Entertainers Work Visa — Support a candidate's visa application
If you want to hire someone from overseas to work on a film, video or production in New Zealand, you will need to support their Entertainers Work Visa application. You must ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement, unless you have entertainment industry accreditation.
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Visa length
As needed
to do the work
To support your candidate's visa application, you must:
- give a reason why New Zealanders cannot do the job
- provide a job offer that includes a written employment agreement
- provide agreement from the relevant union or professional association to hire, unless you are accredited
- provide a completed employer supplementary form
- comply with New Zealand employment law.
This option helps you:
- support someone to apply for an Entertainers Work Visa
- hire someone from overseas to work on a film, video or production in New Zealand.
How to support your candidate's visa application
Genuine attempt to recruit New Zealanders
You must provide a reason the work cannot be done by New Zealanders.
You need to provide evidence to support your reason for hiring an overseas
- the overseas entertainer or performer is internationally recognised for their work or other contribution
- finance for the production relies on the overseas entertainer or performer’s involvement
- the production will bring wider economic benefits to New Zealand
- New Zealanders had the opportunity to audition or pitch for the work but were unsuccessful — if not given the opportunity, then the reasons why.
Provide a job offer
You must provide a job offer that includes a written employment agreement, which your candidate will need to support their application.
You must provide a written offer of employment or contract for services that:
- sets out the length of time they will need to be in New Zealand to do the work
- includes a schedule describing the work they need to do in New Zealand
- agrees to cover living and accommodation costs and the cost of your candidate's return home.
Agreement from the relevant union or professional association
You must provide evidence that the relevant union or professional association has agreed to hiring the candidate, unless:
- the job is 14 days or less
- the production is an official co-production — provide a copy of the provisional approval certificate issued by the New Zealand Film Commission
- your company has entertainment industry accreditation — provide a copy of your accreditation certificate, or
- your company has ‘approval in principle’ to recruit entertainment industry workers.
Entertainment Industry Accreditation
Approved entertainment industry bodies
Complete an Employer Supplementary Form for each worker
For each person you hire, you must complete the ‘Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application Supplementary Form'.
Once you have completed the Supplementary Form, give the form to your candidate, who will need to complete the rest of the work visa application.
Process to hire candidate on an Entertainers Work Visa
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Step 1: Provide a job offer
To bring someone to New Zealand under this visa, you will first have to provide a job offer that includes a written employment agreement. Your candidate will need to provide these to support their visa application.
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Step 2: Candidate applies for a work visa
Each candidate will need to apply for a visa to allow them to work for you. For us to process their visa application, each candidate will need to send their Entertainers Work Visa application, with all of the required evidence, to us. This includes:
- a copy of their job offer, including an employment agreement, you provided them
- the Supplementary Form of the ‘Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application' you completed for them
- evidence to support your reason for hiring an overseas entertainment industry worker
- evidence that the relevant union or professional association has agreed to hiring someone from overseas, or other evidence if agreement is not required.
They will also need to meet all of the other requirements of the Entertainers Work Visa, including the good character, health and genuine intentions requirements. These requirements are explained in the Entertainers Work Visa.
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Step 3: Wait for our decision
We make a decision about your candidate’s application as soon as we can. Find out how long these visas usually take to decide in our Fees, decision times and where to apply tool.
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Step 4: Employee starts work
As soon as your candidate has been given a visa, they can come to New Zealand and start working for you.
You can check they have a work visa by asking to see their visa label or letter, or using our online system.