Hire a candidate

New Zealand employers who need to regularly recruit skilled overseas workers, can apply to become accredited. This option will allow them to employ skilled migrant workers without first having to check if any New Zealanders can do the work.

Arts and music festivals organisers can apply for approval to simplify visa processing. Performers and direct support staff participating in an ‘approved’ arts or music festival can come to New Zealand as visitors.

Entertainment industry employers can apply for accreditation to allow them to bring overseas entertainment industry workers to New Zealand without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement.

Entertainment promoters can apply for approval to simplify visa processing. Performers and direct support staff participating in an ‘approved’ arts or music festival can come to New Zealand as visitors.

New Zealand employers can get approval to recruit temporary workers for jobs not on New Zealand’s skill shortage lists. Once approved, New Zealand employers can recruit as many workers as they need to supplement their workforce.

Labour hire employers can apply for accreditation to allow them to hire overseas workers to supplement their New Zealand workforce.

Employ workers drawn from the ballot for permanent employment of business activity – you don’t have to check if any New Zealanders are available to do the work first.

Becoming a Recognised Seasonal Employer can help horticulture or viticulture industry employers to recruit overseas workers when there aren’t enough NZers to plant, maintain, harvest and pack their crops.

Horticulture and viticulture industry employers can apply for an approval in principle to allow them to supplement their New Zealand workforce with overseas workers to meet seasonal demand.

Work Exchange Schemes allow New Zealand employers to arrange work short-term work opportunities in New Zealand and overseas as part of a reciprocal agreement.

New Zealand Employers can apply for an Approval in Principle to recruit 7 or more foreign crew for work on a fishing vessel. They will only be approved if there aren’t enough New Zealanders available to do the work.

For Canterbury-based roles, you may need to register the vacancy with the Canterbury Skills and Employment Hub if it is low skilled and not on a Skill Shortage List.

If you are recruiting workers for a role in Queenstown, the labour market test process may be a bit different.

Some students are able to work for up to 20 hours a week during the academic year and some may work full-time during breaks. Students studying in some fields are eligible for work visas to enable them to fulfil practical course requirements.

New Zealand has reciprocal agreements with more than 35 countries allowing people aged 18 to 30 years, and for some countries 18 to 35 years, to work temporarily while on holiday in New Zealand. Working holidaymakers from most participating countries can stay in New Zealand for up to a year. Citizens of the United Kingdom can stay for 23 months.

A Work Visa is typically granted based on a specific job. If you are looking to hire a migrant that already has a work visa based on a job offer from another employer, or you are offering a new job to a current employee they will need to inform Immigration New Zealand.

Most resident visa holders can work for any employer.

If you have an employee who is applying for a further work visa then they may be granted an interim visa that allows them to stay in New Zealand lawfully while their application is processed. They may be eligible to continue working on an interim visa if the job is in the same position, for the same employer and in the same location as their current visa.