Trafficking Victim Work Visa

Visa details

You can apply for this visa if you are in New Zealand and are certified by the Police as a victim of people trafficking. This visa can help you leave an exploitative situation and get new work.

Length of stay

12 months

Cost

NZD $0

Processing time
is a
high priority
With this visa you can
  • Work in almost any job for any employer in New Zealand.
  • Study if it is required by your employer as part of your employment.
  • Apply for the Trafficking Victim Resident Visa.
Things to note
  • You must be in New Zealand.
  • You must be certified by New Zealand Police as a victim of people trafficking before you can be granted this visa.
  • You do not have to pay fees to apply for this visa.
  • This visa cannot be applied for online.

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

Tips
  1. If your passport or certificate of identity is unavailable, you may provide the original or certified copy of your birth certificate or another identity document.

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.

    If police certificates are not available from your home country, you must provide a separate statutory declaration in both English and your own language (if it is not English). These must:

    • detail your attempts to obtain a police certificate
    • say whether you and any accompanying family members have been found guilty of offences against the law of your home country
    • be supported by any other information confirming your character.

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa

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

Location

You must be already in New Zealand

We will use our records to check you are still here.

Police certified victim of people trafficking

You must be certified by New Zealand Police as a victim of people trafficking

We will check that you are certified as a victim of people trafficking. You do not need to provide evidence of certification when you apply.

Another Trafficking Victim Work Visa

To be granted another Trafficking Victim Work Visa you must meet the criteria

We will check you meet these criteria:

  • Police or Immigration New Zealand require you to remain in New Zealand, and
  • You have not obstructed a Police or Immigration New Zealand investigation, and
  • We consider that your personal circumstances justify granting you this visa again.

You do not need to provide evidence when you apply.

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.

3
We make a decision on your application

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

If you are in New Zealand, and your current temporary visa expires before your new visa is granted, we will normally issue you an interim visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.

Interim Visa

Timeframes - Processing
is a high priority

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

4
You can apply for a resident visa

If you hold a trafficking victim work, student or visitor visa you may be eligible for a resident visa.

Trafficking Victim Resident Visa

How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

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

If travelling in and out of New Zealand, a valid multiple entry travel condition is needed to return to New Zealand.

Changing the conditions of a visitor visa

Notes
  • If applying from inside New Zealand, we will normally give multiple entry travel conditions when we grant a visa.

    If there are no multiple entry travel conditions and you leave New Zealand the visa will expire.

    The travel conditions will be listed on the visa label or in a visa letter.

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

Study

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

Notes
  • You may be able to do other study if it’s required by your employer as part of your employment.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

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

  • Visa expiry dates are printed on a visa label or included in a visa letter.

    You can be granted a further Trafficking Victim Work Visa if:

    • Police or Immigration New Zealand require you to remain in New Zealand, and
    • you have not obstructed a Police or Immigration New Zealand investigation, and
    • we consider that your personal circumstances justify granting you this visa again.