South Island Contribution Resident Visa — Support a candidate's visa application

To recruit a candidate that has held a South Island Contribution Work Visa for at least 24 months you will need to provide a job offer to support their application. This visa is designed to offer candidates that continue to have ongoing employment in the South Island the opportunity to gain residence.

What an employer needs to do

Job offer

You will need to provide your candidate with an offer of ongoing, full-time work in the South Island.

You must provide a written offer of employment, or contract for services that:

  • sets out the pay and conditions of employment
  • sets out the length of time they will need to be in New Zealand to do the work
  • is current at time they apply for a visa
  • is for full-time work for at least 24 months
  • pays no less than the market rate.

Employment agreements must also include:

  • your name and contact details
  • your candidate’s name and contact details
  • the job title
  • the address the work will be carried out
  • the kind of work your candidate will be doing and their responsibilities at work
  • details of any qualifications or work experience your candidate will need to do the work
  • information about whether your candidate will need New Zealand registration to do the work
  • how long the work will be for
  • how long your candidate has to take up the job offer
  • pay and work conditions that comply with New Zealand employment law.

What happens next

  1. 1

    Step 1: Provide a job offer

    To hire someone currently on a South Island Contribution Work Visa, you will first have to provide them with a job offer. Your candidate will need to provide this to support their resident visa application.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Candidate applies for a resident visa

    For your candidate to be able to obtain a resident visa, they need to have held a South Island Contribution Work Visa for at least 24 months and have an offer of full-time, ongoing employment in the South Island.

    South Island Contribution Resident Visa

  3. 3

    Step 3: Wait for a decision

    We make a decision about your candidate's application as soon as we can. You can view our historic visa timeframes below.

    If your candidate is already in New Zealand, we may ask for more information about your recruitment process, the position or the sustainability of the position.

    Fees, decision times and where to apply

  4. 4

    Step 4: Employee starts work

    When a residence visa is granted it enables the holder to work for any employer in any occupation for the duration of their visa.

    You have to make sure the people who work for you have the right to work in New Zealand.

    Check someone can legally work for you