There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet to get a temporary work visa and/or permit. In this section you can find out whether you need a work visa or permit, whether you'll qualify, and what a temporary work visa or permit will allow you to do.
People who do not need a visa or permit
You do not need a work visa or permit to work in New Zealand if you are:
- a New Zealand citizen or you hold a New Zealand residence permit, or
- an Australian citizen, or the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa. (If there are conditions on your residence visa/resident return visa, then you will require a work visa.)
Certain kinds of work do not require a work visa or permit. If your employment in New Zealand involves visits for business negotiations, short-term sales trips, work for official trade missions recognised by the New Zealand government, or work for overseas governments, you may be able to do it while on a visitor visa or permit. See what these options are and what they require.
Requirements for all temporary work visa or permit applicants
There are a number of requirements that all applicants need to meet for a temporary work visa or permit.
To enter New Zealand you must:
- be in good health and of good character, and
- have a passport that is valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave New Zealand, and
- be genuine in wanting to work in New Zealand, and
- have the right visa for your visit.
If you are granted a temporary work permit you need to meet certain conditions during your stay:
- the work you do must be in line with the conditions specified in your permit
- you must keep within New Zealand’s laws
- you must only stay in New Zealand for the time allowed by your permit.
If you break any of these conditions we may require you to leave the country immediately.
You can be refused a visa or permit if:
- you are a person who is not eligible for a visa or a permit under section 7(1) of the Immigration Act 1987, or
- you are in New Zealand unlawfully when you apply or
- we believe that you are likely to stay in New Zealand unlawfully or
- we believe that you would break the conditions we would apply to the visa or permit granted to you.
Requirements for different policies
As well as meeting the requirements for all applicants, you must meet the requirements of the policy under which you are applying for a temporary work visa or permit.
We issue temporary work visa or permits under several different policies, which have different requirements. Which policy you can apply under depends on your circumstances.
I have a job offer from a New Zealand employer
If you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer and do not fall under one of the policies for specialist workers below, you may apply under the Essential Skills work policy. The employer will need to show that no New Zealand citizens or residents are available to do the job, either by:
In addition, you must be appropriately qualified by training or experience to take up the position. See the full list of requirements.
I want to come to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event
Our Specific Purpose or Event Policy is for people who want to work here temporarily for a particular purpose or event such as a tournament, a show or for certain professional reasons. See the requirements.
Tour guides
If you are a tour guide, leader or escort and you will be working while you are in New Zealand, you will need to apply for a Specific Purpose work visa before you arrive. Working is any activity resulting in gain or reward, including any form of payment or benefit that can be valued in terms of money, such as board and lodging, goods (eg, food or clothes) and services (eg, transport).
I am a student or a trainee
There are two policies under which students can get a work visa and permit in New Zealand:
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Students and Trainee Policy – for students or trainees who want to gain work experience in New Zealand to fulfil a course requirement.
See the requirements.
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Study to Work Policy – for students who want to work in New Zealand after successfully completing their studies here.
See the requirements.
I am joining my partner in New Zealand
Our Family Stream is for people who want to work temporarily while joining their partner here. See the requirements.
I want to take part in a work exchange scheme
Our Work Exchange Scheme Policy is for people who want to take part in a work exchange scheme that has been pre-approved by us or is a government to government exchange scheme. See the requirements.
I am in a highly specialised field of work
We have policies for people who want to come to New Zealand to work temporarily in one of the following specialist fields:
I am a skilled Chinese national
As agreed to under the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement, we have policies for Chinese nationals who are qualified and experienced in specific occupations and have a New Zealand job offer in that occupation:
I am a skilled national from the Philippines or Vietnam
As agreed to under the ASEAN-Australia-NZ Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), we have policies for nationals of the Philippines and Vietnam who are qualified and experienced in specific occupations, and have a New Zealand job offer in that occupation.
I do not know which policy applies to me
If you do not know which of the policies applies to you, we have two quick reference tools to help you:
- our quick check gives you an overview of which policy to apply under, and whether you qualify for a visa or permit to work in New Zealand
- our examples of people who can apply under each category.