For up the most accurate and up to date information visit: www.immigration.govt.nz
Before you can travel to New Zealand to work you must be a New Zealand citizen, have permanent residency, or obtain a New Zealand work visa/permit.
Currently, there are many types of work visa/permit categories by which you may be able to obtain entry to work in New Zealand. These are:
Work to Residence
You may be qualified in a highly specialised or in-demand field (ie listed on the Long Term or Short Term Skill Shortages Lists). This will enable you to apply for a work permit under the Work to Residence category. This category allows you to work temporarily in New Zealand as a step towards gaining permanent residence, and after two years you can apply for permanent residency. This negates the need to meet the points requirement of the Skilled Migrant category. The Talent Visa and Priority Occupational Listing or Talent (Arts, Sports and Culture) falls under this category. The Priority Occupational Listing is a comprehensive list of all the jobs that are high priority because there is a shortage of suitably trained and qualified New Zealanders for such jobs. This list is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.
Skilled Migrant
New Zealand is encouraging people with skills, qualifications and experience to help contribute to an innovative and responsive workforce. To fit this category you need to meet the criteria set out by Immigration New Zealand, and be granted enough points.
Temporary Work
If you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer, you’re skilled in an occupation that’s in demand, or you’re coming to New Zealand for a particular purpose or event, you can apply for a temporary work permit. To meet this criteria, your job offer needs to be in a field that is listed on the Skill Shortages List; you need to have an offer from either an employer who can’t find any suitable qualified or trained New Zealanders, or from an employer who has been given approval in principle to recruit someone from overseas; or you are planning to work temporarily while joining your partner in New Zealand.
Working Holiday
If you’re aged between 18 and 30 years you may be eligible to experience life in New Zealand on a working holiday (for over 20 countries including the UK and USA). You can apply for this permit for up to 23 months, of which you can work for 12.
We have a good track record in making the immigration process as simple as possible and have obtained 'Talent Accredited Status' from the New Zealand Immigration Service, which means you enter the country on a Talent Visa.
Work-to-Residence via Talent Accredited Employer
Beca's status as an Accredited Employer with Immigration New Zealand allows qualifying new employees to apply for a Work-to-Residence visa and receive fast-track processing, helping to minimise frustration and uncertainty and get you to New Zealand sooner. A Talent Visa falls under the Work to Residence category. To become accredited we had to prove we are financially viable, committed to training and employing New Zealanders, and have sound human resource and workplace policies and practices.
The benefits of applying to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer include:
- Priority processing for visa applications (approximately five working days).
- Minimal documentation requirements.
- The possibility for partners of Talent Visa holders employed by accredited employers to obtain open work visas (as long as they meet the Immigration New Zealand criteria).
- Eligibility to apply for permanent residency after 24 months of working for Beca as an accredited employer or in an occupation that is on the priority occupations list (refer to the Immigration New Zealand website to find out if your occupation is on this list). Your permanent residency application is also given priority processing.
- A work permit of up to 30 months.
If applying for a work permit/visa under Beca’s accredited employer status you will need to:
- Provide a valid passport.
- Complete the Application to Work in New Zealand form.
- Provide your offer of employment from Beca (which must be an offer for a full time job, with a base salary of at least NZ$50,000). If Beca offers you a job that does not meet this criteria, then you will need to apply to Immigration New Zealand under the normal process, rather than the process for accredited employers.
- Provide evidence (if necessary) of New Zealand registration in your area of expertise (e.g. Land Surveyors must have New Zealand registration before they are able to work in New Zealand).
- Provide police clearance from your country of origin, which is no more than six months old.
- Include a fully completed Immigration New Zealand Medical and X-Ray Form, as well as any associated medical or laboratory reports required for the Medical or X-Ray Certificates.
- Attach a copy of Beca’s accreditation approval letter (we will provide you with this).
- Provide evidence of your relationship (ie marriage certificate, birth certificate), if your partner and/or dependants are included in your application.
Please check the Immigration New Zealand website: www.immigration.govt.nz for the most up to date information. Here you can download general work policy information, the Long Term or Short Term Skill Shortages Lists and any applications required for the option you take.
Passport
Generally, the passport of every adult visitor to New Zealand must be valid for at least three months beyond the end of his or her stay.