Under our Work Exchange Scheme Instructions, you may be granted a work visa to take part in a work exchange scheme that has been pre-approved by us or is a government-to-government exchange scheme.

Your application must be submitted and approved before you travel to New Zealand.

Requirements

In addition to meeting our health and character requirements, you must:

• be outside New Zealand when you apply
• provide evidence that you have been accepted into an approved work exchange scheme from the scheme organiser
• have medical and dental insurance cover for the length of the exchange
• have made travel arrangements to leave New Zealand when you have finished the work exchange scheme.

Terms and conditions of employment under the exchange

The conditions of your employment under the exchange scheme must comply with the minimum terms and conditions under New Zealand employment law, including:

• a written employment agreement that contains the necessary statutory specified terms and conditions, and
• meeting holiday and special leave requirements and other minimum statutory criteria, and
• meeting occupational safety and health obligations.

Establishing a work exchange scheme

To establish an approved work exchange scheme a proposal must first be submitted to Immigration New Zealand. The proposal can be submitted by any person or organisation. Further details of what is to be included in the proposal are available in our Operational Manual under Exchange scheme (E11).

Apply

If you think you meet the requirements, find out how to apply.