are more than 36 months old when you lodge your new application, a new medical certificate and chest X-ray certificate will be required.

Character requirements

You will have submitted the relevant police certificate(s) with your Silver Fern Job Search application and will not normally need to submit a new certificate with this application.

Steps to apply

Complete the form

Print and complete the form Work Visa Application (INZ 1015) PDF.

Refer to the Work Visa Guide (INZ 1016) PDF, which will help you to apply.
 
If you cannot print the form and guide, they are available from your nearest Immigration New Zealand branch.

Submit the fee and evidence we require

You must submit:

• your completed (and signed) application form
• the correct fee
• your passport or travel document (this must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand)
• a recent passport-size photograph attached to the form at the section indicated.

If you do not submit the required information with your application we cannot accept it for processing. This is the only evidence for which you need to provide original documents. For all other evidence, please supply photocopies only, as the documents will not be returned to you.

In addition you must provide copies of:

• any qualifications you hold relevant to the job you have been offered
• any evidence of work experience you have gained relevant to the job you have been offered.

Note: There may be additional requirements you must meet depending on the country from which you are applying. Any special requirements are available from your local branch.

Submit evidence of your offer of employment

One of the main requirements for this category is an offer of skilled employment, which must be submitted together with the Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113) PDF and a copy of your employment agreement and job description.

Submit evidence of registration if necessary

Certain occupations require full or provisional registration in New Zealand. If your occupation is one of them, you must show that you have the relevant registration.  

Lodge your application

If you are overseas, your application must be made and approved before you travel to New Zealand. Find out where to send your application.

If you are in New Zealand, you must send your application to your nearest Immigration New Zealand branch.

More about applying for a visa

For more information about getting your documents together, how long the application process might take, and what you can expect from us, see more about applying for a visa.

Duration of Silver Fern Practical Experience work visas

The Silver Fern Practical Experience visa will be valid for the duration of your offer of employment, up to a maximum of 24 months.

For more details, see the Silver Fern Practical Experience: questions and answers.