Work permit is permission given by the government to non-citizens to take up any employment at any place and time. This permission is generally granted for limited period of time and there are certain conditions to be fulfilled by the employer and employee. New Zealand is a country which has low crime rate but still any person wants to keep himself secured. Therefore, the government of New Zealand has enforced pre-employment checks to safeguard national security and public safety.
If you’re looking to apply for a work permit in New Zealand, there are some important things you should know. The NZ authorities are not averse to giving out work permits to those who qualify — but certain conditions apply. To ensure that you qualify, it pays to know what these conditions are.
Work Permits and Employment-Based Visas
If you wish to get a work permit or employment visa to be able to work in New Zealand, this guide gives you an overview of the different kinds of working visas and covers the most common options in more detail. If you wish to know about other types of visas in New Zealand, you can check the New Zealand Government immigration website for:
New Zealand’s Work Visa Requirements
Different work visa types may have different eligibility requirements, application forms, costs, or processes. In general, to apply for a work visa in New Zealand you need:
- Proof of identity (passport or certificate of identity and two acceptable visa photographs);
- Proof of good health (completed health questionnaire and chest x-ray and a medical examination after arrival);
- Proof of good character (completed character questionnaire, Police Certificates from your country of origin and any country where you’ve lived at least five years since turning 17);
- Proof of being bona fide.
Every document you provide needs to be the original document or a certified copy.
When applying for a visa, you will typically find a guide on the official website that corresponds to each visa type. You are advised to read through this document beforehand to make sure you are on top of every requirement. Then, you want to have each document with you and ready for submission before beginning your application process.
If your visa is subject to a points scale, you can typically find a simulation on the immigration website that allows you to test if you meet the required points to apply. Keep in mind that only an immigration officer can award you points during the assessment of your visa. Read more about this below.
Difficulties Obtaining a New Zealand Visa
In general, it may be difficult to get a work visa in New Zealand due to limited spots or tight deadlines for application. If your country has a set quota, that means applications will open on a specific day. Typically, you will have 59 days from the application date to apply, but this timeframe may depend on your nationality and the country where you are currently residing. But even with this interval, you can expect vacancies to disappear quickly. Be precise and follow the deadline that applies to you.
Once the quota is reached for each country, you can only apply again the following year. For some countries, the quota is as low as 50 people a year while for others the quota is unlimited (Canada, the UK, Japan, etc.). You can check a complete list of work visas for the conditions that apply to your country.
Work Visa Application Process and Form
Much of the process for visa applications is done online through New Zealand’s Immigration website. This online process is easy and fast, and it should not take more than 15 minutes to complete the online form. Alternatively, you can submit the application form that corresponds to the type of visa you chose as well as all the necessary supporting documents, to the corresponding receiving center.
Depending on the visa type you applied for, you will be notified whether you need to send in your passport or you are going to receive an eVisa. This is an electronic visa held in the immigration electronic system that replaces the physical sticker or stamp on your passport. This eVisa applies to the following visa types:
- Student Visa
- Work Visa
- Visitor Visa
- Business Visitor Visa
- Group Visitor Visa