How To Get Working Visa In New Zealand
You want to start a new life in New Zealand? And you want to do that by obtaining a working visa? Here you can learn the main steps to take, to have this dream come true.
What to do if your visa application is turned down. Apparently I made a mistake on my visa application. The immigration officer said that I can either apply for a visitor visa or cancel my flights and go home immediately. How am I supposed to know what the mistake is? And what will happen if the next tourist applicant misplaces his bank statement by forgetting to carry it when coming back? Will he have to go home as well?
The New Zealand working holiday visa is a great way to work and travel in one of the best countries in the world. It’s ideal for anyone who is interested in seasonal, farm and construction work, or for anybody looking for more casual employment, volunteering or internships.
How To Get Working Visa In New Zealand
The last decade has seen a boom of people migrating to New Zealand, not only because it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but because it is also very ideal for people who want to start a new life. For many of these migrants, the country offers them access to economic opportunities that are not available in their own country.
The phrase “working holiday visa” generated over 181,000+ search results in Google. That’s no lie, and if you’re researching this, you probably already know what I’m talking about.
This is a very exciting time for people who are relocating to New Zealand. Recent economic changes have made it easier than ever for Kiwis and others to invest in New Zealand property as part of their global investment portfolio.
Who needs a visa
You can apply for a visa to work here temporarily if you:
- have a job offer from a New Zealand employer
- are coming for a specific work-related purpose or event
- have a partner here, and you want to join them and work
- are from a country that has a special work scheme, or
- have been studying here and want work here.
Some work visas can also lead to residence — that is, the right to live, study and work here indefinitely. To apply you need to have skills, experience and qualifications that are needed for the New Zealand workforce.
Work visas that lead to residence
Note: If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can work, live and study in New Zealand — you’ll get a resident visa when you arrive in New Zealand.
Choosing the right visa
There are more than 80 visas that let you work in New Zealand. Before you apply, decide which visa is right for you.
Application fees
Find out how much it costs to apply, where to send your application or your passport, and how long it will take to get your visa.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
Before you apply
You need to gather information about yourself and your plans for your time in New Zealand. What you need to provide depends on the visa you apply for. For all visas, you need to provide proof of your identity and good character. You may also need to provide information about your health.
Tools and information for meeting visa criteria
For many visas you need to find a job in New Zealand first.
Note: Check the criteria for the visa you’re applying for. If you do not provide all the documents you’re asked for, your application takes longer to process.
Proving your identity and good character
You have to provide a photo, passport and other identity information.
Depending on the visa you’re applying for and how long you intend to stay in New Zealand, you have to provide police certificates from countries you’ve lived in for more than 5 years since you turned 17. These help to prove that you’re of good character.
When you need to provide a police certificate
How to obtain a police certificate
Getting medical certificates
Depending on how long you’re staying here and where you’re from, you may have to provide medical certificates or get a chest X-ray from a doctor approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Find a radiologist or doctor near you
Healthcare if you’re on a work visa
Translations of documents into English
If you have to provide police or medical certificates and they’re not in English, you need to provide certified translations. INZ can also ask you to provide translations of any other documents that are not in English.
English translations must be done by:
- the translation service of New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)
- an embassy or high commission, or
- a private or official translation business.
DIA’s translation service — citizenship and immigration
Translations cannot be done by:
- you — that is, the person applying for the visa
- a member of your family
- an immigration adviser helping with your application.
How to apply
You can apply online for most work visas. There are a few visas that you need to fill in a printed application form for, including some country-specific work visas.
Applying online
For most work visas, you need to set up a New Zealand Government RealMe account before you start your application.
You do not need a RealMe account if you’re applying for:
- a working holiday visa, or
- a Silver Fern Job Search Visa.
Before you start your online application, have all your supporting documents ready to upload.
Getting a tax number
Once you have your visa, apply for an IRD number from Inland Revenue. You give this number to your employer when you start work and use it for all your New Zealand tax matters.
