USA to New Zealand.

Work Visa

There are four streams for work visa for those with skills and knowledge needed by New Zealand employer and New Zealand industry.

The new temporary work visa, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will be launched on 4 July 2022. This visa will replace the Essential Skills Work visa and Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.

  • Skilled Stream includes four different ways to facilitate entry of skilled people including work to residence, essential skills, specific purpose or event and students/ trainees.

    Family Stream enables temporary employment for the partners of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders and partners of Long Term Business Visa holders as well as partner of holders of work visas.

    International/Humanitarian Stream allows people form other countries to be granted permission to work on a reciprocal basis and enables New Zealand to meet its humanitarian and international obligations.

    Special Work Stream allows entry to support horticultural and viticulture industries; fishing vessels in New Zealand’s fisheries waters and religious work in New Zealand.

2021 Resident Visa

This visa allows the following to apply for the visa from 1 December 2021 (Phase 1 applicants) and from 1 March 2022 to 31 July 2022 (Phase 2 applicants).

Holders of eligible visa who are settled, skilled or scarce at time of application on 29 September 2021 or people granted a Critical Purpose visa or the principal applicant meets the requirements for a Dependent children aged 25 years or older.

  • Applications from applicants who have applied for a residence under the Skilled Migrant Category or Residence from work category on 29 September 2021 or applicants who had a skilled migrant category expression of interest in the pool and included a dependent child aged 17 years or older as at 29 September 2021

  • Applications from all other applicants.

Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa

The application for this residence visa is a two stage process. Expression of interest (EOI) is first submitted. EOIs with a total of at least 100 points for employability and capacity building factors will be entered in to a Pool of EOIs. Selected EOIs will be invited to apply. Application must be made within four months of the date of the invitation to apply. Requirements for health, character, English language and employability and capacity building must be met in order to be granted a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category.

This is a points system that is based on age, work experience, qualifications and an offer of skilled employment. It is for applicants who have the skills to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth. Successful Expression of Interest will be offered an opportunity to apply to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.

  • Student & Training Visas

    This allows the entry of genuine students to study in New Zealand. New Zealand focuses on attracting and developing students who have the skills and talent that New Zealand needs.

  • Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa

    Visa for partners of New Zealand citizen or resident.

  • Business Visas

    Visa options for people who have been self employed in their own business in New Zealand for at least 6 months or more; for experienced business people who want to work in their own business in New Zealand; for innovative entrepreneurs or investors.