Specific Purpose Work Visa
This visa allows you work in New Zealand for a specific purpose or event.
Apply online-
Length of stay
As needed
to complete work
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Cost
From
NZD $1455
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Processing time
80% within
3 weeks
To apply you must:
- be coming to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event that meets our requirements
- meet the requirements for the specific purpose or event
- have relevant qualifications and experience, if required
- have enough money to pay your living expenses, if required
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- do work for a specific purpose or event as specified on your visa.
Workers in the entertainment industry should apply for an Entertainers Work Visa instead.
Tour guides from China should apply for a China Special Work Visa instead.
You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application. They can apply for their own visas based on their relationship to you, unless you are applying as a contractual services supplier or independent professional.
How long you can stay
How long you can stay in New Zealand depends on the time needed for the specific purpose or event.
How long you can stay on a Specific Purpose Work Visa
Who can apply
To apply for this visa, you must:
- be coming to work in New Zealand for a specific purpose or event
- have evidence of a job offer, qualifications and work experience, if required
- 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
- have enough money to pay your expenses or have an acceptable sponsor, if required
- show you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
Specific purpose or event
You must be coming to work in New Zealand for a specific purpose or event. There are a number of specific purposes or events that are acceptable, described in the following section.
The evidence you will need to provide depends on what you will be doing in New Zealand.
- evidence you are a senior manager or
- evidence of a job offer that complies with New Zealand employment law
- terms of the secondment, including duration
- an 'Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113)' completed by your employer
- evidence you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand.
- evidence you are a senior manager or
- evidence of a job offer
- terms of the secondment, including duration
- evidence you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand.
- the amount of time you need to be in New Zealand
- your business activities in New Zealand.
- fulfil a contract between your employer and a company in New Zealand, and
- work in a job that is skill level 1 on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
- a qualification that is equivalent to at least a New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree
- full or provisional occupational registration, if it is required to work in your job in New Zealand
- at least 6 years of relevant work experience, and
- been working for the enterprise or business supplying the service for at least 1 year before you apply.
- not be an agency for placement and supply services of personnel
- not be established in New Zealand
- have concluded a contract to supply services to a final consumer or business in New Zealand.
- a copy of your qualification
- a copy of your IQA, if required
- evidence that you have full or provisional registration, if it is required to work in your job
- evidence you have at least 6 years of relevant experience, for example employment agreements and job descriptions for each relevant job
- a copy of the contract to supply services between your company and a New Zealand client
- evidence that you are essential to deliver the contracted service supplied by your employer and you must be in New Zealand to do it, for example project documentation or agreements, statements of work or purchase order
- an Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113) completed by the New Zealand employer.
- be self-employed
- have a qualification that is equivalent to at least a New Zealand level 4 qualification
- meet the English language requirements, if your job is ANZSCO skill level 3
- have at least 6 years of relevant work experience.
- a copy of your qualification
- a copy of your IQA, if required
- evidence that you have full or provisional registration, if it is required to work in your job
- evidence you meet the English language requirements, if required
- evidence you have at least 6 years of relevant experience, for example employment agreements and job descriptions for each relevant job
- a copy of the contract to supply a service between you and the New Zealand business or entity
- an Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113) completed by the New Zealand employer.
- an invitation or schedule of events that sets out how long you will be in New Zealand
- evidence you have enough money to support yourself while you are in New Zealand
- an 'Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113)' completed by your employer, if you have a job offer — unless you have a written invitation.
- entertainer
- performing artist
- film and video production crew, or
- associated support personnel.
- are the principal applicant for an Entrepreneur Resident Visa, and
- have a current Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa.
- are the principal applicant for a Business Investor Resident Visa, and
- have a current Business Investor Work Visa.
- a copy of the purchase order that shows installing or servicing the equipment is a condition of purchase
- evidence you have enough money to support yourself while you are in New Zealand.
- a principal applicant who has applied for residence
- investigating investment opportunities in New Zealand, and
- making direct investments in New Zealand.
- Investor 1 Resident Visa
- Investor 2 Resident Visa
- Parent Retirement Resident Visa
- Active Investor Plus Visa.
- evidence of a job offer from a Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
- an 'Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113)' completed by your employer
- evidence of acceptance for the Nursing Council's Competence Assessment Programme.
- an invitation or schedule of events showing how long you will be in New Zealand
- evidence you have enough money to support yourself while you are in New Zealand.
- evidence of a job offer
- an 'Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113)' completed by your employer
- evidence of the terms of the engagement with the club, if you are not a professional player
- evidence you have enough money to support yourself while you are in New Zealand, if your paid position or retainer does not cover the full length of your stay.
- have an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), and
- were reaching your maximum continuous stay on or before 30 November 2025
- worked in, or were progressing to, 1 of the 30 new occupations on the National Occupation List (NOL), and
- had at least 3 years' relevant experience or a qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
- which are likely to benefit individuals or New Zealand, and
- where there is no risk of a negative impact on opportunities for New Zealanders.
- of the specific purpose or event that you will be doing work for in New Zealand
- that the nature of the work or the circumstances surrounding the work are such that it is not possible or appropriate for a New Zealand citizen or resident to take up the work — that is, why the work cannot be done by a New Zealand citizen or resident
- of a job offer and a completed Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113), if you will be employed in New Zealand.
This specific purpose closed to new applications on 7 December 2025.
Check if you can apply for a Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) or Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) instead.
Global Workforce Seasonal Visa
If you were approved a SPWV for this purpose, you can stay for the duration of your contract. This can be up to 9 months, depending on your job.
Senior or specialist business people on short-term secondments
You can apply if you are a senior or specialist business person on a short-term secondment who has a job offer with a substantial New Zealand company or a New Zealand subsidiary of an overseas company.
You must provide:
You can stay for up to 12 months.
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if needed to complete your specific purpose or event.
Business people being transferred
You can apply if you are a business person being transferred from one part of a multinational company to another in New Zealand as a senior manager or specialist personnel.
You must provide:
You can stay for up to 3 years.
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if you need it to complete your specific purpose or event.
People doing business in New Zealand for more than 3 months
You can apply if you are a business person wanting to do business activities in New Zealand who has genuine
You must provide evidence of:
You can stay for up to 12 months.
If you currently have a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
If you want to visit for up to 3 months for
You can apply if you are coming to New Zealand as a contracted service supplier. You must be coming to:
To apply, you must have:
When you apply, your specific purpose will be ‘Other’.
Qualifications
If you did not gain your qualification in New Zealand, you must have an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) unless it is on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).
Your employer
Your employer must:
Evidence you need to provide
This section covers the evidence you need to show you meet the requirements to apply as a contractual services supplier. Check the ‘Documents you need’ section for the list of other documents you need to apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa.
You must provide :
Once you get your visa
You can stay for the length of your contract, up to 12 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa to be a contractual services supplier, you cannot apply for another one to provide the same service to the same New Zealand business. You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa to supply the same service to a different New Zealand business or entity.
You can apply if you are coming to New Zealand as an independent professional. You must be coming to work in a job that is skill level 1 to 3 on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
To apply, you must:
When you apply, your specific purpose will be ‘Other’.
Qualifications
If you did not gain your qualification in New Zealand, you must have an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) unless it is on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).
English language requirements
If your role is ANZSCO skill level 3, you must show you can speak and understand English. You can show this through your citizenship, qualifications or English language test results.
Check how you can show you meet these requirements:
Your contract
You must have a valid contract to deliver a service, in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation to a New Zealand business or entity.
Your employer must give you evidence that shows that they attempted to attract or recruit a New Zealander for the job. For example, evidence they advertised the role.
Evidence you need to provide
This section covers the evidence you need to show you meet the requirements to apply as an independent professional. Check the ‘Documents you need’ section for the list of other documents you need to apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa.
You must provide :
Once you get your visa
You can stay for up to 12 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa to be an independent professional, you cannot apply for another one to provide the same service to the same employer. You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa to supply the same service to a different New Zealand business or entity.
You can apply if you are coming to New Zealand as a dance and music examiner from a recognised international teaching institution.
You must provide:
You can stay for the time needed to complete the exams – not usually more than 6 months.
Note
If you currently have a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one.
You should apply for an Entertainers Work Visa instead, if you are coming to New Zealand to work on public or private performances, films or video production as an:
You can stay for as long as it takes to complete the work, and a short period of time after to let you return home.
You can apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa to continue business while we process your Entrepreneur Resident Visa.
You can apply if you:
You must provide evidence you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand.
You can stay for up to 9 months.
Note
If you currently have a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one.
You can apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa to continue running your business in New Zealand while we process your Business Investor Resident Visa application.
You can apply if you:
You can stay for up to 9 months.
Note
If you currently have a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one.
You can apply if you are coming to New Zealand to install or service specialised machinery or equipment supplied by an overseas company — if installing or servicing the equipment in New Zealand is a condition of the lease or purchase.
You must provide:
You can stay for up to 3 months.
Note
You can only be given 1 Specific Work Purpose Visa for this purpose within a 12-month period.
You can apply if you are:
You must have received
You do not need to provide any additional evidence.
You can stay for 12 months
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if it is necessary to complete your specific purpose or event.
Note
When you apply, your specific purpose will be 'Migrant Investment Instructions principal applicants'.
You can apply if you are a nurse from the Philippines coming to New Zealand to get occupational registration.
You must provide:
You can stay up to 3 months.
Note
If you currently have a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one.
You can apply if you are coming to New Zealand to referee or judge sports events, shows, displays or exhibitions.
You must provide:
You can stay for the length of your work – not usually more than 6 months.
Note
If you currently have a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one.
You can apply if you are a sports player or professional sports coach taking up a paid position in a New Zealand sports club.
You must provide:
You can apply if you:
Note
You must be already doing work that closely matches the responsibilities of the higher skill level occupation. For example, you have an AEWV as a Forestry Worker. You can only apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa as a Forestry Supervisor if your skills and your job's responsibilities and requirements match a Forestry Supervisor.
Time spent on a visa approved for this purpose counts towards the total time you can stay in New Zealand on 1 or more AEWVs. If, after your Specific Purpose Work Visa ends, you have reached your
How long you can stay on an AEWV
You can only apply for 1 Specific Purpose Work Visa for this purpose.
You can apply if you need to come to New Zealand for any other specific purpose or event you have shown the skills, expertise or attributes for:
You must provide evidence:
You must also provide evidence you have enough money to support yourself while you are in New Zealand.
Note
If you want to visit for up to 3 months for
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.
Genuine intentions
You must have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
When we decide if your intentions for coming to New Zealand 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.
Enough money to live on
You must have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand, or have an acceptable sponsor.
If you have a sponsor
Your sponsor is responsible for you while you are in New Zealand.
What sponsors must do while a visa holder is in New Zealand
Sponsorship process for a visa
Your sponsor must complete a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.
Paying for health care
You or your sponsor 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. If you have a sponsor, they can agree to pay for your maternity care.
Some people may be eligible for public health care.
Who can get public health care
Leaving New Zealand
You must be able to show that you plan to leave the country at the end of your stay.
The money for your ticket must be in addition to what you have to live on.
If you are sponsored and you do not have a return ticket, your sponsor can provide recent bank statements to show they have enough money to buy you a ticket out of New Zealand.
Documents you need
The evidence you will need to provide depends on what you will be doing in New Zealand. For evidence specific to each purpose or event, check the section ‘Specific purpose or event’ under Who can apply.
Get documents translated
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.
Proof of identity, citizenship and age
Include:
- a copy of your passport or certificate of identity
- 1 acceptable photo.
If you apply on paper, you can provide a certified copy of your passport, but it can prevent delays if you provide the original.
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 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.
Evidence of your job offer, if required
Provide a copy of your job offer from your employer, if it is required for your specific purpose or event.
You must include an Employer Supplementary Form, completed by your employer if you are applying:
- as a senior or specialist businessperson on short-term secondment
- as a dance and music examiner, unless you have a written invitation
- as a nurse from the Philippines coming for occupational registration
- as an independent professional
- as a contractual services supplier
- as a sports player or professional sports coach, or
- to come for any other specific purpose or event, if you will be employed in New Zealand.
Evidence of your qualifications and work experience
You must provide evidence you have relevant qualifications or experience, if they are required for carrying out the specific purpose or event. Check your occupation under ‘Who can apply’.
Examples of evidence include:
- employment records or references
- recognised international dance or music teaching qualifications
- Philippines nursing qualifications
- documents that show you have international merit or distinction
- any other relevant qualifications.
Applicants from Europe applying from within Schengen member states
If you need to provide evidence of work experience in a European country but are not a citizen of a
Evidence of your right to work is a copy of your Schengen visa for the time you were working.
Applicants from Eastern Europe
If you are from
Evidence of how long you will be in New Zealand
When you apply, you must tell us how much time you will need for your specific purpose or event.
Your evidence can include a:
- job offer
- letter of invitation
- schedule of events.
Medical documents
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:
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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.
Police certificates
If you need to provide police certificates, include them with your application.
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.
We may ask you for a new police certificate when processing your application.
Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
Proof you have enough money to live on
Gather recent bank statements, and other evidence of wages, salary or other financial support.
You can show that you have enough money by providing:
- bank statements
- evidence of wages, salary or other payment
- a guarantee of maintenance and accommodation by your employer
- sponsorship by a friend or relative in New Zealand.
If you have a sponsor, get a copy of their completed 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry'.
Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025)
Your sponsor can provide supporting documents including:
- recent bank statements
- pay slips
- their employment agreement
- ownership papers for your accommodation or receipts for rent payments.
Organise proof you can leave New Zealand
You will need to provide:
- your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a country you have the right to enter
- documents, such as bank or credit card statements, that show you or your sponsor have enough money to buy a ticket.
- Hukou (household registration book)
- Chinese identity card.
You must 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.
You must also provide a copy of your identity card.
If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students.
After you apply
After you apply, we may contact you and ask for police certificates as proof of your good character.
How to apply
Follow these steps to complete your application.
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1
Step 1: Check if you can get this visa
You need to be coming for a specific purpose or event as described in 'Who can apply'.
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2
Step 2: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof. The 'Documents you need' section explains the general evidence requirements.
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3
Step 3: Complete your application and pay the fee
Apply online
Log in to your account or set up an account if you do not have one already. Complete your application, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.
Apply on paper
Complete the application form and send them to us with your supporting documents, application fee and immigration levy.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees and where to send your application if you applied on paper.
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4
Step 4: 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 for timeframes.
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.
Note
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.
How to check your application status if you applied online
Log in to your account to check the status of your application.
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.
When you arrive
Entry requirements
As part of New Zealand’s entry requirements, everyone must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). This form collects information about your travel, including customs, immigration, and biosecurity details.
When you can submit your NZTD depends on how you are travelling:
- By air: You can submit it from 24 hours before your journey begins.
- By sea: You can submit it from 24 hours before your ship leaves its last overseas port heading to New Zealand.
If you have an NZeTA, you can specify in your declaration that you are applying for a visa on arrival.
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.
Alert
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
- cannot provide evidence of any onward travel or the money required to leave New Zealand.
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 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
Note
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 in the job, 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.
Apply for an IRD number — Inland Revenue
Staying longer
You can only apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if you applied under these purposes:
- senior business people or specialist business people on short-term secondments can apply to stay another 12 months
- business people who are being transferred from one part of a multinational company to another in New Zealand, can apply to stay another 3 years
- contractual services suppliers who want to apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa for a different employer
- independent professionals who want to apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa to provide a service to a different employer
- people who applied under ‘any other specific purpose or event’ can apply to stay for the length of their engagement, if it was extended.
Note
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.