Work Visa Options in New Zealand: Every Route Compared
Immigration New Zealand lists 39 work visa products, plus 45 separate Working Holiday Schemes. Almost all of them fall into four groups: employer-assisted visas like the AEWV (NZ$1,540), seasonal visas, open work visas that come from a relationship or a qualification, and specialist visas for defined purposes.
Quick Facts
| Work visa products | 39, excluding the 45 Working Holiday Schemes |
| The main route | Accredited Employer Work Visa — NZ$1,540, 80% within 8 weeks |
| Needs a job offer? | Employer-assisted and seasonal routes: yes. Open work visas: no |
| Cheapest common route | Working Holiday Visa — NZ$770, age-limited and once in a lifetime |
| Open work rights | Partner visas, Post Study Work Visa, Working Holiday Visas |
| Australians | No visa and no NZeTA — the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement |
| Digital nomad visa | Does not exist. Remote work for a foreign employer is allowed on visitor visas applied for on or after 27 January 2025 |
| Closed and still widely cited | Essential Skills and Long Term Skill Shortage List work visas, both closed 4 July 2022 |
The four ways work rights arise
Every New Zealand work visa answers one of four questions.
- Does a specific employer want to hire you? That is the employer-assisted family, led by the AEWV. Your visa names the employer, the job and the location.
- Is the work seasonal? A separate family exists for peak and seasonal labour, with shorter durations and return-home requirements.
- Does your right to work come from something other than a job? A relationship, a qualification, or an age-based scheme can produce open work rights — any job, any employer.
- Is there a defined, temporary purpose? Secondments, events, religious work, training, sport and culture each have their own product.
A fifth, smaller group exists for people in trouble: protective visas for workers who have been exploited or trafficked.
The main routes, compared
| Visa | Job offer needed | Typical length | Work rights | Cost from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | Yes, accredited employer | Up to 5 years (levels 1–3) or 3 years (levels 4–5) | Tied to one employer, job and location | NZ$1,540 |
| Global Workforce Seasonal Visa | Yes, on the GWSV job list | 9 months a year, across 3 years | Tied to the seasonal role | NZ$1,540 |
| Peak Seasonal Visa | Yes | Up to 7 months a year | Tied to the seasonal role | NZ$1,540 |
| Specific Purpose Work Visa | Evidence of the purpose | As needed for the purpose | Strictly limited to the specified job | NZ$1,455 |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | No | Same as the supporting partner's visa | Open | NZ$1,630 |
| Post Study Work Visa | No | By qualification level | Open | NZ$1,670 |
| Working Holiday Visa | No | Usually 12 months | Open, with scheme conditions | NZ$770 |
| Religious Worker Work Visa | Yes, from a registered charity | Up to 2 years | Tied to the sponsoring organisation | NZ$1,355 |
| Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa | Sponsorship and recognition | Up to 30 months | Tied to the field | NZ$1,630 |
| Student and Trainee Work Visa | Placement or training | 6 months to 4 years by category | Tied to the training | NZ$1,455 |
Costs are the combined published figures as at 20 August 2026. Processing times differ widely by product.
The employer-assisted route: the AEWV
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand's principal skilled work visa and the destination of most people searching for "NZ work visa". It runs on a three-check model: the employer is accredited, the role passes a Job Check, then the worker applies.
| Cost | NZ$1,540 — NZ$480 fee + NZ$1,060 levy |
| Processing | Average 4 weeks · 80% within 8 weeks |
| Minimum hours | 30 a week, guaranteed |
| Pay | Market rate, and at least NZ$23.50 an hour |
| Skills | 2 years relevant experience or NZQCF Level 4+ |
| English | Required at skill levels 3, 4 and 5 |
| Maximum stay | 5 years at skill levels 1–3 · 3 years at 4–5 |
| Stand-down | Normally 12 months outside New Zealand |
The pay rule changed on 10 March 2025. The median wage was removed as the threshold and replaced with a market rate test plus the minimum wage. A great deal of published guidance has not caught up. See the median wage change and the AEWV, explained.
Seasonal work routes
Three products cover seasonal labour, and they replaced an older arrangement in December 2025.
Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV). Up to nine months in each year, across three years. The job must be on the GWSV list, and applicants need experience of at least three seasons in the same or a similar job in the last six years. Workers must spend at least three months overseas each year and return to the same employer in years two and three. Sectors include rural contracting, sheep scanning, winemaking and snow instruction. No advertising and no Work and Income engagement is required at Job Check stage. From NZ$1,540.
Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV). Up to seven months a year, for meat and seafood processing, calf rearing, wool handling and similar peaks. At least one prior season of relevant experience is required, applicants must be outside New Zealand when offered the job, and health insurance is mandatory for visas longer than three months. From NZ$1,540.
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Limited Visa. A bilateral scheme for citizens of 13 Pacific countries, capped at 20,750 places a year, running 1 July to 30 June. Workers may stay seven months in any eleven — nine for Kiribati and Tuvalu. A modernisation programme was announced on 28 July 2026 and is staged from 2027 to 2029, so it is not in force yet.
The older "seasonal activity" Specific Purpose Work Visa closed to new applications in December 2025 when the GWSV and PSV opened. Existing holders can complete their contracts. See seasonal work visas compared.
Open work visas: no employer, no tie
These are the visas that let you work for anyone. They are not open to everyone — the entry criteria are simply not about a job.
Partner of a Worker Work Visa. Granted where your partner holds an eligible work visa and the relationship is genuine and stable. Since 2 December 2024 these visas are granted without work conditions — "You can do any work, in any job, anywhere in New Zealand", excluding commercial sexual services and employing others. It lasts as long as the supporting partner's visa. From NZ$1,630, 80% decided within 4.5 weeks. Whether your partner can support you depends on their job's skill level and pay rate. See the Partner of a Worker Work Visa, explained.
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa. For partners of New Zealand citizens and residents — a different product with different rules. See the Partner of a New Zealander work visa.
Post Study Work Visa. For people who have completed qualifying study in New Zealand. Open work rights, duration mapped to the qualification, from NZ$1,670 (NZ$320 + NZ$1,350 levy), 80% decided within 3.5 weeks, with a funds requirement of at least NZ$5,000. From 16 November 2026 eligibility widens to Level 7 graduate diplomas and bachelor's degrees. See the Post Study Work Visa, explained.
Working Holiday Visas. Forty-five separate schemes, each negotiated with one country. NZ$770 (NZ$215 + NZ$455 levy + NZ$100 IVL), usually 12 months, once in a lifetime, with age limits of 18–30 or 18–35 depending on the scheme. Thirty-two schemes are capped and thirteen are uncapped; every one of them is first-come, first-served, opening at 10:00 New Zealand time on a published date. There is no scheme for every country — many nationalities have no working holiday route to New Zealand at all. See the Working Holiday Visa, explained and capped and uncapped schemes.
Specialist and short-term routes
Specific Purpose Work Visa. For people coming to work on a defined purpose or event that meets government requirements — typically senior or specialist business people on short-term secondments. The duration is "as needed to complete the work". Work rights are strictly limited to the job, employer and location on the visa. Partner and dependent children cannot be included, and entertainment workers and Chinese tour guides must apply for different visas. From NZ$1,455 (NZ$295 + NZ$1,060 levy + NZ$100 IVL), 80% within three weeks.
INZ does not publish a list of acceptable "specific purposes" on the visa page. That gap is real, and it means the fit of a given assignment is worth confirming before anyone pays. See the Specific Purpose Work Visa, explained and AEWV vs Specific Purpose Work Visa.
Religious Worker Work Visa. Up to two years, requiring at least two years of religious training or work experience, sponsorship, and a job offer from a religious organisation registered as a charity. Leads to residence. Cannot include partner or children. From NZ$1,355, 80% within three weeks.
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa. Up to 30 months, for people with exceptional talent in art, sport or culture, with a sponsor and the support of a New Zealand organisation recognised for excellence in that field. Age 55 or younger. Leads to residence after two years actively engaged in the field, and partner and children can be included in the residence application. From NZ$1,630.
Student and Trainee Work Visa. For practical work experience in your field. Medical and dental trainees and students on practical training get up to six months; religious trainees up to 12 months renewable to four years; apprentice jockeys up to four years. Does not lead to residence. From NZ$1,455.
Fishing Crew Work Visa. For crew on foreign fishing vessels — a category the AEWV expressly excludes. Its minimum rate is updated each October.
Business Investor Work Visa. Opened 24 November 2025, replacing the Entrepreneur Work Visa which closed to new applications in 2025. From NZ$12,380. See the Business Investor Visa, explained.
Country-specific and bilateral routes
A cluster of work visas exists only for citizens of particular countries under bilateral arrangements: the China Skilled Workers Visa, China Special Work Visa, Indonesia, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Vietnam Special Work Visas, the Thai Chefs Work Visa, the Japanese Interpreters Work Visa and the Work Exchange Scheme Work Visa.
They are small in volume and rarely covered, but for the right nationality and occupation they can be a cleaner route than the AEWV. Terms are set in the underlying agreement, not by general immigration policy.
Separately, Australian citizens need no visa and no NZeTA under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, and can live, work and study here indefinitely. Australian permanent residents travelling on a non-Australian passport do need an NZeTA — a point that is widely misreported. See Australian citizens and the NZeTA.
Protective work visas
Three products exist for people whose immigration status has been weaponised against them:
- Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa — for workers leaving an exploitative employer, so that leaving does not mean losing lawful status. See migrant exploitation and the protection work visa.
- Victims of Family Violence Work Visa.
- Trafficking Victim Work Visa.
If any of these describe your situation, that is a matter for INZ and for a licensed adviser or lawyer, and there are organisations in New Zealand that help with exactly this.
Visas you will read about that are closed
| Visa | Status |
|---|---|
| Essential Skills Work Visa | Closed 4 July 2022, replaced by the AEWV. The page remains live for reference |
| Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa | Closed 4 July 2022, replaced by the AEWV. The list itself was superseded by the Green List |
| Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa | Closed except for existing holders awaiting a residence-from-work decision |
| Entrepreneur Work Visa | Closed to new applications, replaced by the Business Investor Work Visa |
| Seasonal Specific Purpose Work Visa | Closed to new applications in December 2025, replaced by the GWSV and PSV |
Several of these still have live product pages on INZ's site, which is why they keep appearing in search results and in third-party guides. A live page is not the same as an open visa. See closed and legacy New Zealand visas.
Things that do not exist
- A digital nomad visa. New Zealand has none. What exists instead: all visitor visas applied for on or after 27 January 2025 allow you to work remotely for a foreign employer while you are here. Tax thresholds apply. See remote work on a visitor visa.
- A general job seeker work visa. There is no visa that lets you arrive and look for work with full work rights, outside the age-limited working holiday schemes. See working in New Zealand without a job offer.
- Numbered visa subclasses. New Zealand does not use them. If a page refers to one, it is describing the Australian system.
- Paid queue-jumping. New Zealand has no priority or expedited service, and no charge buys a faster decision on any visa.
Which routes lead to residence
| Route | Residence exposure |
|---|---|
| AEWV | Depends on the occupation — Green List, Skilled Migrant Category, or sector pathways |
| Post Study Work Visa | A common bridge into skilled residence |
| Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) | Yes, after two years actively engaged in the field |
| Religious Worker | Yes |
| Partner of a Worker | No — it is tied to the partner's employment |
| Working Holiday | No, though it can lead to a job offer that does |
| Student and Trainee | No |
Residence is decided by the category you qualify under, not by the work visa you hold. See pathways to New Zealand residence and visas that lead to residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of work visa does New Zealand have?
INZ lists 39 work visa products plus 45 Working Holiday Schemes. They group into employer-assisted visas such as the AEWV, seasonal visas, open work visas from a partnership or qualification, specialist visas for defined purposes, bilateral country-specific visas, and protective visas.
How can I get a work visa for New Zealand?
The most common route is the AEWV: an accredited employer offers you a full-time job of at least 30 hours a week, passes a Job Check for that role, and you then apply online for NZ$1,540. Other routes do not require a job offer but have their own entry criteria.
Can I apply for a New Zealand work visa without a job offer?
Yes, but only through routes that are not employer-assisted — a partner visa, a Post Study Work Visa after qualifying New Zealand study, or a Working Holiday Visa if your country has a scheme and you are within its age range. The AEWV always requires a job offer.
Am I eligible to work in New Zealand?
Work rights come from a visa, and every visa publishes its own criteria. We set out what each route requires, but we do not assess anyone's individual circumstances — that is regulated immigration advice in New Zealand. Compare the criteria above, then take your own facts to a licensed adviser if you need them assessed.
Which NZ work visa is cheapest?
Among common routes, the Working Holiday Visa at NZ$770. It is only available to citizens of countries with a scheme, within the scheme's age range, once in a lifetime. The AEWV is NZ$1,540 and has no age limit.
Can I get sponsored by a New Zealand business?
New Zealand does not use "sponsorship" the way some countries do. The equivalent is employer accreditation: the business is accredited by INZ, passes a Job Check for the role, and you then apply for the AEWV. Some other visas do use a formal sponsor — the Religious Worker and Talent visas among them.
What happened to the Essential Skills Work Visa?
It closed on 4 July 2022 and was replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa, as did the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa on the same day. Both pages remain live on INZ's site for reference, which is why they still appear in search results.
Does New Zealand have a digital nomad visa?
No. Since 27 January 2025, visitor visas allow remote work for an overseas employer while you are in New Zealand, which covers much of the same ground without a new visa class. Tax thresholds apply to longer stays.
Which work visas give open work rights?
Partner of a Worker and Partner of a New Zealander work visas, the Post Study Work Visa, and Working Holiday Visas. The AEWV does not — it ties you to one employer, one job and one location. See open work visas in New Zealand, explained.
How long can I work in New Zealand?
It depends on the visa. The AEWV allows a maximum continuous stay of five years at skill levels 1 to 3 and three years at levels 4 and 5, after which a stand-down of normally 12 months outside New Zealand applies. Working Holiday Visas are usually 12 months. Seasonal visas cap annual presence at seven or nine months.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. New Zealand regulates immigration advice under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, and we do not assess anyone's individual circumstances. For advice about your own case, use a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer, and check the licence on the Immigration Advisers Authority register.
