How to Get New Zealand Work Permit: Eligibility, Steps to Apply & More
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So you want to work in NZ and explore information about New Zealand work permit? There are various categories of NZ work visas, and processing times can vary depending on the visa type. The New Zealand work visa processing time generally takes several weeks.
New Zealand Work Visa is a legal document that allows international professionals to work in NZ. Due to the career opportunities, job security and optimum work-life balance, New Zealand attracts foreign nationals. The government of New Zealand offers various ranges of work visas based on your skills.
The range of New Zealand Work Visa processing time is between 8 weeks to 11 weeks. The work visa processing time totally depends on the type of work, embassy rules and profile of the applicants. In this blog, we will help you to know how to get a New Zealand work permit for Indians including eligibility, fees, and other relevant documents.
Related reads
- Student Guide to New Zealand (NZ)
- How to get PR (Permanent Residency) in New Zealand after study?
- Permanent Residency (PR) Courses in New Zealand
Benefits of Work Permit Visa in New Zealand?
Applicants can apply for a work permit visa to work in New Zealand temporarily only if they fulfill either of the following conditions:
- Officially hold a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.
- Those who are coming back to New Zealand for a specific work-related purpose or event.
- Also, those applicants who have their partners/spouses in New Zealand, and wish to join them and work.
- Applicants belonging to a country that has a special work scheme, or
- Candidates who have been studying in New Zealand and want to work there.
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How to Get a Work Permit Visa in New Zealand?
Candidates can apply for Post-study work visa applications for 1, 2 or 3 years. Today we will talk about the eligibility requirement for applying for a three-year post-study work visa. Candidates should know that there is no difference in the eligibility requirements for different durations of the post-study work visa application, the only difference is the length of your stay.
Good Health Condition
Candidates applying for a three-year post visa must prove they are in good health. They could be required to get a chest x-ray or a medical examination or both from an approved panel of doctors provided on the official New Zealand Immigration website. This is valid for all candidates looking to stay for over 12 months in the country and who have attained the age of 17 and above. This is not mandatory, however, the New Zealand (NZ) immigration could require the same and you would have to comply.
Character Certificate
Again, not mandatory but a lot of times, NZ immigration might require you to provide a police certificate stating your good character. This rule applies to candidates above 17 years of age.
Apply on Time for Your Post-Study Work Visa
Candidates are required to apply for their post-study work visa no later than 3 months after their New Zealand Student Visa expires, or 6 months if the candidate is granted a visa to complete a doctorate. Candidates should keep this in mind to apply on time, as their records would be checked to make sure they apply before the deadline.
Proof of Requisite Funds
According to Immigrant New Zealand, candidates applying for their work permit visa in New Zealand are required to provide evidence that they are in possession of at least NZD $4,200 when they apply. Evidence can include bank statements, credit card statements, bank drafts or travellers’ cheques.
Education Qualification
Candidates will not be eligible to apply for their post-study work visa if they have not completed the qualification recorded on their student visa. Hence, students have to complete the course they had come to New Zealand to pursue in the first place. Candidates to apply for their work permit in New Zealand would be required to provide a copy of the acceptable qualification and a letter or academic transcript from their tertiary education provider confirming they have completed their qualification.
Acceptable qualifications for a Post-study work visa include
- You must have studied in New Zealand, and
- Your qualification must be Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
OR
- Your qualification at level 7 or higher is acceptable if your course lasted 30 weeks or more.
OR
- Your Level 4, 5 or 6 qualification is acceptable if you:
- Completed it after study of 60 weeks or more, or
- Gained 2 qualifications that:
- Each involved 30 weeks study, and
- The level of your last qualification was higher than the first.
- You studied the English language
How to Apply for a Work Permit in New Zealand?
There are two ways via which candidates can apply for a 3-year post-study visa in New Zealand. The online method or else submitting the application form in person – the offline method. The rules for the two are slightly different. Read to understand.
The online method: Candidates would be required to complete the online application form for a work permit in New Zealand. They would be required to provide one acceptable photograph (check the official website for photograph requirements). They would also be required to upload a copy of their valid passport during the application process. Candidates would be asked to send their original passport after the application process has begun, but that is during the later stage. Your passport has to be valid for a period of 3 years.
Post Study Work Visa Fee and Time – Online
| New Zealand PSW Visa Fees (Online) |
|
|---|---|
| New Zealand PSW Application Fee |
NZD 1670 (84,729) |
| New Zealand Post-study Work Permit Processing Time |
5 Weeks |
The offline method: The candidate would be required to submit the completed paper application form, along with 2 acceptable photographs. If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy, which shortens the application process time.
Post Study Work Visa Fee and Time – Offline
| New Zealand PSW Visa Fees (Offline) |
|
|---|---|
| Application Fee |
INR 87,300 |
| Receiving Centre Fee |
INR 1,715 |
| New Zealand Post-study Work Permit Processing Time |
5 weeks |
New Zealand Work Visa Processing Time
New Zealand work visa processing time depends on the type of work visa and profile of the applicants. The following is the New Zealand work visa processing time for those applying in the table below:
| NZ Work Visa Type | New Zealand Work Visa Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | 4 Months |
| Employer accreditations for AEWV | 11 Weeks |
| Job checks | 12 Weeks |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 11 weeks |
The timelines may vary in case there are a lot of applications for assessing in New Zealand for a work visa. But ideally, New Zealand work visa processing time should not vary beyond the above-given timelines.
New Zealand Work Visa Cost
The following is the New Zealand work visa cost for different types of visas:
| NZ Work Visa Type | New Zealand Work Visa Cost |
|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | NZD 750 |
| Employer accreditations for AEWV | NZD 740 |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | NZD 700 |
The New Zealand work visa fees may vary for online or offline modes of submission. Usually, an online mode of submission is preferred. In case the New Zealand work visa fee cannot be submitted online then applicants can submit offline also and vice versa.
Want to Apply for Another Post-Study Work Permit?
Candidates can apply for a second post-study work permit if they are looking to work for longer, however, they would have to qualify the following.
- You can apply for another Post-study work visa, but only if you complete another qualification in New Zealand that:
- You studied for 30 weeks or more
- Is a bachelor's degree or post-graduate qualification, and
- Is at a higher level than the qualification you used to get your previous visa.
Also Read
Q: Is New Zealand good for Indian students?
Q: What is the New Zealand work permit processing time?
The processing time for a New Zealand work permit can vary depending on several factors such as type of work, applicant's profile, work load in visa office and so on. Usually, the visa processing time is between 8 weeks to 11 weeks. To make the processing time shorter, you just fulfill every eligibility, submit the required documents.
Q: What is the acceptance rate for Lincoln University New Zealand?
According to various unofficial sources, Lincoln University New Zealand acceptance rate is around 60%. The acceptance rate indicated that the university is moderately selective at the time of admission. So, to get into the university, make sure to have a good academic record and meet the entry requirements such as having 12 years of schooling and minimum percentage for admission to bachelor’s courses. For admission to postgraduate courses, a relevant degree is required with the minimum grade.
Q: What is the basic eligibility for New Zealand work permit?
Here are some basic eligibility to apply for NZ work permit:
- Good Health Conditions
- Character Certificate
- Proof of Requisite Funds
- You must have studied in New Zealand
Other than this, you need to read the instructions of filling up NZ work visa form. It is important so you do not enter any wrong information which leads your application rejection.
Q: Why Indian students choose to study at Whitireia New Zealand?
- World-Class Education.
- Post-Study Work Rights..
- Financial Assistance.
- Study Abroad Opportunities.
- International Student Support.
- Diverse Student Community.
Q: Where can I find the official processing times for New Zealand work visas?
Below, we have mentioned New Zealand Work Visa processing time for international work force:
| New Zealand Work Visa Processing Time | |
|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | 4 Months |
| Employer accreditations for AEWV | 11 Weeks |
| Job checks | 12 Weeks |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 11 weeks |
You can also check the official website of New Zealand immigration to know the exact information.
Q: What is the ranking of Unitec in New Zealand?
According to unofficial source, i.e., 4ICU, the Unitec Institute of Technology ranking is 30th in New Zealand. The Unitec Institute of Technology world ranking is 2683 in 2024. Unitec is among the most popular universities in the country to study programs like Master of Applied Business, Master of Computing, etc.
Check the list of top Universities and Colleges in New Zealand
Q: Which course is better, Master in Management or Master in Project Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand?
The University of Auckland offers the best UG and PG programs for international students at an affordable tuition fees. Auckland Unversity Master in Project Management is slightly better than the Master in Management because of its tuition fees for first year. Mentioned below is the tuition fees for first-year for international students:
| Program | First Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| Master in Project Management | INR 25.11 L |
| Master in Management | INR 26.11 L |
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Comments
(1)
R
3 years ago
With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.