Entertainment Industry Accreditation
Entertainment industry employers can apply for accreditation to allow them to bring overseas entertainment industry workers to New Zealand without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement.
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Valid for
Initially
2 years
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Cost
NZD $2310
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Processing times
Data
not available
With this accreditation you can:
- employ overseas entertainment industry workers without having to get a New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association to agree to each appointment.
- support work visa applications for overseas entertainment industry workers.
- hire multiple staff while you are accredited.
Things to note:
- Entertainment industry accreditation does not offer a pathway to residence for your workers.
Overview
The process for entertainment industry accreditation.
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Step 1: Apply for entertainment industry accreditation
Consider applying for entertainment industry accreditation if you need to recruit multiple entertainment industry workers from overseas.
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Step 2: Support a migrant's work visa application
Once accredited, you can employ entertainment industry workers from overseas without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement. You will need to support each worker's Entertainers Work Visa application.
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Step 3: Maintain your accreditation
If you have an ongoing need to hire entertainment industry workers from overseas, you may wish to apply to renew your entertainment industry accreditation. If you do this, you will be able to continue to support work visa applications, without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand union or professional association for their agreement.
Apply for accreditation
You must meet the criteria and provide all of the supporting evidence to become accredited. Once you have collected your evidence, see the process steps below to find out how to apply.
Financial position
You must be in a sound financial position.
If available, you must provide the following business records covering at least two financial years:
- annual reports
- financial statements
- business plans
- company profile and registration details.
Note
If your business is a single purpose vehicle (SPV) that is owned and operated by an overseas production company, you should also include information about any previous SPVs you have operated in New Zealand.
Industry track record
Your company must have a sound track record in New Zealand.
Examples of evidence may include:
- your use New Zealand casting directors, agents, line producers, and crew booking agents for technical staff
- your engagement with a New Zealander to work on previous productions or performances, specifically heads of departments, and lead and support roles
- engagement with relevant New Zealand unions and guilds for upcoming productions.
Note
We will work with relevant unions to assess if you meet this requirement.
Entertainment industry knowledge
You must have a sound knowledge of the industry you work in.
You can include any evidence you believe shows your knowledge of the New Zealand entertainment industry.
Note
We will work with relevant unions to assess if you meet this requirement.
Training and employing New Zealanders
You must be committed to training and employing New Zealanders
Evidence of your commitment can include:
- traineeships or internships
- mentoring programmes
- using New Zealand support acts
- training records, invoices and certificates
- exercises to cast New Zealanders.
Note
We will work with relevant unions to assess if you meet this requirement.
Workplace practices
You must have good workplace practices.
When you complete your application, we will ask you:
- about your compliance with employment and immigration law
- for your authority to contact other New Zealand government agencies to assess if you meet this requirement.
How to apply and costs
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for the accreditation, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
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Step 1: Apply for entertainment industry accreditation
To apply for Entertainment Industry Accreditation, you will need to complete an ‘Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application’ and send it to us with your evidence and application fee.
You will also need to send copies of parts of your application to a relevant New Zealand entertainment industry body.
Approved entertainment industry bodies
You must be a New Zealand employer in New Zealand to apply.
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Step 2: Wait for a decision
When we assess your application, we may consult with entertainment industry unions, guilds or professional associations, and other government agencies.
We may ask you for extra information if it is needed to make a decision about your application.
If we approve your application, your accreditation will be valid for 12 months.
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Step 3: Potential workers apply for a work visa
Before they can start working for you, your potential workers will need to apply for a work visa. They can do this by completing a 'Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Personnel Work Visa Application'. The application includes a 'Supplementary Form', which you will need to complete before your potential worker sends their application to us.
We let you know if we grant your workers work visas.
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Step 4: Apply to renew your entertainment industry accreditation
If you have a continuing need for overseas entertainment workers, you can apply to renew your accreditation.
It is a good idea to apply 3 months before your current accreditation expires, otherwise your application will be treated like you are applying for the first time.
If we renew your accreditation, it will be valid for another 2 years.
How to submit
Where to send
Payment methods
By Post
Credit Card
You can pay with Visa or MasterCard. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Debit Card
You can pay by debit card. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Postal address
Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 22111
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Courier address
Immigration New Zealand
DX Box: WX10075
20 Syd Bradley Road
Dakota Park — Avonhead
Christchurch 8042
New Zealand
Hours
Phone enquiries
Monday to Friday
06:00 to 22:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Telephone
0508 558 855 (NZ callers only)
Other notes
Applications made in New Zealand
For applications made in New Zealand, there is no courier fee to be paid for applications or documents to be returned.
Support an Entertainers Work Visa
Once you are accredited, you can go ahead and recruit overseas workers — you do not have to check if there are any New Zealanders available to do the work first. Before your new recruits can start working for you, they must obtain an Entertainers Work Visa, which you will need to support.
Job offer
You must provide a written employment agreement, which your candidate will need to support their application.
For each person you hire, 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 worker’s return home.
Genuine attempt to recruit
You must provide a reason the work can’t be done by New Zealanders.
You must provide evidence to support your reason for employing an overseas
- the overseas entertainer or performer is internationally recognised for their work or other contribution
- finance for the production is contingent 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.
We accept the following reasons for employing overseas
You must provide evidence to support why you need to employ overseas entertainment workers instead of New Zealanders. You must get agreement from the industry's entertainment body before you offer an overseas entertainment worker a job. Overseas workers may be essential to the production for one of these reasons: You must explain why your overseas industry workers are essential to the production or presentation and provide evidence, such as documents that support your explanation. For example, if you need the overseas workers because finance or distribution depends on their involvement, you should provide written confirmation from a sales agent, distributor or key investor that this is the case. The benefits of employing overseas workers may outweigh any lost opportunities for New Zealanders, if their employment: When you apply you must: If employing overseas workers will result in lost job opportunities for New Zealanders, you must show us that any wider benefits to New Zealand would not be possible if you did not employ those workers. When you apply you must: If you considered hiring New Zealand entertainers before deciding to offer the work to overseas workers, your evidence must include any documents that show this. You need to provide documents that show New Zealand actors had the opportunity to take part in a casting round, including: If there was no casting round, you will need to explain why. You need to provide evidence you gave New Zealand directors an opportunity to pitch and the reason an international director was chosen. If you did not give New Zealand directors the opportunity to pitch, you need to explain why. You need to provide documents that show: If you did not consider New Zealand crew members, you need to explain why. You need to provide documents that show you considered employing New Zealand musicians, including as support acts. If you did not consider any New Zealand musicians, you need to explain why.
Employing overseas entertainers
Entertainment industry employers who want to hire overseas entertainment industry workers must explain why New Zealanders cannot do the work and provide evidence to support this.
Acceptable reasons for employing overseas workers
If workers are essential to the production
If the wider benefits outweigh any lost opportunities
If you considered hiring New Zealanders first
Production information
You must tell us about your production.
You'll need to answer some questions about your production:
- type
- genre
- distribution
- market.
Employer Supplementary Form
You must complete a Supplementary Form (Section J).
Give your completed form to your candidate and tell them to include it with their work visa application together with their employment agreement.
Note
We may update this form often. Check you are using the latest version downloaded from this page.
Process and costs
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for accreditation, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
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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 along with a completed 'Employer Supplementary Form'. Your candidate will need to provide both to support their resident visa application.
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Step 2: Candidate applies for a work visa
Your candidate's application will include a Supplementary Form, which you must complete.
You and your candidate will need to provide documents to support their application.
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Step 3: Wait for a 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 granted a visa, they can come to New Zealand and start working for you.
Prepare for when your workers from overseas arrive
Get organised before your new employee arrives in New Zealand. Put together information to help them settle into your workplace and life in New Zealand.From the first contact with your new employee to the time they arrive in New Zealand, be positive but realistic. Do not promise anything that you or New Zealand cannot deliver. You will only set migrants up for disappointment if life in New Zealand is not what they expected.
You can help your new migrant workers to prepare for work and life in a new country through giving them the information they need.
Some information is best provided before they leave and some when they arrive.
Much of this preparation will only need to be done once. If you hire migrant workers in the future, you will be very well prepared.
Where to start
If you are unsure of what things to consider, our checklist will prompt you with ways you can help your migrant employee. It includes things to do before they arrive, upon their arrival and during their first days at work.
Prepare information for your new staff
It pays to prepare some tailored content for your new migrant staff. If you don’t already have it, you may want to create:
- an orientation programme to introduce your workplace
- a welcome kit with local information about the region, accommodation and transport information.
You could also prepare existing staff for your new migrant employee by announcing their upcoming arrival on your website or staff communication channels, for example, noticeboards.
Use our resources to help your new staff
Send your new staff links to our tools and online resources to help your them plan their move before they leave their home country.
NZ Ready planning tool
Moving to a new country can be a daunting task for your new employee. The best way to help your new employee with their move is to guide them to NZ Ready, Immigration New Zealand’s free online planning tool. This tool asks a series of questions that will help them to create a comprehensive personalised to do list to follow.
Get ready for New Zealand — NZ Ready
Cost of living calculator
What it costs to live in New Zealand may be quite different from a migrant's home country. This tool helps migrants to understand the cost of living in various parts of New Zealand.
Think beyond the workplace
Provide information about life in New Zealand during the recruitment process. Your new employee needs to know what to expect in relation to:
- basics of life in New Zealand such as housing and healthcare
- schooling and employment opportunities for their partner and children
- community support available.
A happy, settled family makes for a happy and productive employee who is more likely to remain loyal to you.
Maintain your accreditation
If you have an ongoing need to hire entertainment industry workers from overseas, you may wish to apply to renew your entertainment industry accreditation. If you do this, you will be able to continue to support work visa applications, without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand union or professional association for their agreement.
What you need to do
You must apply to renew before your current accreditation expires.
You must provide a completed ‘Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application’ and evidence that you still meet the following accreditation requirements:
- you are in a sound financial position
- you have a sound track record, including knowledge of the industry you work in
- you are committed to training and employing New Zealanders
- you have good workplace practices, and comply with all immigration and employment law.
Note
To ensure your accreditation does not lapse we recommend applying approximately 3 months before its expiry.
It is cheaper to renew your accreditation than it is to apply for the first time. If you do not apply for renewal before your accreditation expires, your application will be treated like you are applying for the first time.
How to reapply for accreditation
Follow these steps to reapply for entertainment industry accreditation.
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Step 1: Reapply for accreditation
To reapply for Entertainment Industry Accreditation, you will need to complete an ‘Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application’ and send it to us with your evidence and application fee.
You will also need to send copies of parts of your application to a relevant New Zealand entertainment industry body.
Approved entertainment industry bodies
If you offer a job in the New Zealand entertainment industry to an overseas worker, we may consult with a New Zealand entertainment industry body to check they support that person's work visa application.Getting industry support for a work visa application
Before you offer a job in the New Zealand entertainment industry to an overseas
, you must get agreement to support their work visa application from the organisation that represents New Zealand entertainment workers with their skills. Consult the list to find out who you need to contact for support.
Comedians and comedy acts
President
New Zealand Comedy Guild Inc
PO Box 5064
Wellesley St
Auckland 1141
laugh@comedyguild.org.nz
www.comedyguild.org.nzPerformers or vocalists who play musical instruments and support staff
Divisional Head
Musicians Branch of the Service and Food Workers Union
Private Bag 68-914
Newton
AUCKLAND 1032Phone (business hours): 64 9 375 2683 (extension 830)
Phone (after hours): 64 9 834 3382
Mobile: 027 204 6337
Fax (business hours): 64 9 375 2681
Fax (after hours): 64 9 834 5997
peter.shannon@sfwu.org.nzOther performing artists, like singers and musicians, and support staff
Industrial Organiser
New Zealand Actors Equity
Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
195 Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby
New Zealand
Phone: + 64 9 360 1980
Freephone: 0800 33 44 70
Fax: + 64 9 360 1970
www.actorsequity.org.nz
imports@actorsequity.org.nzScreen directors — for film and TV directors and editors
Directors & Editors Guild of NZ
PO Box 47-294
Auckland 1044
New Zealand
Phone: 64 9 360 2102
Fax: 64 9 360 2102
admin@degnz.co.nz
www.degnz.co.nzFilm and television producers
Chief Executive Officer
Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand
PO Box 9567
Te Aro
Wellington
Phone: 64 4 939 6934
Fax: 64 4 939 6935
Info@spada.co.nzFilm and video production and post-production
The Executive Officer
The Screen Guild
PO Box 68294
Victoria Street West
Auckland
New Zealand
Phone: 64 9 889 9522
info@screenguild.co.nzCinematographers and camera technicians for screen production
New Zealand Cinematographers Society (NZCS)
PO Box 78 360
Grey Lynn
Auckland 1245
New Zealand
Phone: 64 (0) 21 709 987
eo@nzcine.comTechnical personnel working at live events
Secretary
New Zealand Actors' Guild
PO Box 27 396
Marion Square
Wellington 6141
info@actorsguild.org.nz
www.nzactorsguild.wordpress.comEntertainment Technology New Zealand Incorporated
PO Box 19 108
Wellington 6149
Phone: 64 (0) 27 280 8180
etnz.admin@gmail.comYou must be a New Zealand employer in New Zealand to apply. If you fail to apply for renewal before your accreditation expires, your application will be treated like you are applying for the first time and you may be charged the full fee.
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Step 2: Wait for a decision
When we assess your renewal application, we may consult with entertainment industry unions, guilds or professional associations, and other government agencies.
We may ask you for extra information if it is needed to make a decision about your application.
If we approve your application, your accreditation will be valid for 2 years.
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Step 3: Continue to hire migrants
Before they can start working for you, your potential workers will need to apply for a work visa. They can do this by completing a ‘Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Personnel Work Visa Application’. The application includes a ‘Supplementary Form’, which you will need to complete before your potential worker sends their application to us.
We let you know if we grant your workers work visas.
How to submit
Where to send
Payment methods
By Post
Credit Card
You can pay with Visa or MasterCard. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Debit Card
You can pay by debit card. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Postal address
Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 22111
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Courier address
Immigration New Zealand
DX Box: WX10075
20 Syd Bradley Road
Dakota Park — Avonhead
Christchurch 8042
New Zealand
Hours
Phone enquiries
Monday to Friday
06:00 to 22:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Telephone
0508 558 855 (NZ callers only)
Other notes
Applications made in New Zealand
For applications made in New Zealand, there is no courier fee to be paid for applications or documents to be returned.