Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa

Visa details

You can apply for this visa if you have an exceptional talent in a field of art, sport or culture. You will also need a sponsor and the support of a New Zealand organisation that is recognised for its excellence in your field.

Length of stay
Up to

30 months

Age range

55 and under

Cost
From
NZD $860
Processing time
90% within
35 weekdays
With this visa you can
  • You can stay up to 30 months on a work visa, and then if your residence application is successful, indefinitely.
  • Start your pathway to residence in New Zealand by being actively engaged in your field of art, culture or sport in New Zealand for up to 30 months.
  • Apply for residence after 2 years of being actively engaged in your field of art, culture or sport in New Zealand, which if granted, will allow you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.
Things to note
  • You can’t include a partner or dependent children in your work visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
  • You can include your partner and dependent children in your residence application, after you’ve been actively engaged in your field of talent in New Zealand for 2 years.

Explore family visa options

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

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

  • 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application form.
  • your passport or certificate of identity.

Acceptable photos

If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you have applied.

Providing your passport for online applications

If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy.  We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.

Tips

Also provide a copy of your Identity card.

Also provide your:

  • Hukou (household registration book)
  • Chinese identity card.

If you are a citizen of China and you submit a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.

Supplementary form for Chinese citizens (INZ 1027) PDF 338KB

If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students.

Supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) PDF 240KB

Health

You must be in good health

You must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.

Getting an x-ray or medical examination

Tips

You must provide a chest x-ray completed in the last 3 months, even if you've provided one to us previously, if:

  • you have spent 6 consecutive months in China since the last x-ray certificate was issued, and
  • you are now coming to NZ for more than 6 months.

Character

You must be of good character

If you are 17 or over, you must provide a police certificate from:

  • your country of citizenship
  • any country you have lived in for 5 years or more since you turned 17 years old.

Good character

How to get a police certificate

Tips

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old at the time 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.

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa

When we decide if your intentions are genuine, 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

Age

You must be 55 or under

We check your identity documents — for example, your passport — to confirm your age.

Exceptional talent

You must have exceptional talent in your field of art, sport or culture

You must provide evidence:

  • you have an international reputation in your field of art, sport or culture
  • you’re still prominent in your field of art, sport or culture
  • your presence in New Zealand will enhance New Zealand’s achievements and/or participation in your field of art, sport or culture.

Evidence may include:

  • qualifications
  • awards
  • your membership of professional associations
  • letters of support or recommendation
  • anything else you believe demonstrates your talent.

Support by a New Zealand organisation

You must be supported by a New Zealand organisation of national repute in your field of art, sport or culture

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 presence in New Zealand.

Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form (INZ1091) PDF 291KB

Tips

It’s OK for the organisation supporting you to be different from your sponsor.

Sponsorship

You must have an acceptable sponsor

Your sponsor must complete and sign a 'Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form' declaring that they will meet the sponsorship requirements detailed in the form, including providing you with accommodation and financial support.

Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Sponsorship Form (INZ1091) PDF 291KB

What sponsors must do – responsibilities and obligations

Tips

Your sponsor can be an individual, an organisation or a government agency. Your sponsor doesn’t have to be the same as your organisation.

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.

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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.

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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 a paper arrival card or a digital traveller declaration. If you are completing a paper arrival card you will be given this on the way to New Zealand.

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.

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

After your visa is granted, you have 3 months to arrive in New Zealand.

After your arrival, you can travel in and out of New Zealand for 30 months.

Study

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

Work

You can work in any occupation for any employer in New Zealand.

Keep your visa in a valid passport

If you want to travel, your visa must be in a valid passport.

If your passport expires, you must apply to transfer your visa to a new passport before you can travel.

Transferring my visa to a new passport

Notes

To transfer your visa, you must:

  • send us your old and new passports
  • complete an ‘Application for Transfer or Confirmation of a Visa’
  • pay a transfer fee.

Application for transfer or confirmation of a visa

Application for Transfer or Confirmation of a Visa (INZ 1023) PDF 381KB

Fees, decision times and where to apply