Entertainers Work Visa
Apply for this visa if you want to work on a film, video or production in New Zealand and you have specific skills that cannot be met by New Zealand's entertainment industry.
Apply online-
Length of stay
As needed
to do the work
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Cost
From
NZD $1455
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Processing time
80% within
1 week
To apply you must:
- have an offer of work in the New Zealand entertainment industry
- work only on the production, and for the employer, specified in your application
- have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- come to New Zealand to work in the entertainment industry for a limited time
- stay for as long as it takes to complete the work, and a short period of time after to let you return home.
You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for their own visas based on their relationship to you.
If you are part of an
Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
Short Term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa
If you are younger than 18, your parent or legal guardian must sign your application for you.
How long you can stay
With this visa you can stay in New Zealand for the time needed to do the work.
Who can apply
To apply for this visa, you must:
- be coming to New Zealand to work in the entertainment, music, film or television industries for a limited time
- have an offer of entertainment work from an employer who is willing to guarantee that they will cover the costs of your accommodation, living expenses and return home
- have evidence of the amount of time you need to be in New Zealand
- be in good health
- be of good character
- have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
Genuine intentions to visit or work in New Zealand
Entertainment work
You must be coming to work in New Zealand to work in the entertainment, music, film or television industries for a limited time.
You must have an offer of employment for entertainment work from a promoter, producer or production company that:
- sets out the length of time you will need to be in New Zealand to do the work
- includes a schedule describing the work you need to do in New Zealand
- agrees to cover living and accommodation costs and the cost of your return home.
Your employer must also provide you a written employment agreement to support your visa application.
Your employer
Your employer must complete a Supplementary Form in the 'Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Personnel Work Visa Application (INZ1187)' providing details of your engagement, including:
- the length of time you need to be in New Zealand to do your work
- a schedule describing the work you need to do in New Zealand
- a guarantee that they will cover the costs of your accommodation, living expenses and return home
- their reasons for not hiring a New Zealander to do the work, and evidence to support those reasons.
Your employer’s reasons for bringing you to New Zealand can include any one of the following, that:
- you are of international distinction or merit, or ethnic significance, or essential to the presentation or production
- the wider benefits of your employment outweighs the risks of not hiring a New Zealander
- they considered hiring New Zealander workers for the work.
Entertainment Industry Accreditation
The Supplementary form starts on page 17 of this document.
Enough money to live on
Your employer must agree to cover living and accommodation costs while in New Zealand and the cost of your return home.
Paying for health care
You or your employer will need to pay for any health care or medical assistance you may need in New Zealand.
We recommend you have full medical insurance for your stay.
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements. Your employer can agree to pay for your maternity care.
Some people may be eligible for public health care.
Health
You must be in good health.
We may ask you to have a chest X-ray, a medical examination, or both, as proof of your good health.
If you are staying less than:
- 6 months, you do not normally need a chest X-ray
- 12 months, you do not normally need a medical certificate.
When you apply, you must answer questions about your health. This will help to decide whether you need to provide a chest X-ray or medical certificate. Even if you do not need these when you apply, we may ask for them when we process your application.
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them.
If you are staying for more than 6 months
If you will be staying in New Zealand for more than 6 months, you must have a chest X-ray if you:
- are a citizen of a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), or
- have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB.
You must provide a new chest X-ray certificate, even if you have provided one to us previously, if you:
- have spent 6 months in a row in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB since the date of your last X-ray certificate, and
- are now coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months — if you are in New Zealand this includes any time you have already spent here.
Character
You must be of good character.
You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.
If you have a criminal conviction, or are a security risk to New Zealand, we might not give you a visa.
You must provide police certificates that are less than 6 months old when you apply, if:
- you are aged 17 or older, and
- your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer — this includes time you spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas.
Police certificates must be obtained from countries:
- you are a citizen of, and
- you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.
You do not need to provide police certificates if you provided them with an earlier visa application and they were issued in the last 24 months.
If we ask for a new police certificate when processing your application, you will need to send us a new one.
If you have previously spent 6 months or longer in New Zealand, but have not provided a police certificate from your home country before, you must provide one with this application.
Genuine intentions
You must have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
When deciding whether your intentions are genuine, we will consider all the information that:
- you provide to support your application
- we have about your personal circumstances
- you have previously provided to us.
Leaving New Zealand
You must be able to show that you plan to leave the country at the end of your stay.
If you are paying for yourself, you will need to provide:
- your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a
, or - documents, such as bank or credit card statements, that show you have enough money to buy a ticket.
The money for your ticket must be in addition to what you have to live on.
If you do not have a return ticket, your employer can provide recent bank statements to show they have enough money to buy you a ticket out of New Zealand.
Documents you need
When you apply
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your passport or
— if you apply on paper, you can provide a , but it can prevent delays if you provide the original - 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you apply on paper
- evidence confirming your job and specifying the amount of time you will be in New Zealand
- evidence of the type of work you will be doing and that your employer agrees to pay for your costs while in New Zealand and return home
- a completed Employer Supplementary Form, part of the ‘Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application (INZ1187)'
- police certificates, if required
- evidence of a chest X-ray, if required
- evidence of a medical examination, if required
- translated versions of your police and medical certificates if they are not in English.
The Supplementary form starts on page 17 of this document.
Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
You may not be allowed to check in to your flight if your passport is close to expiring. Check that it will not expire while you are in New Zealand or close to when you plan to leave New Zealand.
- Hukou (household registration book)
- Chinese identity card.
- a passport from Hong Kong
- a Hong Kong document of identity
- a Hong Kong British National Overseas passport (HKBNO)
- a passport from Macao
Also provide your:
If you are a citizen of China and you are submitting a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.
If you are applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao, you must also provide a completed supplementary form if you are applying with:
You must also provide a copy of your identity card.
After you apply
After you apply, we may contact you and ask for:
- evidence of a medical examination or chest X-ray if you have not already provided these
- police certificates as proof of your good character.
How to apply online
Follow these steps to complete your application online.
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
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1
Step 1: Check if you can get this visa
You need to be coming to work in the entertainment, music, film or television industries for a limited time as described in 'Who can apply'.
-
2
Step 2: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guide to applying for a work visa can also help. This is also available in other languages.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- certified English translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires.
If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.
If there are any mistakes in your identity details such as an incorrect name or passport expiry date, your application will be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Organise proof of your job
Organise the job offer and written employment agreement from your employer. They need to specify:
- how long you need to be in New Zealand to do the job
- the type of work you will be doing and
- that they agree to pay for your costs while in New Zealand and your return home.
Your employer will need to complete a Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application Supplementary Form.
The Supplementary form starts on page 17 of this document.
Book your medical appointments, if required
If you have determined you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, you will need to book your appointment.
To complete your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your health information - name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get these.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check what you will need to include for this visa.
If you have determined you need police certificates, you will need to provide them with your application.
Use the tool to find out how to get police certificates from different countries.
How to get a police certificate
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
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3
Step 3: Submit your application and pay the fee
To apply online, log in to your account or set up an account if you do not have one already.
Apply online, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section on this page for fees.
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Step 4: Consult with a New Zealand entertainment industry organisation
Before we make a decision about your application, we ask the New Zealand entertainment industry organisation relevant to your role, if they will support your application to work in New Zealand.
This step gets missed out if you will be working:
- in New Zealand for 14 days or less
- on an official co-production that’s been certified by the New Zealand Film Commission
- for an entertainment industry accredited company.
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5
Step 5: Wait for our decision
If we need more information to process your application, we will let you know.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section on this page for timeframes.
If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
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6
Step 6: Check your application status
Log in to your account to check the status of your application.
Checking your visa application status
We will email you when we make a decision.
If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and send you a copy.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.
How to apply on paper
Follow these steps to complete your application on paper.
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
The documents you provide must be originals or
-
1
Step 1: Check if you can get this visa
You need to be coming to work in the entertainment, music, film or television industries for a limited time as described in 'Who can apply'.
-
2
Step 2: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guide to applying for a work visa can also help. This is also available in other languages.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- certified English translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.
If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application may be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Organise proof of your job
Organise the job offer and written employment agreement from your employer. They need to specify:
- how long you need to be in New Zealand to do the job
- the type of work you will be doing and
- that they agree to pay for your costs while in New Zealand and your return home.
Your employer will need to complete a Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application Supplementary Form.
The Supplementary form starts on page 17 of this document.
Book your medical appointments, if required
If you have determined you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, you will need to book your appointment.
To complete your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your health information - name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get these.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check what you will need to include for this visa.
When we process your application, we will contact you if we require police certificates from you.
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
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3
Step 3: Complete the application form
Complete the application form and attach all supporting documents.
Your employer will need to have completed the Supplementary Form part of the Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application (the Supplementary form starts on page 17 of the document above).
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4
Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee
You can take your application to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or post it to them.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section on this page for fees and where to submit your application.
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5
Step 5: Wait for our decision
We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.
We will email you when we make a decision.
Checking your visa application status
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section on this page for timeframes.
If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and email you a copy.
If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.
How to pay and submit
We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details.
Enter your details so we can show information that is relevant to you.
When you get your visa
You must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is issued.
Your visa is valid from:
- the date you first arrive in New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand
- the date your visa is issued, if you are already in New Zealand.
You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
If you think your visa may expire before your work is complete, you may apply for another work visa while in New Zealand.
When you arrive
Entry permission
You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.
You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.
A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
You can be refused entry permission if you:
- do not have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand
- do not meet our character requirements
- have had a change in circumstances since we issued your visa
- refuse to let us take your photo, fingerprints or an iris scan.
While you are in New Zealand
Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.
Travel
If you want to travel in and out of New Zealand, your visa must have a valid
If you have a multiple entry visa, you can travel to and from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.
If you have a single entry visa, your visa will expire when you leave New Zealand.
If you need to change your travel condition, you must apply for a variation of conditions by completing a paper form.
Check or change your work visa conditions
If your visa does not have a multiple-entry travel condition and you leave New Zealand, your visa will expire.
Work
You can only work on the production, for the employer and in the location specified on your visa.
Paying tax
Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. To pay tax, you need an IRD number from Inland Revenue — the New Zealand Government department that collects tax.
Study
Staying longer
If you think your visa may expire before your work is complete, you may apply for another work visa while in New Zealand.
If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.