Hiring migrants for seasonal peaks

You may be able to hire migrants for a seasonal peak if you are an accredited employer and the role you are hiring for meets our definition of seasonal activity.

Employer's options for hiring seasonal workers

Note:

From 8 December 2025, the option of hiring seasonal workers on a Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) is no longer available. If you need seasonal workers after that, you can hire them on a Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) or Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV).

Any seasonal SPWV applications submitted before the closing date of 8 December 2025 will be processed following the immigration rules in place at the time of the application.

There are 5 visas you can hire seasonal workers on for seasonal peaks, and 3 types of accreditations, or approvals you need to hire them.

Type of accreditation: AEWV accredited employer

The visas you can hire workers on:

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)

Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)

For more information:

Overview of AEWV employer accreditation and job check process

Type of accreditation: Recognised Seasonal Employer accredited employer

The visa you can hire workers on:

Recognised Seasonal Employer limited Visa

Type of accreditation: Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) approved employer

The visa you can hire workers on:

Supplementary Seasonal Employer Visa

Comparison of seasonal visas

The table below is a side-by-side comparison of the different seasonal visa options.

Table 1: Comparison of seasonal work visas
Category	Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)	Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)	Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)	Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa (RSE)	Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE)
Purpose	Allows employers to hire migrant workers if there are no New Zealanders to do the job. Employers must be AEWV accredited and have an approved job check.	For experienced seasonal workers in skilled roles. Employers must be AEWV accredited and have an approved job check.	For short-term, seasonal workers in lower-skilled roles. Employers must be AEWV accredited and have an approved job check.	Allows workers from eligible Pacific nations to work short-term in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries. Employers must be RSE accredited.	Allows people already in New Zealand on a student or visitor visa who want to do seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture industry. Employers must hold SSE Approval in Principle.
Duration	Up to 5 years for most roles; 3 years for ANZSCO level 4 or 5 roles.	3 years, multi-season (max 9 months in New Zealand a year).	Up to 7 months (max 7 months in New Zealand a year).	Up to 7 months in any 11-month period. Citizens of Tuvalu and Kiribati may stay up to 9 months.	Up to 6 months.
Location	Workers can work in any region or location listed on their visa. Will need a Job Change to work in other locations.	Workers can work in any region or location listed on their visa. Will need a Job Change to work in other locations.	Workers can work in any region or location listed on their visa. Will need a Job Change to work in other locations.	Workers will need a Variation of Conditions to work in other locations.	Workers will need a Variation of Conditions to work in other locations.
Experience requirement	Unless the job is on the Green List or pays twice the median wage, applicants must have: At least 3 years’ relevant work experience, or A relevant qualification at NZQCF Level 4 or above.	Minimum of 3 seasons in past 6 years.	Minimum of 1 season in past 3 years.	No prior experience required. Must have a job offer from a Recognised Seasonal Employer.	No prior experience required. Must have a genuine intention to work for an SSE employer.
Employment contract	Must be full-time (minimum 30 hours each week) and match the approved job check details.	1 season contract required upfront. Must be full-time and match job check details.	Contract must cover full visa duration. Must be full-time and match job check details.	Must be with a Recognised Seasonal Employer and aligned with the Agreement to Recruit (ATR).	Must be with an approved SSE employer. No previous SSE or TRSE visa.
Job check	Required. Employers need to advertise most jobs. For ANZSCO level 4 or 5 jobs, employers also need to engage with Work and Income.	Required. Employers are exempt from needing to provide proof of advertising.	Required. Employers must advertise the role and engage with Work and Income or get endorsement.	Required. Employers must show they cannot fill roles with New Zealand workers before recruiting migrants.	Not required.
Healthcare	Eligible for publicly funded healthcare if visa duration is 2 years or more. Health insurance is advisable.	Eligible for publicly funded healthcare.	Health insurance required when employment is for more than 3 months.	Full medical insurance required for the length of stay.	Health insurance may be required depending on visa conditions.
English language requirement	Required for ANZSCO level 4 or 5 roles unless exempt. Must show ability to speak and understand English.	No requirement.	No requirement.	No requirement.	No requirement.
Eligible roles	Any job offered by an accredited employer that passes the job check and meets wage and skill requirements.	Any job offered by an accredited employer that is genuinely seasonal and on the GWSV eligible job list.	Any job offered by an accredited employer that is genuinely seasonal and on the PSV job list.	Seasonal roles in planting, maintaining, harvesting, and packing crops in horticulture and viticulture.	Seasonal work in horticulture and viticulture: planting, maintaining, harvesting, or packing crops.
Time required outside NZ before reapplying	After reaching the workers must spend 12 months outside New Zealand before applying again.	Worker must spend 3 months outside New Zealand each year. Worker can reapply as soon as visa expires.	Worker must spend 4 months outside New Zealand before another PSV can be granted.	Workers must leave New Zealand before visa expiry. Cannot reapply until outside New Zealand.	If workers have already held an SSE, they cannot reapply for another SSE.
Option for moving to other visas	Workers can transition to a resident visa, depending on the skill level of the job.	Workers can transition to other visas.	Workers can transition to other visas.	Workers cannot apply for other visas while in New Zealand. Must leave and apply from outside.	No transition to other visas from within New Zealand.
Visa fee (NZD - paid by worker)	$1,540	$1,540	$1,540	$325	$1,355
Job check fee (NZD - paid by employer)	$735	$735	$735	Not applicable. Employers must hold RSE status and an ATR.	Not applicable. Employers must hold SSE Approval in Principle.