You will likely need a job or job offer to apply for one of our resident or temporary work visas.

If you have specialist skills or work in an area of skills shortage, and have a qualification that is comparable to those that New Zealand employers are used to, you’ll find that there are great career opportunities for you here. For more information visit the Work in NZ section, which covers skill shortage areas, industry profiles, tips on job hunting and more.

Choosing the right visa
There may be a number of visas you are eligible to apply for – each with its own criteria and application process.

Temporary visas

A temporary visa allows you to live and work in New Zealand for a set period of time. Working temporarily can be used as a step towards gaining residence and settling here permanently.

Temporary work visas are for people to work in a profession that is experiencing skill shortages or have a job offer from a New Zealand employer. Most work visas do not have an age limit.

The Working holiday visa is designed for young people, aged 18-30 or 35, depending on Citizenship. This option lets you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you’re from the UK or Canada.

Resident visas
Resident visas generally allow you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely and access most publicly funded services.

The Skilled Migrant Category uses a points system based on factors such as age, work experience, your qualifications, and an offer of skilled employment to determine eligibility.

Another option is the Residence from Work visa. Once you’ve held a Work to Residence visa for at least 24 months, you may be eligible to apply.

You must be aged 55 or under to apply for these resident visas.

Other visas
There are a number of other New Zealand visas available for specific situations. Visit Immigration New Zealand’s website for the full list.

Apply online
Most work, student and visitor visas can be applied for online. Applying online is often faster and less expensive than sending in a paper application form. When you apply online we can also issue your visa electronically so you won’t have to send us your passport.

If you apply online, you’ll need to have a credit card ready, and any supporting evidence, like a copy of your passport, will need to be available in an electronic file.

To apply online, visit the Immigration New Zealand website.