Republic of Korea Special Work Visa — Support a candidate's visa application
If you want to hire someone from the Republic of Korea to work full-time in an occupation that is considered special work under the Republic of Korea Special Work Visa, you will need to support their visa application.
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Length of visa
Up to
3 years
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Visas available
Each year
50 for each job
To support your candidate's visa application, you must:
- offer them a job, and provide a written employment agreement for the special work you would be bringing them to New Zealand to do, including a detailed job description
- comply with New Zealand employment law.
This option helps you:
- hire someone from the Republic of Korea with special skills, as listed in the Republic of Korea Special Work Visa.
You do not need to check if there are any New Zealanders who can do the work, before making a job offer.
What an employer needs to do
Job offer
You must provide a written employment agreement, which your candidate will need to support their application.
When your candidate applies for a visa, they must provide a copy of a written employment agreement, which must:
- be for one of the occupations considered special work under the Republic of Korea Special Instructions
- be for at least 30 hours a week and be ongoing for at least 12 months
- include a full job description, terms and conditions for the job, and your contact details
- comply with New Zealand employment law.
Note
The following occupations are considered special work under the Korea Special Work visa:
Biomedical engineer, food technologist, forest scientist, Korean language instructor, Korean tour guide, multimedia designer (film animator), Taekwondo instructor, traditional Korean medicine doctor, software engineer, and veterinarian.
Employer responsibilities and obligations
You must meet the minimum rights and obligations as an employer.
As an employer, this means:
- paying the same market rate you would pay a New Zealander to do the work
- meeting holiday and leave requirements
- providing a safe workplace.
Employee rights and responsibilities — Employment New Zealand
What happens next
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Step 1: Provide a job offer
To employ someone under the Republic of Korea Special Work Visa, you will first have to provide a job offer in an occupation that is considered special work under the Republic of Korea Special Work Instructions.
If you are offering work as a veterinarian, your candidate will need New Zealand registration. Your candidate can apply to the New Zealand Veterinary Council for their registration, which they will need before they can apply for a work visa.
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Step 2: Candidate applies for a work visa
Your candidate will need to apply for a visa to allow them to work for you.
For us to process their visa application, they must send us all the information we ask for, including a copy of their job offer and evidence they have the necessary, qualifications and/or experience to do the work they have been offered. If they will be working as a veterinarian, we also need to see their New Zealand registration.
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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
Your candidate must be granted a visa before they can start working for you.
Once their visa is granted, they have 6 months to arrive in New Zealand.
Your employee will only be able to work for you doing the special work they have been brought to New Zealand to do. They will not be allowed to work for anyone else or do any other work, even if that work is for you.