While in New Zealand on a visitor visa, can I look for a job?

When your visa was granted, it was on the basis of you visiting New Zealand. You cannot work on a visitor visa, but you can look for work.

We issue you a visitor visa on the basis that you have a genuine intention to visit temporarily and return to your home country afterwards.

If your situation changes

Visitor visas are not a pathway to residency and you cannot work on a visitor visa. If you want to work in New Zealand and gain residency, you must apply for a different type of visa. For the visas that lead to residency, you need to have certain skills, experience, qualifications or occupations.

New Zealand skilled residence pathways | Immigration New Zealand

Apply for a work visa

While on a visitor visa, you can look for work or attend a job interview in New Zealand, but you are not allowed to work. You need to apply for a work visa before you can start work.

Explore work visas