Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa

If you have reported exploitation while on an employer supported work visa, apply for this visa to leave your job while the exploitation is being investigated.

Length of stay
Up to

6 months each

Cost

NZD $0

Processing time
is a
high priority
With this visa you can
  • Leave your current job quickly while the exploitation is being investigated. 
  • Work anywhere in New Zealand for any employer.
Things to note
  • You must be a victim of migrant exploitation.
    Migrant exploitation — Employment New Zealand
  • You must have the Report of Exploitation Assessment letter from Employment New Zealand after reporting migrant exploitation to them.
    Report migrant exploitation — Employment New Zealand
  • Apply for your initial Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa (MEPV) within 1 month of getting a Report of Exploitation Assessment letter.
  • An initial MEPV, or the further MEPV for finding a suitable job, cannot be for longer than the date on your current work visa. An initial MEPV and the further one can be up to 6 months each. 
  • While on your initial MEPV, keep evidence of the jobs you applied for over a 4-month period or longer. If near the end of 6 months you need more time to find a suitable job, use the evidence to apply for the further MEPV.
  • Documents in other languages, including evidence of jobs applied for, must be provided with an English translation in all MEPV applications. This helps speed up processing.
    Providing English translations of supporting documents
  • You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application. If they already hold visas based on their relationship to you, they can apply for further visas of this type.
    Dependent children
    Partnership

What you need to apply

Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.

View All Evidence

You must have your report of exploitation assessed by Employment New Zealand. You can report exploitation by calling 0800 200 088 or filling in the form on their website.

Report Migrant Exploitation

Employment New Zealand will give eligible migrants a Report of Exploitation Assessment Letter which must be submitted when you apply for this visa.

Tips

You should apply for this visa within 1 month of receiving your Report of Exploitation Assessment Letter.

We will check our records to confirm you are in New Zealand.

Acceptable photos

Tips

You may provide your original passport or a certified copy when you submit your application. If you provide a certified copy, we may request your original passport to complete your application.

We may ask you to complete a medical examination after you have submitted your application.

We may ask you to provide further information after you’ve submitted your application.

Tips

When we review your application, we will ignore breaches to your visa conditions, or false, misleading, forged or withheld information if it happened as a result of the exploitation we are investigating.

When we decide if your intentions are genuine (bona fide), we consider all the information:

  • you provide to support your application
  • we have about your personal circumstances, and
  • you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

If you do not hold a work visa that is linked to your employer, you cannot apply for this visa. For example, if you hold an open work visa, a limited visa or an interim visa.

To be eligible for a further MEPV you must be on an initial MEPV issued to you for 6 months.

The earliest you should apply for a further MEPV is 2 months before your initial 6-month MEPV expires.

For a further MEPV, all of the following must apply:

  • your initial MEPV was for 6 months and has not yet expired
  • you need more time to find a suitable job
  • there is time remaining on your original work visa.

The length of your further MEPV is the lesser of:

  • 12 months from the start date of your initial MEPV, or
  • the expiry of your original work visa.

Evidence

You must provide evidence to show while on your initial MEPV you applied for at least 2 jobs:

  • over a 4-month period or longer, and
  • similar to roles in your original employer-specific work visa, and
  • paying a rate that meant you would meet Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) pay requirements.

Examples of the evidence we accept are:

  • correspondence with potential employers about job applications
  • screenshots showing applications submitted on job search platforms 
  • job advertisements with confirmation of job applications submitted.

The evidence you provide must show all of the following:

  • names of the employers
  • correspondence or job application dates
  • roles offered and the pay.
Note

You do not have to make a new exploitation report with Employment New Zealand for a further MEPV.

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

2
Employment New Zealand assesses your report

If Employment New Zealand find your report credible, they will give you a Report of Exploitation Assessment letter.

3
You send us your visa application

You must complete a Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa application form (INZ 1370) and send it to us with a copy of the Report of Exploitation Assessment letter given to you by Employment New Zealand.

Immigration costs

Application cost – There is no fee.

4
We make a decision about your application

Your application for a Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa will be determined by immigration officers who have received specialist training on this category.

If there is anything else you need to do, we will be in touch.

Timeframes - Processing
is a high priority

You must apply for this visa in New Zealand. This visa is a priority for us.

Stage 2

1
Gather together evidence for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa

Gather together the evidence you applied for at least 2 jobs over a 4-month period or longer.

Examples of the evidence you could include are:

  • correspondence with potential employers about a job application
  • screenshots from job search platforms of submitted applications
  • job advertisements with confirmation of job applications submitted.

The evidence you provide must show all of the following:

  • names of the employers
  • correspondence or job application dates
  • roles offered and the pay.

3
We make a decision about your application

Your application for a Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa will be determined by immigration officers who have received specialist training on this category.

If there is anything else you need to do, we will be in touch.

Timeframes - Processing
is a high priority

You must apply for this visa in New Zealand. This visa is a priority for us.

How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Stage

1

How to apply

Postal address

Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 76895
Manukau City
Auckland 2241
New Zealand

Courier address

Immigration NZ
DX Box: EP71514
20 Fairfax Avenue
Penrose
Auckland 1061
New Zealand

Stage

2

How to apply

Postal address

Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 76895
Manukau City
Auckland 2241
New Zealand

Courier address

Immigration NZ
DX Box: EP71514
20 Fairfax Avenue
Penrose
Auckland 1061
New Zealand

Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Travel

You cannot travel in and out of New Zealand on this visa. If you leave New Zealand, your visa will expire and you will need to apply for another visa if you wish to return.

Work

You can work in any employment you like, as long as:

  • the work you do is legal
  • you do not provide commercial sexual services
  • you do not invest or operate in a business that provides commercial sexual services
  • you have any occupational registration that is needed to do that work in New Zealand.

Occupational registration

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Notes

If you want to stay longer, you can apply for another visa.