Republic of Korea Special Work Visa

Visa details

You can apply for this visa if you are a citizen of the Republic of Korea and qualified to work in a Republic of Korea Special Work occupation.

Length of stay
Up to

3 years

Quota
Each year

50 for each occupation

Cost
From
NZD $700
Processing time
90% within
49 days
With this visa you can
Things to note
  • The length of your stay will depend on the length of your job offer.
  • If you’re granted a visa for less than 3 years, you can apply for another visa for the balance of the time while in New Zealand. You’ll need to continue to meet all of the criteria to be granted another visa.
  • You can't include a partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
     Explore family visa options

Who can apply

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to provide to meet the requirements of this visa.

View All Evidence

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

You must provide proof of your identity:

Acceptable photos

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.

Tips

  1. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.

Character

You must be of good character

You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.

If you are aged 17 or older and plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months (including any time you have already spent in New Zealand), you must provide police certificates from:

  • any country you are a citizen of
  • any country you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

You do not need to provide police certificates if:

  • you have provided them to us with an earlier visa application, and
  • they were issued in the previous 24 months.

Good character

How to get a police certificate

Tips

  1. 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.

Citizenship

You must be a citizen of the Republic of Korea

You must provide a valid Republic of Korea passport.

Location

You must be living in your country of citizenship when you apply

Any documents that prove where you are living now. Examples include:

  • current utility bills
  • recent pay slips.
Tips

  1. If you’re already in New Zealand on a Republic of Korea Special Work Visa and you’re applying for another visa for the balance of the 3 years, it’s OK for you to apply while in New Zealand.

Ordinarily resident

You must live in your country of citizenship permanently

Any documents that prove you live in your country of citizenship permanently. Examples include:

  • letters sent to your home address
  • references from your employer.

New Zealand job offer

You must have been offered a job in a ‘special work’ occupation

You must provide a copy of your employment agreement, which must detail:

  • the occupation that you’ll be working in that’s considered special work under the  Republic of Korea Special Work Instructions
  • your employer’s name and contact details
  • details of your pay and other conditions of your employment
  • your working hours, which must be full-time
  • the length of your contract
  • details of any qualifications or experience you’ll need to do the work.

Republic of Korea special work occupations
Employment agreements and rights

Qualifications

You must have the necessary qualifications and/or experience do the work you’ve been offered

The evidence you must provide depends on the occupation you’ll be working in in New Zealand.

 Qualifications for Republic of Korea Special Work

Occupational registration

If you want to work as a veterinarian, you must have New Zealand registration

If you’ve been offered work as a veterinarian, you must provide us with a certified copy of your registration with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. 

Occupational registration

Tips

  1. For more information about registration with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, visit: 

    www.vetcouncil.org.nz

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.

Notes

We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

Enter country details

How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Notes

We cannot display any receiving centre or payment method information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

Enter country details

Conditions

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

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.

Arriving in New Zealand

Notes

  • You can be refused entry permission if:

    • you don’t meet our character requirements
    • your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
    • you refuse to let us to take your photo, or provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if we ask you for them.

Travel

You have to come to New Zealand within 6 months of the date your visa is granted.

After you arrive in New Zealand, you can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.

Work

You may work only in the specific occupation, for the employer and in the location specified on your visa.

Study

You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Notes

  • If you wish, you can apply for another Republic of Korea Special Work Visa after your visa expires. You’ll need to been outside of New Zealand for 3 years before you can apply.