You do not need a visa or permit to work in New Zealand if you are:

        Employment includes self employment and means any activity undertaken for "gain or reward", except for those activities described below under "What work is not considered to be employment?"

       "Gain or reward' includes any payment or benefit that can be valued in terms of money, such as board and lodging, goods (e.g. food or clothing) and services (e.g. transport). This applies whether a New Zealand or overseas resident provides the payment or benefit for the activity

          The activities set out below are not considered to be employment:

         If you are:         

then to undertake employment in New Zealand for gain or reward you will need to obtain a Work Visa or Work Permit. If you are in New Zealand on a Visitor or Student Permit and engage in employment without authority your permit may be revoked and you may be required to leave New Zealand.

Yes,

        You may apply for a Work Visa or Permit if you meet the requirements as described in the "Work Visa and Permit Policies" section.
You can apply by completing and submitting the Application to Work in New Zealand yourself, or you can ask another person to assist you.
The NZIS does not require you to have an agent or representative, but if you wish to use the services of an agent or representative you may do so.

•    Anyone can act as your agent or representative.
•    An agent or representative may be a lawyer, a consultant, or any other person, (including a friend) who you hire or ask to help you apply.
•    The NZIS treats all applicants equally and does not provide a preferential service to applicants with agents or representatives.
  
  
  The NZIS deals with agents or representatives in the following ways
  
•   You may give your own address or the address of your agent or representative as the point of contact for the NZIS. If you choose to give your agent's or representative's address, all correspondence from NZIS, including notices of interviews, and the return of original documents, will be sent to your agent or representative.
•    If you stop using the services of your agent or representative, you must cancel your authorisation in writing to the NZIS or the NZIS will continue to deal with them. If you hire a new agent or representative, you will need to provide a new authorisation to the NZIS.
•    You are responsible for any documents or information that you submit to the NZIS, or that your agent or representative submits on your behalf.

         Work Visa and Permit requirements are found on the Application to Work in New Zealand form under the "workers guide".
There may be additional special requirements depending on which Work Visa and Permit policy you are applying under. See Work Visa and Permit Policies.
All applicants under Work Visa and Permit Policy must be bona fide applicants, and meet health and character requirements.
A bona fide applicant is a person who can show they genuinely intend a temporary stay in New Zealand for a lawful purpose. Evidence of genuine intent and lawful purpose may include (but is not limited to) the following

•     any information or submissions showing you have a legitimate need to spend time in New Zealand for a specific period, and
•     any documents or submissions showing you meet the policy provisions relevant to the Work Visa and/or Permit policy you are applying under.
  
  If you intend to stay in New Zealand for longer than 24 months, or are required by a specific policy or a visa or immigration officer to provide evidence of your health and character, you must provide the following:

       police certificates from your country of citizenship and from any country in which you have lived for 5 or more years since attaining the age of 17 years.

Note: All police certificates must be less than 6 months old at the time you submit your application.
Where do I apply for a police certificate.

        Some Work Visa and Permit policies specify the maximum stay allowed so check the policy relevant to your application in the "Work Visa and Permit Policies" section.
If no maximum stay is specified, and you obtain a Work Visa before your arrival in New Zealand, your total stay may be up to three years from the date of your arrival.
If no maximum stay is specified, and you are already in New Zealand as a visitor and then obtain a Work Permit, you may be allowed a total stay of up to three years from your date of arrival as a visitor depending on the length of time stated in your offer of employment.
There is no limit on the number of further Work Permits or Work Visas you may obtain. Further Work Permits or Work Visas may be obtained for the period for which any further employment is offered, up to a maximum of 3 years each time. For each period of employment the applicant must meet all Work Visa and Permit policy requirements.

       If you are an employer in New Zealand and need to recruit a person(s) from overseas because you are unable to locate suitable New Zealanders you must provide evidence that there is no New Zealand citizen or resident available who is:

•   suitably qualified by training and experience to do the job offered, or
•   readily able to be trained to do the job.
  
  
  All employers wishing to employ foreign workers or students to work in New Zealand must comply with all relevant employment and labour law in force in New Zealand.
  
  Compliance with relevant New Zealand employment and labour law includes but is not limited to:
•    paying employees no less than the appropriate adult or youth minimum wage or other contracted industry standard
•    meeting holiday and special leave requirements or other minimum statutory criteria
•    meeting occupational safety and health obligations.
  Employers may therefore be required by a visa or immigration officer to provide evidence and/or confirmation of past and future compliance with employment and labour law in New Zealand.
  In addition to being satisfied the above requirements are met, policy also requires visa and immigration officers to be satisfied job offers made to foreign workers are both genuine and sustainable for the duration of the proposed employment contract.
  Once you have satisfied the requirements outlined above write to an office of the New Zealand Immigration Service in New Zealand to obtain Approval in Principle. Write on letterhead paper or supply your name, address and telephone/fax number and include:
  
•    a copy of the job offer(s) containing a full job description including: job title, address of place of employment (if different from letterhead), type of work, duties and responsibilities involved, details of pay and conditions, any qualifications, registration, experience or training required, duration of the job and how long the offer is open.
•    details and evidence of the efforts you have made to find suitable New Zealanders and the reasons why you are unable to employ or readily train suitable New Zealanders.
•    the name and address of the person(s) you wish to bring to New Zealand if known.
•    the Approval in Principle fee of N.Z.$140.00.

         If the policy relevant to your application requires an offer of employment, but does not specify what that offer of employment must contain any offer of employment you submit to NZIS with your application for a Work Visa or Permit must provide the following information:

         Work to Residence policy has four options that provide a pathway to gaining residence in New Zealand. An additional option is provided to enable General Skills category residence applicants to obtain an offer of employment in New Zealand. The four options providing pathways to residence are:

• Talent policy - employment with accredited employers
• Talent policy - for people with exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport
• Priority Occupation List policy - employment in an occupation on the Priority Occupations List
• Business policy - Long-term business visa/permit category

• Job search policy
  

        All applicants under Work to Residence policy must meet lodgement, bona fide applicant, health, character and English language requirements. The key requirements under each of the Work to Residence policies are set out below:

        You may be eligible under this policy if you:

• are aged 55 years or under; and
• have an offer of employment in New Zealand for at least 24 months with an accredited employer and a minimum base salary of New Zealand $45,000 per annum (the salary amount may be waived if you have exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport - see below); and
• have met, or are able to meet, any of the necessary New Zealand registration requirements if these are required to take up the offer.

Offers of employment from accredited employers must be:

• · for employment in New Zealand; and
• for a period of at least 24 months; and
• for full-time employment, (that is it amounts to, on average, at least 30 hours per week); and
• current at the time the NZIS assesses your application and at the time of issue of the visa and/or grant of the permit; and
• genuine; and
• for a position with a minimum base salary of NZ$45,000 per annum; and
• accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, or eligibility for such registration, if full or provisional registration is required by law to take up the offer; and
• compliant with all relevant employment law in New Zealand.

For details of the requirements for employer accreditation see our form Application for Employer Accreditation.
A list of current accredited employers can be found here.
Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy You may be eligible under this policy if you:

• are aged 55 years or under, and
• satisfy the NZIS you have exceptional talent in a declared field of art, culture, or sport as described below, and
• are sponsored by a New Zealand organisation of national repute in your declared field

What is considered to be 'exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport'? You will be considered to have exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport if you can satisfy the NZIS:

• you have an international reputation and record of excellence in your declared field, and
• you are still prominent in that field, and
• your presence in New Zealand will enhance the quality of New Zealand's accomplishments and participation in that field of art, culture, or sport.

What is considered to be an 'organisation of national repute'?A New Zealand organisation of national repute is:

• a New Zealand organisation that has a nationally recognised record of excellence in a field of art, culture, or sport; or
• a New Zealand organisation that has a nationally recognised record of excellence in fostering exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport.

For details of the requirements for sponsorship under this policy by an organisation of national repute see our form Application to Sponsor under Talent - (Arts, Culture and Sports) Policy.

        You may be eligible under this policy if you:
· have an offer of employment in New Zealand in an occupation that is included on the Priority Occupations List that meets the specifications for that occupation; and

• are suitably qualified by training and/or experience to undertake your offer of employment as well as meeting any specific requirements set out in the Priority Occupations List; and
• have met or are able to meet any of the necessary New Zealand registration requirements if these are required to take up the offer.

Offers of employment under Priority Occupations List Work policy must be:

• for employment in New Zealand; and
• for a period of at least 24 months; and
• for full-time employment, (that is it amounts to, on average, at least 30 hours per week); and
• current at the time NZIS assesses your application and at the time of issue of the visa and/or grant of the permit; and
• genuine; and
• accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, or eligibility for such registration, if full or provisional registration is required by law to take up the offer; and
• compliant with all relevant employment law in New Zealand.
  

       The New Zealand Immigration Service Business Migration Branch assesses all applications lodged under the Long Term Business Visa/Permit category.

The Long Term Business Visa/Permit is a special category of work visa/permit and is not a residence category.

You may apply under this category if you are a potential migrant interested in applying for residence under the Entrepreneur Category.

You may also apply under this category If you are interested in establishing a business in New Zealand but do not wish to live permanently in New Zealand.

To apply under the Long Term Business Visa/Permit category, you must:

• have a satisfactory business plan; and
• have, in addition to investment capital, sufficient funds for your maintenance and accommodation and that of any non-principal applicants; and
• satisfy the business immigration specialist that you are genuinely interested in establishing a business in New Zealand.

In addition, you and any family included in your application must meet health and character requirements.

A business plan is a proposal to establish a specific business in New Zealand. This plan must include the following information, and be supported by appropriate documentation:

• an outline of your proposed business and its viability; and
• financial information (forecasts and financing options); and
• your business experience (including English language ability); and
• your knowledge of the New Zealand market.

Job Search Policy for General Skills Category Residence Applicants
You are only able to apply under this policy if you are a principal applicant for residence under the General Skills category who:

• has a points allocation which is within 5 points of the General Skills category passmark for the week in which your residence application was made; and
• have not been awarded points for an offer of employment; and
• have met residence policy requirements for health, character and English language; and
• makes an application for a work visa or permit under this policy within one month of the date of the letter from the NZIS advising you are eligible to apply; and
• have a minimum standard of English to ensure your English language ability is sufficient to assist you in obtaining employment in New Zealand; and
• are qualified to obtain employment in New Zealand in an area of current occupational shortage.

Your application for residence under General Skills Policy may be approved if, within the time required, you submit an acceptable offer of employment that can be awarded sufficient points to meet the passmark for the week in which your residence application was made. Note: These are only the key requirements for residence. For full details of the requirements for each policy see the Self-Assessment Guide for Residence (NZIS 1003).

         If you are successful in applying under a Work to Residence policy you will be issued with a multiple Work Visa allowing the grant of a Work Permit current for the periods set out below:

Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy	30 months
Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy	30 months
Priority Occupations List Policy	30 months
Business Policy - Long-term business visa/permit category	36 months
Job search policy	up to 6 months

        You may be able to qualify for residence if you are the holder of a work visa and permit approved under one of the Work to Residence Policies and can also meet normal residence policy requirements. The key requirements are set out below:
Talent (Accredited Employers) Residence Policy
You may be eligible for residence if you:

• have held a work visa and permit under this policy for at least 24 months, and
• have been employed in New Zealand throughout a period of at least 24 months by:
  • any accredited employer, or
  • any other employer you obtained approval from the NZIS to work for, and
• have employment in New Zealand with a minimum base salary of at least NZ$45,000 per annum.

Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Residence Policy
You may be eligible for residence if you:

• have held a work visa and permit under this policy for at least 24 months, and
• have been actively engaged in your declared field of art, culture, or sport, and
• are still prominent in that field of art, culture, or sport, and
• have sponsorship by an organisation of national repute in your declared field see ("What is considered to be an 'organisation of national repute'?"), and have not since the grant of your permit under this policy applied for, or been granted welfare assistance under the New Zealand Social Security Act 1964.

Priority Occupations List Residence Policy
You may be eligible for residence if you:

• are aged 55 years or under; and
• have held a work visa and permit under this policy for at least 24 months; and
• have been employed in New Zealand in an occupation included on the Priority Occupations List throughout a period of at least 24 months; and
• have employment in New Zealand with a minimum base salary of at least NZ$45,000 per annum that is either:
  • in the same occupation that enabled you to obtain a work visa and permit under this policy, or
  • in an occupation on the Priority Occupations List current at the time you apply for residence.

To find out which occupations are included on the current Priority Occupations List see "Where can I get more information and advice?" at the end of this guide.
Business Policy - Long-Term Business Visa and Permit Category
You may be eligible for residence under Business Policy - Entrepreneur category if you can demonstrate that:

• you have established a business in New Zealand, and
• your business is benefiting New Zealand in some way.