New Zealand Work
Permit
Every Path to Working in New Zealand — Explained in One Place
The Accredited Employer Work Visa, the Green List, Skilled Migrant Category, partner and student routes, seasonal and special-purpose work, and the residence pathways they lead to — one clear, step-by-step guide from VisaHelperz.
The Big Picture
Five Categories Cover Every Route In
Immigration New Zealand's system runs on more than 18 pathways across employment, family, special-purpose and humanitarian provisions — and nearly all of them fall under five umbrellas.
Accredited Employer
Work Visa (AEWV)
Open Work
Visas
Working
Holiday
Special-Purpose &
Sector Routes
Residence
Visas
Listen
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Play a short spoken walkthrough of every pathway and step, right here in your browser — nothing to download.
Spoken guide
About 90 seconds — covers the five pathways, the AEWV process, and the fastest routes to residence.
How It Works
The AEWV Application, Step by Step
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is the main route for overseas workers with a job offer. It's a 3-stage system — only the last stage is actually yours to complete.
Identify your occupation
Job title, actual duties, occupation classification, skill level, and whether NZ registration is required.
Check the Green List
Search whether your occupation sits on Tier 1, Tier 2, or isn't listed at all — this decides your fastest route to residence.
Find an accredited employer
Ask specifically whether the employer is currently accredited for AEWV purposes — not just whether they "hire foreigners."
Employer accreditation (Stage 1)
The NZ company gets accredited by Immigration New Zealand to employ migrants. This is handled on their side, not yours.
Job Check (Stage 2)
The employer gets the specific role approved: genuine job, pay, hours, occupation and recruitment requirements.
Prepare your documents
Passport, photo, job offer, employment agreement, qualifications, references, registration, police and health/English evidence.
Your visa application (Stage 3)
Submit your evidence and pay the fee (from NZD $1,540). Requires at least 30 hrs/week of employment.
INZ assessment
Employment, qualifications, experience, health and character may all be verified before a decision is made.
Visa granted & work begins
You receive an eVisa (valid up to 5 years) and work for the employer, occupation, location and hours it specifies.
Transition toward residence
Via Green List Tier 1, Tier 2 (24 months), Skilled Migrant Category, or a Care/Transport pathway — if eligible. ✓
Pathway 1
Skilled Residence — New Zealand's Fastest Routes
Three major residence pathways sit alongside the AEWV: the Green List, the Skilled Migrant Category, and dedicated Care Workforce and Transport sector agreements.
Green List — Tier 1 Straight to Residence
The fastest skilled route available — no need to first rack up years of NZ work experience.
Typical requirements
- Applicant generally age 55 or younger
- Qualifying Tier 1 occupation with an accredited employer
- Required qualification, registration, pay, health, character & English
- Grants indefinite residence — can include partner and dependent children
- Can potentially be applied for from outside New Zealand — no need to enter on an AEWV first
Green List — Tier 2 Work to Residence
You build qualifying NZ work experience first — including time already spent on an AEWV.
Typical requirements
- 24 months of qualifying work in a Tier 2 occupation
- Available to applicants aged 55 or younger who meet requirements
- Qualifying work can include time already spent on an AEWV
Skilled Migrant Category SMC
For skilled workers whose occupation isn't on the Green List but who still meet strong thresholds.
Typical requirements
- Occupational registration, or a bachelor's degree or higher
- Sufficiently high income and skilled employment with an accredited employer
- Job must meet ANZSCO skill-level and wage-threshold requirements
Care Workforce & Transport Work to Residence
Two sector-specific residence pathways for occupations outside the Green List or SMC:
- Care Workforce Work to Residence — own list of eligible occupations, wage and work-experience requirements
- Transport Work to Residence — job title alone (e.g. truck driver) does not automatically qualify; the exact occupation, wage and registration requirements matter
- Wage-rate calculation rules for both change 24 August 2026
Pathway 2
Every Other Legal Pathway — In Detail
Open work visas, working holiday, seasonal, special-occupation and nationality-specific routes. Tap a route to see the detail.
POW Partner of a Worker Work Visa ⌄
If your spouse/partner is legally working in NZ on an eligible work visa, you may qualify to work without your own job offer.
- Requires a genuine, stable partnership, generally living together
- Eligibility depends on your partner's specific visa, occupation, skill level, wage and sector — not every AEWV holder can sponsor a partner's open work visa
- Since 20 Apr 2026: eligible open work visa holders can work for an employer, be self-employed, or own/operate a business
POS Partner of a Student Work Visa ⌄
- If your partner studies an eligible qualification in NZ, you may qualify for a work visa alongside them
- Depends heavily on qualification level and field of study — only applies where the programme is on an eligible list
PSW Post Study Work Visa ⌄
One of the most important routes for international students.
- Study in NZ → graduate → Post Study Work Visa (up to 3 yrs) → work → possibly AEWV/residence
- Duration depends on qualification and study circumstances
- From 16 Nov 2026: extended to NZQCF Level 7 Graduate Diploma holders who also hold a bachelor's degree; a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is introduced alongside this change
WHV Working Holiday Visa ⌄
- Primarily for young people from countries with a working-holiday agreement with NZ
- Typically age 18–30 (up to 35 for some nationalities); most permits allow work for up to ~12 months
- Cannot be used to simply take a permanent job and stay indefinitely — though it can be a stepping stone to a route like the AEWV
SPV Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa ⌄
- For business activities, specialist work, contracts, sports events, entertainment and other clearly defined purposes
- Lasts only for the period required to complete that specific work — not a general job-seeker visa
SEA Seasonal Work ⌄
Relevant to horticulture, agriculture, viticulture and seasonal harvesting.
- The interim option of hiring seasonal workers via the Specific Purpose Work Visa ceased 8 December 2025
- Seasonal AEWV arrangements and employer-specific seasonal schemes now apply — don't rely on an old "RSE visa" article
REL Religious Worker Work Visa ⌄
- For qualifying religious workers with a qualifying religious organisation, sponsorship/support, and relevant experience or qualifications where required
ENT Entertainers Work Visa ⌄
- For performers, production personnel and entertainment professionals
- May require support from the relevant NZ entertainment union/guild/professional association
FISH Fishing Crew Work Visa ⌄
- For overseas crew on qualifying fishing vessels — a specialised route with separate procedures and employer approvals, distinct from an ordinary AEWV
DOM Domestic Staff of a Diplomat ⌄
- For qualifying domestic staff employed by diplomatic, consular or official personnel — highly specialised and subject to specific conditions
NAT Special Nationality Agreements ⌄
Not general visas available to everyone — eligibility depends on nationality and occupation.
- China Special Work Instructions & China Skilled Workers
- Philippines, Vietnam & Indonesia Special Work Instructions
- Republic of Korea Special Work Instructions
- Japan and Thailand-related special categories, including niche roles like interpreters from Japan and Thai chefs
- Check the nationality-specific route before assuming AEWV is the only option
Pathway 3
Business Routes & Residence Visas That Permit Work
One route is currently closed to new applicants; several resident visas let you live and work indefinitely with no separate temporary work visa first.
Entrepreneur Work Visa
Historically the route to establish and run a business in New Zealand.
Currently closed to new applications
Historic requirements: NZD $100,000 investment, business plan, 120 points, English, fit-and-proper checks, with limited exceptions for innovative science/ICT businesses. Existing holders may be able to renew — always confirm the category has reopened before preparing a new application.
The Five Major Skilled-Residence Routes
Skilled Migrant Category (points-based) · Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1) · Work to Residence (Green List Tier 2, 24 months) · Care Workforce Work to Residence · Transport Work to Residence — all grant indefinite residence once the qualifying period is met.
No separate temporary visa needed
Some resident visas themselves permit you to live and work indefinitely — you don't necessarily need to hold a temporary work visa first if you qualify directly.
Pathways 4–5
Partner, Student & Related Pathways
Family and study ties can open a work visa without your own job offer — but the rules differ by relationship and qualification.
Partner of a Worker
If your partner holds an eligible NZ work visa, you may qualify to work without your own job offer.
- Genuine, stable partnership required
- Depends on partner's visa, occupation, skill level, wage & sector
Partner of a Student
If your partner studies an eligible NZ qualification, you may get a work visa alongside them.
- Depends on qualification level and field of study
- Only applies to eligible study programmes
Post Study Work Visa
Study in NZ → graduate → work up to 3 years → possibly AEWV or residence.
- Expands 16 Nov 2026 to Level 7 Graduate Diploma + bachelor's holders
- New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa introduced alongside
Not Every Partner Automatically Qualifies
Not every AEWV holder can sponsor a partner's open work visa — it depends on the sponsoring partner's exact visa, occupation, skill level, wage and sector. Since 20 April 2026, eligible open work visa holders can work for an employer, be self-employed, or own/operate a business — the exact condition depends on the specific visa held.
Pathway 6
Humanitarian, Protection & Mobility Routes
Distinct from economic immigration — based on protection needs rather than employment.
Migrant Exploitation Protection
For eligible migrants who have experienced exploitation and need work rights while addressing their situation.
Other Protection Categories
Special work rights also exist connected to refugee/protection claims, family violence and trafficking victims, per Immigration New Zealand's operational instructions.
Quick Reference
Which Pathway Is Best For You?
A fast starting point — your ideal pathway always depends on your full profile.
| Your Situation | Usually Strongest Option |
|---|---|
| Have a Green List Tier 1 job offer | Straight to Residence — no wait |
| Have a Green List Tier 2 job offer | AEWV → Work to Residence in 24 months |
| Skilled but not on the Green List | AEWV → Skilled Migrant Category |
| In care or transport sector work | Care/Transport Work to Residence pathway |
| Studying in New Zealand | Post Study Work Visa — up to 3 years |
| Partner already holds eligible NZ status | Partner of a Worker/Student Work Visa |
| Young & want to travel and work | Working Holiday Visa |
| None of the above fits | Check specific/special-purpose visas |
Have a Green List Tier 1 job offer
Straight to Residence — no wait
Have a Green List Tier 2 job offer
AEWV → Work to Residence in 24 months
Skilled but not on the Green List
AEWV → Skilled Migrant Category
In care or transport sector work
Care/Transport Work to Residence pathway
Studying in New Zealand
Post Study Work Visa — up to 3 years
Partner already holds eligible NZ status
Partner of a Worker/Student Work Visa
Young & want to travel and work
Working Holiday Visa
None of the above fits
Check specific/special-purpose visas
⚠️ Immigration programs and eligibility rules change frequently, and 2026 brings several scheduled updates. Always verify current requirements on Immigration New Zealand's official site (immigration.govt.nz) or with the VisaHelperz Team before applying.
The Full New Zealand Work Visa Master Guide
Download the complete guide: the AEWV process, the Green List, Skilled Migrant Category, partner and student routes, seasonal and special-purpose work, and every 2026 rule change — one clear, step-by-step guide from VisaHelperz. A single branded PDF you can save, print, or share with your advisor.
© 2026 VisaHelperz Immigration Consultant. This guide is for general information only and is not immigration advice.