We issue work visas to genuine religious workers to provide New Zealand communities the opportunity to practise, maintain and advance their religious beliefs.

Who is eligible for a Religious Worker visa to work in New Zealand?

You must have religious work experience or training of at least two years and have a genuine offer of religious work with a religious organisation registered as a charity with a primary purpose of advancing religion, and:

• provide a completed Work Visa Application (INZ 1015) PDF [371KB],
• provide a completed Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190) PDF [234KB],
• provide evidence of religious training and/or religious work experience, and
• show us that you meet our health and character requirements.

A completed Sponsorship Form must include:

• a copy of the sponsoring organisation’s Charities Commission Registration Certificate,
• evidence of the sponsoring organisation’s financial ability to meet their sponsorship undertaking, and
• a copy of an employment agreement or a description of the religious work you will be undertaking during your sponsorship period.

Religious work must substantially be toward a primary role of one or more of the following:

• teaching or guidance in religious scripture or philosophy,
• leading religious practice, worship or prayer,
• conducting religious initiations, ordination or ritual,
• ministering or pastoral care,
• roles of religious leadership in relation to any of the above.

If you are approved, we will issue you a work visa for up to two years. 

Further Religious Worker visas

If the organisation sponsoring your work visa needs you to continue as a religious worker, you may be eligible for a further Religious Worker work visa for a period of up to two years. 

When applying for a further Religious Worker work visa, you will need to show us that your sponsoring organisation has a genuine ongoing need for you to continue working with them as a religious worker and evidence to confirm that you have been working to advance their religious objectives.

Apply

To apply under this category, you will need to complete the Work Visa Application (INZ 1015) PDF [371KB] form and provide evidence that you and your sponsoring organisation meet the requirements stated above.