Working temporarily in New Zealand can be used as a step towards gaining residence and settling here permanently.
If your talents are needed by New Zealand employers, or you have exceptional talent in the arts, culture or sports, you can apply to work in New Zealand under our Work to Residence category.
Requirement
There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet for a Work to Residence visa. These are requirements that all applicants need to meet.
To enter New Zealand you must:
- be in good health and of good character, and
- have a passport that is valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave New Zealand, and
- be genuine in wanting to work in New Zealand, and
- have the right visa for your visit.
If you are granted a work visa you need to meet certain conditions during your stay:
- the work you do must be in line with the conditions specified in your visa
- you must obey New Zealand’s laws
- you must only stay in New Zealand for the time allowed by your visa.
If you break any of these conditions we may require you to leave New Zealand immediately.
You can be refused a visa if:
- you are a person who is not eligible for a visa under sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act 2009, or
- you are in New Zealand unlawfully when you apply, or
- we believe that you are likely to stay in New Zealand unlawfully, or
- we believe that you would break the conditions we would apply to the visa granted to you.