We have specific evidence requirements for:

• entertainers, performing artists and support people
• film and video production and post-production crews, producers and directors.

If you work in one of these fields, your employer/production company/promoter must show that you meet one of the following criteria:

1. You are of international distinction or merit or you are of an ethnicity significant to the work or you are otherwise essential to the event.
2. Your employment will not put at risk the employment of New Zealanders in equivalent work, unless the wider benefits to New Zealand of employing you outweigh the loss of job opportunities.
3. Your employer must have considered employing appropriately qualified or experienced New Zealanders.

Evidence

Your employer (or production company, or agent) must provide evidence to Immigration New Zealand at least 10 days before the event that you meet one of the criteria.

You must also provide this evidence to the relevant professional association, union or guild unless your contract in New Zealand:

• is for 14 days or less, or
• will be undertaken on an official co-production, or
• is with a company that holds entertainment industry accreditation.

Your employer will also need to provide us with a written guarantee that your accommodation needs will be met, and that they will meet the cost of travel back to your home country if necessary.

Information provided to relevant professional associations, unions or guilds

The professional associations, unions or guilds have three working days to notify us if they object to your offered role or position. If there is no objection, we may then grant you a work visa.

If the issue cannot be resolved through consultation, your application will be forwarded to the Minister of Immigration for a decision.

Find out which unions and associations may be involved with your application.

How to apply

You will need to complete and submit a Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application (INZ 1187) PDF [882 KB].

More information

For further information see:

• frequently asked questions for applicants
• frequently asked questions for employers/production companies/promoters.