There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet in order to obtain a visa and/or permit under the Work to Residence category for New Zealand.

Any person who is not a New Zealand citizen, holder of a New Zealand residence permit or an Australia citizen or Australian resident with a current permanent residence visa or current resident return visa must first obtain a visa or permit to work in New Zealand.

There are certain types of work that do not require a work visa or permit. For instance, if your employment in New Zealand involves visits for business negotiations, short-term sales trips, work for official trade missions, or work for overseas governments, it is possible to do this in New Zealand while on a visitor visa or permit.

There are standard requirements that you will need to meet for a Work to Residence visa or permit. These include:

• Meeting health & character requirements, and
• Holding a passport which is valid for a minimum of three months after your intended departure date from New Zealand, and
• A desire to work in New Zealand, and
• Having obtained the correct visa for your visit.

In addition to meeting the requirements for all applicants outlined above, you must meet the requirements of the specific policy for a Work to Residence visa or permit. The policy you decide to apply under depends on your occupation and circumstances.

Should you obtain a job offer from a New Zealand employer, the policy that you apply under depends on whether your occupation is on the Long Term Skill Shortage Listc.

Should your occupation be listed on the Long Term Skill Shortage list, it may be possible to make an application under the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Policy.

Should your offer of employment be from a New Zealand employer but your occupation is not on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, it is possible to apply under the Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy.

Should you have recognised talent and or ability in the arts, culture or sports, it is possible to apply under the Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy. This policy is for people with recognised talents and abilities in the arts, culture or sports fields, who will, by spending time in New Zealand enhance the country’s reputation.

Work to Residence - Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Policy

In addition to meeting the basic requirements including health and character, you must also show that:

• you have an offer of employment which meets job offer requirements; and
• you have the qualifications, training or work experience to carry out the job; and
• you have obtained either full or provisional registration in New Zealand (if applicable).

You are required to be under 53 years of age at the time you make an application for the work visa or permit. This is to allow sufficient time for you to still be under 56 years in order to apply for residence after you have completed the required two years on the work to residence visa/permit.

Requirements your job offer must meet

Your offer of employment must meet the following minimum requirements to be acceptable under this category:

• the offer must be in an occupation on the Long Term Skills Shortage List
• the offer must be genuine • the offer must full time (on average, at least 30 hours a week)
• the offer must be for a term of at least two years
• the offer must be compliant with all relevant employment law in force in New Zealand (holiday, pay, etc)

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