There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet to get a temporary work visa. In this section you can find out whether you need a work visa, whether you'll qualify, and what a temporary work visa will allow you to do.

People who do not need a visa

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 categories for specialist workers below, you may apply under the Essential Skills work category.  The employer will need to show that no New Zealand citizens or residents are available to do the job, either by:

• showing that the job is included in one of the Essential Skills In Demand Lists; or
• providing evidence that they have genuinely tried to find a New Zealand worker to fill the position. 

In addition, you must be appropriately qualified by training or experience to take up the position. See the full list of requirements.

I am a young, highly skilled person looking for skilled employment

Our Silver Fern Categories are for young, highly skilled people who have recognised qualifications and want to come to New Zealand to look for long-term, skilled employment. See the requirements.

I want to come to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event

Our Specific Purpose or Event Category 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.

I am a tour guide

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 categories under which students can get a work visa in New Zealand:

• Students and Trainee Category – for students or trainees who want to gain work experience in New Zealand to fulfil a course requirement. See the requirements.
• Study to Work Category – 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 Category 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 categories for people who want to come to New Zealand to work temporarily in one of the following specialist fields:

• Crew of chartered foreign fishing vessels
• Interpreters from Japan
• Thai chefs
• Ministers of religion, missionaries, members of religious orders
• Seasonal workers in the horticulture or viticulture industry.

I am a skilled Chinese national

As agreed to under the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement, we have categories for Chinese nationals who are qualified and experienced in specific occupations and have a New Zealand job offer in that occupation:

• China Special Work Category for Chinese nationals who are qualified as chefs, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, Mandarin teachers’ aides, Wushu Martial Arts coaches or tour guides
• China Skilled Workers Category.

I am a skilled national from the Philippines, Vietnam or Indonesia

As agreed to under the ASEAN-Australia-NZ Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), we have work visa categories for nationals of the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia who are qualified and experienced in specific occupations, and have a New Zealand job offer in that occupation.

• Philippines Special Work Category is for Philippines nationals who are qualified as registered nurses, farm managers or engineering professionals. 
• Vietnam Special Work Category is for Vietnamese nationals who are qualified as Vietnamese chefs or engineering professionals.
• Indonesia Special Work Category is for Indonesian nationals who are qualified as Indonesian chefs, Halal slaughterers or Bahasa Indonesia teachers’ aides.

I do not know which work visa category applies to me

If you do not know which of the categories applies to you, we have two quick reference tools to help you:

• our quick check gives you an overview of which category to apply under, and whether you qualify for a visa to work in New Zealand
• our examples of people who can apply under each category.