- 2 acceptable photos if you use a paper application form or 1 photo if you apply online
- a current passport or certificate of identity
- an original or certified copy of your full birth certificate when you apply for residence.
Meeting the criteria
The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements of this visa.
If you’re 17 or over, you must provide a Police Certificate from:
- your country of citizenship
- any country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Police Certificates must be less than 6 months old when you apply.
If you provide a police certificate that is not in English, you must provide an English translation.
This includes police certificates that record no convictions.
You must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.
Current work visa
You must hold a Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa and have held that visa for at least 24 months
We’ll check our records and your passport for evidence of when you first arrived in New Zealand on your Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Visa.
Active engagement
You must have been actively engaged in your field of declared talent for the last 24 months
You’ll need to provide:
- a Summary of Earnings from Inland Revenue that shows your earnings since you were granted a Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
- evidence that shows you’ve been actively engaged in your declared field of talent for the last 24 months.
Examples of acceptable evidence include:
- documents that show you’ve been earning money from activities in your field of talent, eg GST receipts, bank statements, tax returns
- schedules of performances, exhibitions, activities or events you’ve taken part in
- letters from individuals or organisations praising the work you’ve done in your field of talent
- a letter from your supporting organisation detailing your activities over the last 24 months.
For more information about getting your Summary of Earnings, visit:
Prominence in your field of talent
You must show that you’re still prominent in your declared field of talent
Evidence may include:
- a letter from your supporting organisation confirming your prominence in your field of talent
- letters from individuals or organisations, who have specialist knowledge in your field of talent, confirming your prominence in your field of talent
- press clippings confirming your prominence in your field of talent.
Continued presence in New Zealand
You must show your presence in New Zealand will enhance New Zealand’s achievements and participation in your declared field of talent
Your sponsor will need to complete a 'Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form', which will ask them to explain how your continued presence in New Zealand will enhance New Zealand’s achievements and participation in your declared field of talent.
You may wish to provide additional evidence to support your application, including:
- letters from New Zealand organisations that agree that your continued presence in New Zealand will enhance New Zealand’s achievements and participation in your field of talent
- letters from people who are experts in your field of talent who agree that your continued presence in New Zealand will enhance New Zealand’s achievements and participation in your field of talent.
Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form (INZ1091) PDF 280KB
Support for residence
You must have the support of a New Zealand organisation of national repute
You must provide a 'Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form' completed by a New Zealand organisation of national repute.
A representative from a New Zealand organisation of national repute must complete Section B of the 'Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form' as evidence they support your continued presence in New Zealand.
Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form (INZ1091) PDF 280KB
It’s OK for the organisation supporting you to be different from your sponsor.
You must provide a 'Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form' completed by your sponsor.
Your sponsor must guarantee to provide you with accommodation and financial support for the first 2 years of your New Zealand residence, if you need it.
Acceptable sponsors
Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form (INZ1091) PDF 280KB
Your sponsor can be an individual, an organisation or a government agency. Your sponsor doesn’t have to be the same as your organisation.
No welfare assistance
To apply for residence, you must not have received any welfare benefits or assistance
If you or anyone included in your residence application, have received any welfare benefits or assistance while on your Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work to Residence Visa, you won’t be eligible to apply for residence.
When you apply for residence, we’ll ask you for your authority to contact Work and Income to check if you’ve received any welfare benefits or assistance.
www.workandincome.govt.nz
We’ll check our records to confirm your location.
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