Work Permit in New Zealand

In 2025, do you hope to establish a new life in New Zealand with a stable career, a lawful stay, and maybe a route to permanent residence? Then your lucky charm could be the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)! Employers in New Zealand who have obtained approval to hire migrant workers can employ qualified workers from all around the world with this visa.

From eligibility, necessary paperwork, and application procedures to bringing your family and turning your stay into residency, this handbook explains all the information new candidates need to know about the AEWV in 2025.

Work Permit in New Zealand

Work Permit in New Zealand

Is a Work Permit Required in New Zealand?

Foreign people must obtain a work permit in New Zealand due to the nation’s unique labor market demands and economic regulations. The preservation of job prospects for residents and citizens of New Zealand is one of the main justifications. Because of its tiny population and emphasis on preserving high employment rates, the government of New Zealand gives preference to local job seekers. The government protects jobs for New Zealanders by requiring work permits, which guarantee that foreign workers are only hired for jobs where there is a glaring lack of local knowledge.

New Zealand is still improving its work permit system in 2024–2025 in order to fill skill gaps in important industries like agriculture, technology, and healthcare. Supporting New Zealand’s objectives for economic development and prosperity is another important justification for the work permit requirement. The nation is concentrating on growing important industries like tourism, technology, healthcare, and agriculture. By addressing important skill gaps and encouraging innovation, the work permit system enables the government to draw in qualified foreign workers who can support these sectors.

A key component of New Zealand’s work permit system is guaranteeing adherence to labor laws and standards. This procedure is used by the government to guarantee that overseas employees are employed in accordance with New Zealand labor laws. This involves ensuring access to social security benefits, safe working conditions, and fair remuneration. These requirements are further reinforced by recent changes in 2024–2025 to guarantee equitable treatment for all employees.

Another essential component of the work permit need is security considerations. To make sure that foreign employees are not a security risk and have the required training and credentials, the New Zealand government does extensive background checks and qualification verification. This examination guarantees that foreign workers make constructive contributions to the economy and society while also preserving the integrity of the New Zealand workforce.

About the New Zealand Job Market

Apply for this visa if you have a job offer from an accredited employer. The employer must send you a link to the online application form.

Types of New Zealand Work Visa

Every employee willing to work in New Zealand has to apply for a work visa. In New Zealand, there are 3 major types of work permits issued:

Temporary Work Visas:

This type of New Zealand work permit can be obtained:

  • If you have a confirmed job offer from a New Zealand employer.
  • If you are traveling to New Zealand to attend an event or for a specified purpose.
  • If you are interested in accumulating work experience.
  • If you’re willing to join a business partner in the country and also continue the professional or business responsibilities.

Essential Skills Work Visa:

This is issued based on the Australian and New Zealand standard classification of occupations also known as ANZSCO. It ranges from level 1 (the high skilled jobs) to 5 (low skilled jobs).

For the ANZSCO skill level 1-3, a maximum of 3 years duration New Zealand work permit visa is issued.

If your occupation falls in the ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, the maximum duration of a 1-year work permit visa is issued.

For the ANZSCO level 1 visa, a maximum duration of a 5-year work visa is issued.

Entrepreneur Work Visa:

This 3-year New Zealand work permit is issued to entrepreneurs. It helps them to relocate to New Zealand for establishing or purchasing a business.

This work permit is issued in two stages:

  1. Start-up stage: In this stage, you will be issued a 12-month work visa to buy or establish a business in New Zealand.
  2. Balance stage: In this stage, you will be issued a 24-month work permit that is the remaining from the 3 years of entrepreneur work visa.

Requirements for New Zealand Work Permit and by New Zealand Employers

The New Zealand work permit requirements vary according to the type of visa you are going to apply.

Employment Criteria for New Zealand Work Visa

  • You should be aged 55 years or under.
  • Your salary will be a minimum of NZ$55,000
  • You have a job offer that covers a minimum of 30 hours of employment per week for 2 years or more.

Requirements for Essential Skills Work Visa 

  • Your job offer should be listed under the Long Term Skills Shortage List, the Immediate Skills Shortage List, or the Canterbury Skills Shortage List.
  • You should have a temporary work visa and also a Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) invitation or an SMC application in progress.

For The ANZSCO skill level 1-3: 

  • You should have a job offer that is categorized under skill level 1 in ANZSCO.
  • Your annual salary should be approximately NZ$55,000 per annum.

Requirements for Entrepreneur Work Visa 

  • You should have a minimum capital investment of NZ$10,000.
  • You should have a minimum of 120 points on a scale that decides the success of the proposed business.
  • You should have a detailed business plan for the proposed business.
  • You should not be involved in any business fraud or any kind of financial misconduct.

Valid Documents Required for New Zealand Work Permit

  • Two passport-sized color photographs of you taken within the timeline of 6 months.
  • Your passport or travel document which is valid for at least 3 months from the date one is required to go to their home country
  • Your medical and chest X-ray certificates
  • Police certificates from your citizenship country or any country where you have lived for a minimum of 5 years till 17 years of age
  • Your job offer letter includes: employer’s name, employee’s name and address, your designation along with role and responsibilities, address of the place of employment, pay and conditions of employment, qualifications and experience requirements, confirmation of whether or not registration in New Zealand is required, duration of the job and the duration of job availability

New Zealand Work Permit Process For Application

Getting a work permit in New Zealand is quite an easy process in comparison to the visa application process for many countries.

  • As an employee, you fill the work visa application form.
  • As an employer, you have to ensure that the job vacancy is under the Long term skills shortage list and meets the required employment criteria.
  • Fill out the designated sections of the Employer Supplementary form and send it to the employee to submit.
  • Submit the application to the nearest Immigration New Zealand branch.

Timeframe for Work Permit Application

The timeframe for a New Zealand work permit visa varies for different categories. If you have applied for the Essential skill work visa, it takes a minimum of 30 days to 45 days.

How Does Multiplier Help With Work Permit? 

With more than 100 local businesses, we are here to make your job as an employer easier and assist you in finding talent from across the world. Our team of skilled professionals created this HR suite, which provides our users with end-to-end solutions.

Our SAAS-based solutions will assist you in submitting your work permit application for New Zealand. Following that, our team professionals will streamline your task by managing every step of the procedure, including processing time, document checklist, and expenses. You will be informed at every stage of the procedure.

Disclaimer 

No tax, immigration, or visa advice is offered by Worldwide Recruitment Solutions. This content was created purely for informational purposes and should not be used as a source of advice about immigration, visas, or taxes. For the most current and correct information, you should check with a certified immigration specialist or the official government website of the nation you are applying to.

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