Hiring people from overseas not in New Zealand
Before someone can come to New Zealand to work, they must have a visa that allows them to work here. Most visas that allow someone to work require the visa applicant to have information provided by their employer. The employer may also need to sponsor them or get approval or accreditation to hire them.
Check what you must do to hire people from overseas in your industry, from specific countries and with particular skills.
Visa options for hiring people from overseas
The following sections describe the visa options that you can use to bring people into the country to work for you. They link to both the visa requirements for the job candidate and what you must do as the employer. Some visas have an efficient process to let you hire often or many people at once.
You can also use the 'Support a worker's visa application' tool to find out which visas require employers to be accredited or provide certain information to support the visa application process.
- work in New Zealand for an accredited employer who has offered them at least 30 hours work a week
- study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period, or do any study required as part of their employment
- stay in New Zealand for up to 5 years — depending on their job, skill level, how much they are paid and when they applied for their visa.
- standard accreditation — for hiring up to 5 people
- high-volume accreditation — for hiring 6 or more people
- triangular employer accreditation — if your business places people with
for work purposes, and there is no limit to the number of people you can hire.
If you are an accredited employer, potential employees from overseas can apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
With an AEWV, a person from overseas can:
AEWV employer accreditation is designed to ensure New Zealanders are first in line for jobs, and makes it easier for employers to hire skilled overseas people where genuine skill or labour shortages exist.
You must pay at least the
Green list roles — jobs we need people for in New Zealand
Wage rate requirements for visas
There are 3 types of accreditation. Depending on your business and how many people from overseas you want to hire, you can apply for:
Accredited Employer Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
AEWV employer accreditation and job check process
You can hire people from overseas on this visa for specialist, technical or managerial jobs that require specific qualifications or work experience.
If you are an employer or education provider, you can offer practical work experience to overseas students or trainees with this visa, which is needed for their study or training. This can include, but is not limited to, religious trainees, dental or medical trainees and apprentice jockeys.
Student and Trainee Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
You can consider applying for Work Exchange Scheme approval if you want to arrange short-term work opportunities for overseas workers in New Zealand and for New Zealanders overseas, as part of a reciprocal arrangement.
Work Exchange Scheme employer information to support an applicant's visa application
China Skilled Workers Visa
If you want to hire people from the People’s Republic of China with skills on the China skilled job list, you will need to provide the applicant with a job offer that meets specific requirements.
China skilled work occupations
China Skilled Workers Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
China Special Work Visa
Learn how to support people from the People’s Republic of China to work as qualified Chinese chefs, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, Mandarin teacher’s aides, Wushu martial arts coaches, or Chinese tour guides.
China Special Work Category Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
China Special Work Category Visa
Indonesia Special Work Visa
Learn how to support people from Indonesia for jobs as trained chefs, Halal slaughterers or Bahasa teacher’s aides.
Indonesia Special Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Japanese Interpreters Work Visa
Learn how to support people from Japan to work full-time as qualified interpreters in a tourism-related industry.
Japanese Interpreters Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Japanese Interpreters Work Visa
Pacific Quotas Programme — Samoan Quota & Pacific Access Category
You can hire people from some countries in the Pacific for permanent, full-time jobs through the Pacific Quotas Programme. You must apply to become a Pacific Quota Employer and provide information to support an applicant's visa application.
Pacific Quotas Programme: Samoan Quota & Pacific Access Category — apply to hire workers from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati or Tuvalu.
Samoa Quota Resident Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Pacific Access Category Resident Visa
Philippines Special Work Visa
Learn how to support people from the Philippines to work as registered nurses, farm managers or engineering professionals.
Philippines Special Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Pitcairn Islander Resident Visa
Learn how to support people from the Pitcairn Islands to work in full-time, skilled jobs.
Pitcairn Islander Resident Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Pitcairn Islander Resident Visa
Republic of Korea Special Work Visa
Learn how to support people from the Republic of Korea who are qualified to work in a job considered special work under the Republic of Korea Special Work visa.
Qualifications for Republic of Korea Special Work
Republic of Korea Special Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Republic of Korea Special Work Visa
Thai Chefs Work Visa
Learn how to support people from Thailand who have the qualifications and practical experience to work as Thai chefs.
Thai Chefs Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Vietnam Special Work Visa
Learn how to support people from Vietnam who are qualified to work as chefs or engineering professionals.
Vietnam Special Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Visa
If you represent an
If you are in the entertainment industry, consider the following options for bringing performers and other entertainment industry workers to New Zealand.
Employing overseas entertainers
Entertainers Work Visa
Before you can hire overseas entertainment industry workers on an Entertainers Work Visa, you must ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement.
Entertainers Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Getting entertainment industry support for a work visa application
Before you offer a job in the New Zealand entertainment industry to an overseas entertainment industry worker, you must get agreement to support their work visa application from the organisation that represents New Zealand entertainment workers with their skills.
We may consult with the New Zealand entertainment industry body to check they support that person's work visa application.
Check the list to find out who you need to contact for support.
Approved entertainment industry bodies
Entertainment Industry Accreditation
If you are an entertainment industry employer, you can apply for accreditation 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. You can hire multiple workers while you are accredited.
Entertainment Industry Accreditation
Arts and Music Festival Approval
We work with arts and music festival organisers to simplify the visa application process. Performers and direct support workers participating in an ‘approved’ arts or music festival can come to New Zealand as visitors, rather than on work visas.
Arts and Music Festival Approval
Visitor visas for performers and staff of festivals and entertainment acts
Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
Entertainment Promoters Approval
We work with entertainment promoters to simplify the visa application process. Performers and direct support staff of short-term live entertainment acts promoted by an ‘approved promoter’ can enter New Zealand as visitors.
If you are in the fishing industry, you can apply for an Approval in Principle to hire 7 or more crew from overseas to work on a fishing vessel. Approvals in Principle will only be approved if there are not enough New Zealanders available to do the work.
Foreign Crew on Fishing Vessels — Approval in Principle
You do not need to apply for an Approval in Principle if you want to hire fewer than 6 fishing crew members to work on a single fishing boat. In this case, you can support people to apply for a Fishing Crew Work Visa.
Fishing Crew Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
If you are in the horticulture, agriculture and viticulture industries, consider the following options for bringing people from overseas to New Zealand.
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme
Horticulture or viticulture employers can employ overseas workers through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme.
Employ workers through the RSE scheme
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa
Find employers who have approval to hire workers from overseas under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
Recognised Seasonal Employers list
Supplementary Seasonal Employment — Approval in Principle
If you need to supplement your New Zealand workforce with workers from overseas to manage seasonal labour demands, you may wish to consider applying for a Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) Approval in Principle.
Supplementary Seasonal Employment — Approval in Principle
Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa
Find employers who can hire temporary visa holders under the Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) Scheme.
Religious Worker Work Visa
If you represent a religious organisation that is also a registered charity, you may be able to hire religious workers from overseas. You will need to offer people a job doing religious work and provide sponsorship.
Religious Worker Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application
Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa
If you are relocating your business to New Zealand, you may be able to bring your key employees with you. For your employees to apply for this visa, they must not be eligible for any other kind of New Zealand resident visa.
You can hire someone from overseas on this visa for a limited time for a specific purpose or event. This includes seasonal jobs, some business purposes, contract services, sports and entertainment events.
Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa employer information to support an applicant's visa application