A Work Visa is
An endorsement in your passport to allow you to enter or re-enter New Zealand. It shows you have permission to travel to New Zealand and may be granted a Work Permit when you arrive. The visa may be single, for one journey, or multiple, for more than one journey.

A Work Permit is
An endorsement in your passport, which allows you to work in New Zealand. It will state the expiry date of your permit and the conditions of your permit. The conditions may include the type of employment, the employer's name and the location in New Zealand you are permitted to work in.

Who needs a Visa or Permit to work in New Zealand?
You will need a visa or permit to work in New Zealand if you are:

not a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand Resident Permit holder (to re-enter you need a current New Zealand Returning Resident Visa) or

not an Australian citizen or an Australian resident who holds a current Australian resident return visa or

if you are not one of a group of people who are also exempt from the requirement to hold a Permit to be in New Zealand or

if you are a Business visitor to New Zealand who will stay no more than three months in any one-year and will only discuss and negotiate business arrangements.

You may apply for a Work Visa or Permit if you:

hold an offer of employment for which you are qualified and there are no suitable New Zealanders available or

You meet one of the SPECIAL CATEGORIES or exchanges the Government has approved.

You may apply for a Work Visa before you travel to New Zealand (the total stay may be up to three years) or re-enter New Zealand if you hold a Work Permit.

You may apply for a further Work Permit, if you arrived in New Zealand on a Work Visa. The maximum normal stay is three years from the date you first arrived in New Zealand.

If you are already in New Zealand as a visitor you may apply for a Work Permit for a total stay of nine months from the date of your arrival as a visitor.

Apply now, on-line ...
Use our handy on-line form SECURe-FORM (in separate window) after you submit your information, we can prepare the process for you.