How to apply for a NZ Work Visa

Applying for a New Zealand work visa is complicated and expensive process, especially post-COVID. We tell you the basics you need to qualify before you apply.

If you intend to apply for a work visa, you will need evidence of a current full-time job. If your profession requires it, you must also be registered. You can find out if you need registration for your occupation here.

Before you apply

  1. Come June 2022, the New Zealand employer needs to be accredited to show it is a good employer with sound HR systems ensuring compliance with labour laws.
  2. Make sure your job or job offer meets the necessary wage or salary threshold.
  3. Gather employer documentation, including the fully signed contract. You may also need the employer to demonstrate that the job was advertised to the local market and could not be filled by a qualified candidate, depending on whether Skill Shortage List requirements are met.
  4. It pays to check if the role is in an undersupply list for the region where you will be working
  5. Have proof of your identity (a valid passport and a photo of yourself taken within the last 6 months) and good character (police certificates from countries you’ve lived in for more than 5 years since you turned 17 and country of citizenship).
  6. Be in good health and have proof of medical clearance (certificates and chest X-ray performed by an INZ-approved doctor). Any documents in other languages must be translated into English by a professional translator.
  7. Set up a New Zealand government RealMe account to upload your digital documents for the online application.

Increasing your chances for approval

To increase your chances of getting approved, we recommend seeking professional advice before you submit your work visa application. Our 90-minute Immigration Clinic is an excellent resource designed to ensure you have everything you need to be successful.

Principal lawyer Aaron Martin will assess, review, and give feedback on your visa application. You’ll have the opportunity to explain your circumstances, bring up any questions, have your documentation or your entire visa application reviewed, and get the advice you need to feel confident you’ve got everything covered.

Once you have all of the above sorted, you’ll be well on your way to living and working as a skilled migrant in New Zealand. But be aware that the application process for a skilled migrant work visa is long, complex, and often expensive. You don’t want to be doing it twice!

If you need help with your skilled migrant visa application or have other immigration queries, contact the expert legal team at NZIL. We pride ourselves on providing transparency, reassurance, and a clear course of action for all our clients.  

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Feel free to call us with your concerns or make an appointment to see how we can work with you.

We have a fluent Mandarin speaker in our team if you need Chinese language assistance.

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If your case is more complex, consider our 60-minute Immigration Clinic. In this one-on-one appointment with immigration lawyer Aaron Martin, you can talk through your specific issues and gain insight on the best approach.

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