Requirements for working temporarily in New Zealand There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet to get a temporary work visa. In this section you can find out whether you need a work visa, whether you’ll qualify, and what a temporary work visa will allow you to do.

You do not need a New Zealand work visa if you are:

A New Zealand citizen or you hold a New Zealand residence visa, or an Australian citizen, or the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa. (If there are conditions on your residence visa/resident return visa, then you will require a New Zealand work visa.)

Certain kinds of work do not require a work visa. If your employment in New Zealand involves visits for business negotiations, short-term sales trips, work for official trade missions recognized by the New Zealand government, or work for overseas governments, you may be able to do it while on a visitor visa. See what these options are and what they require.

There are a number of requirements that all applicants need to meet for a temporary work visa.

To enter New Zealand you must:

• Be in good health and of good character, and
• Have a passport that is valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave New Zealand, and
• be genuine in wanting to work in New Zealand, and
• Have the right visa for your visit.
• If you are granted a temporary work visa you need to meet certain conditions during your stay:
• The work you do must be in line with the conditions specified in your visa
• You must keep within New Zealand’s laws
• You must only stay in New Zealand for the time allowed by your visa.
• If you break any of these conditions we may require you to leave the country immediately.

As well as meeting the requirements for all applicants, you must meet the requirements of the category under which you are applying for a temporary work visa. We grant temporary work visas under several different categories, which have different requirements. Which category you can apply under depends on your circumstances.

I have a job offer from a New Zealand employer

If you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer and do not fall under one of the categories for specialist workers below, you may apply under the Essential Skills work category. The employer will need to show that no New Zealand citizens or residents are available to do the job, either by: showing that the job is included in one of the Essential Skills In Demand Lists; or providing evidence that they have genuinely tried to find a New Zealand worker to fill the position. In addition, you must be appropriately qualified by training or experience to take up the position.