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New Zealand Job Opportunities

To legally work in a New Zealand job you are required to have a Work Visa/Permit.

To qualify you will need to either show you:

• Have an offer of a job from a New Zealand employer;
• Are skilled in an occupation in demand and listed on the Immediate Skill Shortage List;
• Want to work in New Zealand temporarily for a particular purpose or event such as a tournament, a show or for certain professional reasons;
• Are a student or trainee wanting to gain work experience in New Zealand;
• Are a student who is eligible to work in New Zealand after completing your studies; OR
• Are planning to work temporarily while joining your partner here.

All employers wishing to employ foreign workers or students in New Zealand must comply with relevant employment and immigration law.

The Skilled Stream

The Skilled Stream consists of 4 broad policies and a small group of other categories which facilitate the entry of skilled people to work in New Zealand.

Work to Residence Policy

• This policy facilitates the entry of people whose skills or talents are in demand, and provides these people with a pathway to residence.
  More on Work to Residence Policy

General Work Policy

• This policy facilitates the entry of people required on a temporary basis to fill shortages where New Zealanders are either not available or cannot be readily trained to do the work.
    Free Online Work Permit Assessment

Specific Purpose or Event Policy

• This policy facilitates the entry of people whose skills, attributes or expertise are needed for a specific purpose or event likely to benefit New Zealand, where their employment in New Zealand does not put employment opportunities for New Zealanders at risk.
    Read More on Specific Purpose and Event

Students and Trainees Policy

• This policy facilitates the entry of overseas students and trainees to gain practical work experience in New Zealand as part of their studies.
    About the Student's and Trainee's Policy

Study to Work Policy

• This policy facilitates the entry of overseas students who have completed a qualification in New Zealand or who have completed a course with a minimum completion time of 3 years to undertake employment after their studies.
    More About Study to Work

Other Categories

This policy facilitates the entry of:

• Applicants with specialist skills identified as contributing to New Zealand's economic development;
• Ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders;
• Interpreters from Japan; AND
• Crew of chartered foreign fishing vessels.
    Read More About Other Categories

The Family Stream

The Family Stream enables partners of holders of Work Visas/Permits to undertake a temporary job in New Zealand, including holders of Student Visas who are able to meet the requirements.