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Your situation
EmployeeThe Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), for a job with an accredited employer. 6 steps Working holidayA year of work and travel for 18 to 30-year-olds (35 for some countries). 4 steps StudentA fee-paying student visa for a course with an approved provider. 4 steps Australian citizen or permanent residentAustralian citizens can live and work here indefinitely; permanent residents usually can too. 2 steps Open a step on the roadmap to see what it involves. Rules change
Since January 2025 visitors may work remotely for an overseas employer or overseas clients during a visit, but that is a visitor's allowance, not a route to living here. Settings change, sometimes materially, with each government announcement. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Confirm each step with Immigration New Zealand before you rely on it.
Your roadmap · Employee 6 steps 3–6 months before → to Year 1 onwards 1 Step 1: Find an accredited employer3–6 months before + Only an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand can hire you on this visa. It must then pass a job check for your role, showing the pay meets the market rate and that it advertised locally where required. 2 Step 2: Check you meet the bar2–3 months before + You generally need either two years' relevant work experience or a qualification at level 4 or above on the New Zealand scale, plus English for lower-skilled roles. The role must offer at least 30 hours a week. 3 Step 3: Apply online8–12 weeks before + Use the job check token the employer gives you. The fee starts at NZ$1,540; check Immigration New Zealand's current processing times before you book travel. Police certificates and a medical may be required depending on the length of stay and your history. 4 Step 4: Arrive with the eVisaDay 0 + The visa is electronic. Keep the approval letter with your passport; employers, banks and landlords ask for it. 5 Step 5: Get an IRD number and enrol with a GPWeek 1 + Apply for your IRD number before the first payday. Holders of a work visa valid for two years or more are usually eligible for publicly funded health care. 6 Step 6: Look at residenceYear 1 onwards + The AEWV runs up to five years, three for lower-skilled roles. The Skilled Migrant Category and the Green List straight-to-residence roles are the usual routes to stay; check the points and wage settings when you apply. Get help with the move to Auckland → Chat with Eva