Work to Residence Visa
New Zealand
If you want to work in New Zealand and are not a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand, you must obtain a work to residence visa.
Apply for Work to Residence Visa New Zealand
New Zealand offers a range of work visas, all of which are temporary, though some can lead to residency. One popular pathway is the Work to Residence Visa New Zealand, which provides an opportunity to work in the country for two years and eventually apply for residency.
The work visa in New Zealand might be the ideal choice if you’re aiming to stay in New Zealand long-term. It allows you to gain two years of work experience while immersing yourself in New Zealand life, creating a pathway to residency afterward. This visa is especially suited for those who may not qualify for the skilled migrant category. Applicants must meet all visa requirements, including completing the two-year work term in New Zealand and satisfying health, character, and English language criteria.
Typically, eligibility for a work visa depends on your skill set, the accreditation of your New Zealand employer, and whether you meet the required experience and qualifications.
This guide will cover the essential information you need to know about New Zealand’s Work to Residence Visa.
Work to Residence Visa New Zealand Categories
There are three options when it comes to applying for residency using the Work to Residence Visa in New Zealand.
The first is to work for an accredited employer, also known as the Talent Visa category. This is not to be confused with the Talent (Arts, Culture, and Sports) Visa, which is mentioned below; you can then apply at the end of the specified time period. This is for occupations where an employer can demonstrate that they require your skillset for the specific job and cannot simply hire a New Zealand resident for the same post.
You can also qualify by working in one of the fields on the Long Term Skills Shortage List. You can apply for a Work to Residence Visa after working in one of the jobs on the list for the required period of time.
Before you begin your application, evaluate whether hiring an immigration adviser can help. It is essential to seek the advice of an immigration advisor before beginning, to avoid wasting time and money on the wrong visa type or gathering proof that will not be accepted by Immigration New Zealand. We can assist you from the beginning, reducing stress and ambiguity during the application process.
Visit our website to see how we can help you with accredited employer work visas in NZ and Work to Residence Visas. Alternatively, give us a call at +64 21 059 3048 for more information on your visa type and to see what we can do for you.
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
If your abilities and talents are in demand by New Zealand’s over 1,000 recognized employers, you may be eligible for a 30-month Work Visa that leads to residency through the Talent Visa New Zealand category.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) maintains a register of Accredited Employers who have met specific criteria and may hire migrant workers without advertising vacancies. However, if you have a partner and children, they will need to apply for a different visa.
The Talent Visa New Zealand category is often processed faster than other work visas because the company has already met many INZ accreditation requirements.
Skilled migrants have numerous options available for their work visa application process:
- ‘Work to Residence’ for migrants whose skills are in demand – provides them with a pathway to residence.
- ‘Essential skills’ facilitates the entry of people required on a temporary basis to fill shortages where New Zealanders are not available for the work offered.
- ‘Specific purpose or event’ for migrants who have demonstrated skills, expertise or attributes that are likely to benefit New Zealand, where there is no risk of negative impact on opportunities for New Zealanders
- Students and trainees’ for students and trainees to gain practical work experience or to train as part of their studies.
What are the Requirements for a Long-Term Skills Shortage Visa?
- You must be 55 years old or younger
- You must have an offer of employment in a field on the Long Term Skills Shortage List
- You must have training/qualifications and/or skills in compliance with the Long Term Skills Shortage criteria
You will need to ensure that your qualifications meet New Zealand criteria. If not, several professions offer the opportunity of serving a’registration’ time under supervision. However, you may find that you need to take further university exams to be regarded ‘qualified’ here.
Again, if you have a partner or dependent children they will have to apply for a different visa based on the relationship they have with you and what criteria apply to them in terms of other applicable visas.
If you find that you are unlikely to qualify for a work to residence visa you can start with temporary work visas. You can also read more about the essential skills work visa.
Requirements for Work to Residence Visa in NZ applicants
Unless explicitly specified otherwise, all candidates for work visas must:
- be bona fide applicants and
- be of good health and character.
In their work visa nz application, individuals must provide documentation that:
- They are suitably qualified by training and experience to do the job they have been offered; and
- They can meet any of the necessary requirements to obtain full or provisional New Zealand registration; or
- They have an offer of employment and evidence from the New Zealand Medical or Dental Council that they are eligible for registration subject only to attending a personal interview with a Council representative within one month of their arrival in New Zealand
Duty of New Zealand Employers to Comply
Employers who desire to hire non-New Zealand citizens or resident class visa holders are required to hire only those who are legally allowed to work in New Zealand.
This obligation includes hiring persons solely in compliance with the employment-related terms of their visas, if any (such as a specific employer, a specified post, or pay over the threshold necessary for the holder’s Essential Skills skill-band).
All job offers must be real and sustainable.
An employer who supports a visa application, extends an offer of employment in support of a visa application, or files for employer status must have a track record of compliance with employment laws.
Let us know if you are an employer looking to hire a migrant. We can help.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
The certified Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is intended to streamline the procedure of skilled migrants working for certified firms in a certain country. This visa enables firms to fill skill shortages by bringing qualified employees from abroad.
An Accredited Employer Work Visa allows an employee to live and work in New Zealand for a maximum of three years. Certain professions can also provide a road to residency. These jobs are listed on “The Green List,” and migrants can apply for residency immediately if they work in one of the specified professions or after two years in New Zealand. This visa category is for workers whose skills are in great demand in New Zealand but unavailable locally.
Applicants must possess a full-time work offer from an authorized New Zealand employer:
- who were unable to fill the post with a local worker.
- Who has performed a job check
- The employer must establish that the remuneration is equivalent to or more than the median wage.
- The company must also demonstrate that attempts to recruit talent locally have failed by performing a labor market test.
All applicants must:
- Meet the “good character” requirements; a police certificate from your place of origin is required.
- Meet the “good health” requirements—a medical certificate from your place of origin is required.
- Provide proof of work experience and qualifications for the job offered.
You apply online. According to Immigration New Zealand, visa applications take 20 days (on average) and up to 44 working days to process. As soon as you receive a job offer, you should start getting your documentation in order, including employment verification documents, proof of qualifications, police clearances, and medical and X-ray certifications.
The cost of applying for a visa will vary depending on your place of origin and the country you are currently in. Keep in mind that you will need to pay for medical checks, police records, and maybe translations. email us on info@greatlife.co.nz
If you are thinking about applying for the AEWV to work in New Zealand, you should obtain legal counsel first. If your visa application is denied, your payments will not be reimbursed, and you will have to restart the entire process from scratch.
The AEWV category creates a large number of rejected applications because applicants do not properly grasp or complete the documentation. What are the most common mistakes people make on their visa applications?
We can review your application and advise you on what evidence you should include to make the strongest case. Employers are reluctant to keep a job open for you if you have difficulties acquiring a visa, so it’s critical that all documentation is correct and up to date to guarantee a smooth process for everyone concerned.
Do you need a work to residence visa New Zealand?
If you are an Indian or foreign national thinking of migrating to New Zealand and interested in finding employment, take a look at the work visa options and let us know which policy might suit your plans.
To get in touch, just complete our eligibility assessment form and tell us more about your plans for New Zealand.
Our Licensed Immigration Advisers will assess your personal and professional background and let you know their professional opinion on the right visa type for you.