FAQ - Work Questions |
|
Also visit FAQ - Skilled Migrant Questions if you can't find what your looking for here.
What is the Immediate Skill Shortage List? |
| It is a list of positions that have a short term shortage in different areas of New Zealand. The short term period is updated every six months. Click on the Immediate Skill Shortage List to view the positions. |
What is the Long Term Skill Shortage List? |
| This is a list of occupations that are in absolute or critical shortage and is commonly used in Work to Residence policy and the Skilled Migrant Policy. You can get bonus points if your job is recognised as a skill shortage in the Skilled Migrant category. Click on the Long Term Skill Shortage List to view the positions. |
How do I apply for a work permit or visa? |
You are advised that you get medical insurance before you come to work in New Zealand for the time you will be staying there. If you are covered by New Zealand's Reciprocal Health Agreements with Australia or United Kingdom, then you are entitled to funded health care for emergency use only.
Your family cannot be included in the application, they will have to apply for their own visitor, student or work visa or permits to enter New Zealand. If you have a Work visa or permit your partner could apply for one themselves under the Family Stream bracket.
If you have to stay longer you can apply for a further Work Permit where you will have to leave sufficient time for the application to have time to be processed. If your permit expires and your application is still being processed you must leave the country because it means you cannot live in New Zealand lawfully or give you the right to remain in the country.
You can apply for the Work permit or visa when you are living outside New Zealand and you want to travel there or you are already in New Zealand but you are not currently employed. |
What documents do I need to supply when applying for a work permit? |
| This depends on the type of work permit you will be applying for. The different categories are General Work, Specific Purpose or Event, Student and Trainee, Study to Work or Family Stream. |
I have a work permit but I need a work visa to travel. What should I do? |
For more information, read the Application to Work Guide. |
Can I apply for a working holiday scheme online or from New Zealand? |
The following countries can apply for a working holiday scheme online: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Thailand and the USA.
If you can submit your application online you can do it from anywhere in the world including New Zealand. |
What criteria is needed for applying for a working holiday scheme? |
| You must be aged between 18 and 30 years to apply for a working holiday scheme. All the criteria depends on what country you come from, but most important is that you have a valid passport, good character and good health, not bring children with you, have a return ticket back home and satisfy the government that you are here for a holiday, not work. |
Which countries do New Zealand have working holiday schemes with? |
These are the countries that New Zealand have working holiday schemes with and how many places on average they award:-
| Argentina - 1000 places |
|
Korea - 1500 places |
| Belgium - 2000 places |
|
Malaysia - 1150 places |
| Canada - 2000 places |
|
Malta - 50 places |
| Chile - 1000 places |
|
Netherlands - unlimited places |
| Czech Republic - 1000 places |
|
Norway - unlimited places |
| Denmark - 2000 places |
|
Singapore - 200 places |
| Finland - 2000 places |
|
Sweden - unlimited places |
| France - 5000 places |
|
Taiwan - 600 places |
| Germany - unlimited places |
|
Thailand - 100 places |
| Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - 200 places |
|
United Kingdom - unlimited places |
| Ireland - 2800 places |
|
United States of America - unlimited (ages between 18-30) |
| Italy - 1000 places |
|
Uruguay - 100 places |
| Japan - unlimited places |
|
|
|
Can I apply for a Graduate Job Search Work permit or visa? |
| If you have completed a qualification that gains points under the Skilled Migrant Category and applies no later than three months after the end of you student permit may be able to apply for the Graduate Job Search visa/permit.It lasts for six months and you must provide $2,100 to maintain yourself when in New Zealand. Read the Application to Work Guide (1016) for more assistance. |
I want to do fruit picking in New Zealand but I am only visiting. Is this possible? |
| You have to have a work permit to work in New Zealand for any period. There is a seasonal work permit policy to cope with the labour shortages in the horticulture and viticulture industries, with the pilot number of places being 4,000. |
What do I do as an employer to recruit from overseas? |
| You must submit an approval in the principal application. |
Have there been any changes to the Seasonal Work Permit? |
| New changes made to the policy include: applicants can apply more than once for a SWP, the form has been made easier to use, the new end date has changed and the cut-off date has been changed for applicants from visa-required countries. |
I can only be offered employment if I provide a valid work permit, but I need a offer of employment to apply for a work permit first. What shall I do? |
| There is no law that stops the employer offering a job even if the potential employee does not currently have a work visa or permit. They can also offer employment if the employee can give evidence to say they have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Once you get an offer of employment you can submit it as evidence for your work permit or visa application. |
|
|
|
