Recruiting and hiring Recognised Seasonal Employer workers: process steps

Getting help to recruit and hire Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers

1. 1

   Step 1: Contact your RSE Engagement Partner

   If you need help to recruit workers, contact your RSE Engagement Partner. They can give you guidance, as well as contact information for overseas recruitment agents.

   When you know which country you want to hire workers from you can either:

   • travel directly to the country to recruit and hire workers yourself (a 'direct recruitment'), or
   • contact a recruitment agent in the country you want to hire workers from. They can act on your behalf.

   Alert

   If you use a recruiter, you are responsible for paying all recruitment costs in and outside New Zealand. Recruiters must not pass these costs on to any workers that you hire.

2. 2

   Step 2: Support a worker's RSE Limited Visa application

   Before a worker can come to New Zealand and work for you they need to apply for a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Limited Visa.

   If this is a direct recruitment, you support the worker's visa application by:

   • ensuring the work offered is planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops
   • providing the worker with a written employment agreement
   • complying with the requirements set out in your Agreement to Recruit (ATR)
   • letting the worker know in writing what their voluntary deductions are
   • sending them their New Zealand flight details
   • letting them know their insurance information.

   Supporting a worker's Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa application

   If an overseas recruitment agent is acting on your behalf, send them what is needed to support the worker's application.

3. 3

   Step 3: Have your pastoral care support package in place

   Make sure your pastoral care support package is in place for when the RSE worker arrives in New Zealand. This includes making sure RSE workers:

   • are picked up from the airport
   • are given an induction programme
   • have suitable accommodation, and
   • understand how to get medical care and access banking services.

   Providing pastoral care and accommodation for RSE workers

   Pay and sick leave for RSE workers

   Minimum requirements for RSE worker employment agreements

4. 4

   Step 4: Find out how long RSE Limited Visa applications take to process

   Search our online tool to see how long Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa applications take to process.

   Fee, decision times and where to apply