New Zealand Work Permits

Description

New Zealand's primary temporary work visa, requiring a job offer from an Immigration NZ-accredited employer. It is an employer-led, three-stage process: employer accreditation, a Job Check for the specific role, and finally the worker's own visa application.

Rules & Regulations

• Employer must first hold current INZ accreditation, then complete a Job Check confirming the role, pay, and terms meet requirements before the worker applies.
• Pay must be at least the market rate for the role and at or above the NZ adult minimum wage (NZD $23.50/hour from 1 April 2026).
• From 1 June 2026, English language requirements expanded to cover ANZSCO/National Occupation List (NOL) Skill Level 3 occupations (previously only Skill Level 4–5), OR applicants paid at least NZD $67.12/hour (2x the 2024 median wage) are exempt from the skill/experience evidence requirement.
• Visa duration: up to 3 years for most jobs (some sources cite up to 5 years for higher-skill roles — confirm current duration rules by ANZSCO/NOL level before publishing).
• Applicants cannot include partner or children in the same AEWV application — dependants apply for separate visas.
• From 8 December 2026, two new seasonal visa categories opened under the AEWV framework: Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV).

Government Fee

Visa application fee: NZD $1,540 (doubled from $750 in October 2024) — plus additional VFS/visa application centre service fees and the Immigration Levy (IVL), which vary by application channel; confirm current combined total via Immigration New Zealand before publishing an exact figure.

Processing Time

Visa application stage: approximately 2.5 weeks average, with 80% of applications completed within 5.5 weeks (this figure excludes the separate employer accreditation and Job Check stages, which add additional time before the worker can apply).

General Eligibility

• A genuine job offer from a current INZ-accredited employer that has passed the Job Check for the specific role.
• Relevant experience or qualifications matching the offered role (Level 4+ NZQCF qualification, or documented equivalent work experience).
• English language ability, required for roles at skill level 3 to 5 as of June 2026 (previously only 4–5).
• Health examination and police clearance (police certificates required if 17+ and staying 24+ months; chest X-ray if staying over 6 months).

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — Pakistani nationals are fully eligible for the AEWV, subject to the standard employer, pay, and role requirements.
• New Zealand employers and agents cannot legally charge Pakistani workers for the job, or recover accreditation/Job Check costs from them.
• Applicant should verify the employer's current accreditation status via Immigration New Zealand's public accredited employer search before accepting any job offer.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Job offer letter from an INZ-accredited employer (post Job Check approval)
• Employment agreement meeting NZ employment law requirements (no unacceptable bonding clauses)
• Evidence of relevant qualifications/experience (reference letters supported by payslips or tax certificates — a CV alone is not sufficient)
• English language evidence, where required (skill level 3–5 roles as of June 2026)
• Medical examination and chest X-ray (if staying over 6 months)
• Police clearance certificate(s) — required if 17+ and staying 24+ months
• Passport-size photo

Description

A work visa for a specific role or project that does not fit the standard AEWV framework — typically a defined, time-limited purpose such as a particular contract, project, or unique skill requirement not suited to ongoing accredited employment.

Rules & Regulations

• Tied to a clearly defined purpose and timeframe — not open-ended employment.
• Employer accreditation under the AEWV framework is generally not required for this category, given its specific, limited-purpose nature.

Government Fee

Visa application fee applies — exact current figure not confirmed in this review; verify via Immigration New Zealand's Fees, Decision Times and Where to Apply tool before publishing.

Processing Time

Timeline varies by the specific purpose and completeness of supporting documentation — verify current estimate via Immigration New Zealand before publishing a specific figure.

General Eligibility

• A clearly defined, genuine work purpose with a specific New Zealand entity.
• Relevant skills/experience matching the specific purpose.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — relevant to Pakistani specialists engaged for a specific, well-defined project or purpose in New Zealand that doesn't fit the standard AEWV process.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Letter detailing the specific purpose, role, and timeframe
• Evidence of relevant skills/experience
• Medical examination (if required based on stay length)
• Police clearance certificate(s)
• Passport-size photo

Description

An open work visa for international students who have completed a qualifying qualification at a New Zealand institution, allowing them to gain New Zealand work experience — often a stepping stone toward AEWV employment or a residence pathway.

Rules & Regulations

• Eligibility and duration depend on the level and length of the completed qualification.
• Generally an open work visa — not tied to a specific employer, unlike the AEWV.
• Can lead to a residence pathway if the graduate secures a qualifying skilled role afterward.

Government Fee

Visa application fee applies — exact current figure not confirmed in this review; verify via Immigration New Zealand's fees tool before publishing.

Processing Time

Student visa-linked work visa processing typically follows a similar timeframe to standard work visa categories — verify current estimate via Immigration New Zealand.

General Eligibility

• Completion of an eligible qualification at a New Zealand education provider.
• Maintained valid student visa status during study.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — this applies to Pakistani nationals who studied in New Zealand on a Student Visa, same as any other international student.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Confirmation of qualification completion from the NZ education provider
• Evidence of maintained student visa status during study
• Passport-size photo

Description

An open work visa for the partner of a principal visa holder (AEWV holder, student, or in some cases other eligible visa categories), allowing the partner to work for any employer in New Zealand.

Rules & Regulations

• Eligibility depends on the principal applicant's visa category and, in some cases, the skill level of the principal applicant's role.
• Generally an open work visa — not tied to a specific employer or occupation.
• Validity is generally tied to the validity of the principal applicant's visa.

Government Fee

Visa application fee applies — exact current figure not confirmed in this review; verify via Immigration New Zealand's fees tool before publishing.

Processing Time

Generally comparable to standard work visa processing timeframes — verify current estimate via Immigration New Zealand.

General Eligibility

• A genuine partnership relationship with the principal visa holder, supported by evidence (marriage certificate or proof of a genuine, ongoing partnership).
• The principal applicant must hold a valid, eligible work or student visa.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — the Pakistani partner of a principal AEWV holder or student in New Zealand is eligible, subject to the principal applicant's category qualifying.
• A valuable addition for Pakistani families relocating together — worth cross-referencing on both the Work Permit and Family/Spouse Visa pages.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Marriage certificate or evidence of a genuine, ongoing partnership
• Copy of the principal applicant's valid work/student visa
• Evidence of the principal applicant's employment or enrollment
• Passport-size photo

Description

Seasonal work visas for the horticulture, viticulture, and related primary industries. Two new categories opened under the AEWV framework from 8 December 2026: the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), allowing overseas workers to fill genuine seasonal labour needs.

Rules & Regulations

• Employer must hold AEWV accreditation to support seasonal AEWV visas, including GWSV and PSV.
• Tied to seasonal industries with genuine, time-limited labour needs (e.g. harvest periods).
• Does not lead directly to permanent residence.
• These are newly introduced categories (December 2026) — monitor for further policy refinement as the routes mature.

Government Fee

Visa application fee applies, expected to align with standard AEWV-linked fee structures — confirm exact current figure via Immigration New Zealand given these are newly introduced categories.

Processing Time

Not yet established with historical data given the recent December 2026 launch — verify current estimate via Immigration New Zealand before publishing a specific figure.

General Eligibility

• A genuine seasonal job offer from an INZ-accredited employer in an eligible primary industry.
• Ability to perform the physical requirements of seasonal agricultural/horticultural work.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — relevant to Pakistani applicants interested in seasonal agricultural work in New Zealand.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Seasonal job offer from an INZ-accredited employer
• Medical examination (if required)
• Police clearance certificate(s)
• Passport-size photo