Holders of passports issued by countries that have an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) with the code "NZL" on the back, which means it is valid for travel to New Zealand, can enter visa-free for business travel for up to 90 days.
ABTCs are issued to citizens of: Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
Essential Skills work visa – for highly qualified specialists who have received an invitation from an employer. It is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years.
Conditions
With this visa it is allowed:
- Work in New Zealand with an employer who has offered you full-time employment;
- Study for up to 3 months in a 12 month period or undertake any training required as part of your job
- You can stay for up to 3 years depending on the pay level of the job you are offered.
- Before offering you a job, the employer may need to try to recruit New Zealand citizens with the appropriate qualifications.
- Your partner or dependent children may apply for a visa separately, depending on their relationship with you.
Skilled Migrant visa – for qualified specialists whose experience and education meet the requirements specified in the Long Term Skill Shortage List. Issued for an indefinite period.
Conditions
Age range – 55 years or less.
With this visa it is allowed:
- Live, work and study in New Zealand;
- Include your partner and dependent children under the age of 24 on your residence application.
- A points-based system is used to evaluate expressions of interest (EOI of 160 points or more).
This visa is not intended for individuals who are self-employed. If you want to work in your own business, you can apply for an entrepreneur residence visa.
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa – for those who have specific skills required by an accredited employer. Issued for up to 30 months.
With this visa is allowed:
- Work in New Zealand with an accredited employer who offers you a job;
- Submit an application for residence after 2 years of work with an accredited employer
- You cannot include a partner or dependent children in your work visa application, but they can apply for a visa based on their relationship with you.
Working holiday visa – for people under 30 who would like to work and travel in New Zealand. Issued for up to 12 months.
Criteria for obtaining a Working holiday visa:
Working holiday visas are available to young people, usually between the ages of 18 and 30. They allow you to travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you're from the UK or Canada. If you are applying for a 23-month visa, you must provide a general medical certificate.
Conditions of employment
You cannot accept a permanent job offer while on a working holiday visa.
Education and training courses
With a Working holiday visa, you can study one or more courses for up to 6 months in New Zealand. For example, you can study English for up to 6 months, complete a study abroad program for up to 6 months, or complete a short training course.
Post Study Work Visa – for university graduates. It is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years (depending on the study program).
Graduate work visas, called Post Study Work Visas, will be available to those who have completed Bachelor Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters or PhDs of 30 weeks or more. These visas allow you to work in any position and in any direction.
For those who study at Graduate Diploma level 7 or levels below (levels 4-6), Post Study visas will be available only when studying in a Green List specialty.
There are specialties on the Green List (including engineers, construction project managers, electrical engineering technicians, teachers, auto electricians and diesel mechanics) that later provide the opportunity to obtain residency under the simplified system.
The duration of the Post Study visa is similar to the duration of the completed studies. With the exception of Masters and PhDs, which will be granted a maximum three-year visa.
Post Study visa is issued only once.
To obtain a Post Study visa after your studies, you need to prove the availability of 5,000 New Zealand dollars in your account.
Required documents for Post Study Work Visa
- Work Visa Application Form and passport;
- Documents on the acquired education that meet the conditions for obtaining a visa;
- Bank statement with NZ$5,000 available in the account;
- The result of X-ray and medical examination.
The general list of documents required for submitting a Work Visa application:
- The original of a valid foreign passport or travel document for the applicant. The validity period of the passport must be at least 3 months after the planned date of departure from New Zealand;
- Fully completed Work Visa Form INZ 1015 signed by the main applicant and dated;
- Two colored photos;
- Visa fee;
- Job offer from a New Zealand employer. The job offer must meet the requirements of the New Zealand labor market, except in special cases (see Immediate or Long Term Occupational Shortage lists). It should also contain information about the employee's salary, number of working hours, accommodation and repatriation;
- Additional form INZ1113 is completed by a New Zealand employer;
- Evidence of qualifications and work experience: You must provide evidence that you have sufficient qualifications and experience to perform the work offered by the New Zealand employer, including professional registration if the position requires it and evidence of a level of English to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in an English-speaking country;
- Qualifications (diplomas on education) must be checked for compliance with the New Zealand Qualifications standard at the New Zealand Qualifications Commission;
- Qualifications must meet the standard set out in the ANZSCO Handbook Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Specialties www.immigration.govt.nz/ANZSCO ;
- Confirmation of return ticket booking or guarantee of repatriation by the employer. A purchased ticket is not a guarantee of visa issuance. It is not recommended to buy tickets before receiving the visa approval in principle;
- Medical form: Forms must be issued no earlier than 3 months before the submission of visa documents, as well as filled, signed and stamped according to the approved form (INZ);
- If you plan to stay in NZ for more than 6 months — every applicant (11 years and older) must submit a completed form INZ1096;
- If you plan to stay in NZ for more than 12 months – each applicant must submit completed forms INZ1007 and INZ1096;
- Every applicant who has reached the age of 17 and who plans to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months must provide a certificate of no criminal record in the country of residence, as well as in any other country in which they have lived for 5 years from he is 17 years old. Certificates must be issued no earlier than 6 months before the submission of visa documents.