Work in New Zealand (Updated 2025-2026)
New Zealand offers excellent opportunities for skilled workers from around the world. The immigration system was reformed in 2022-2023, replacing the old Essential Skills visa with the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The AEWV is the main work visa for New Zealand. Key features include:
- Employer accreditation required: Your employer must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand
- Median wage threshold: NZD $31.61 per hour (updated annually)
- Job check: Most roles require a job check to verify no suitable NZ workers are available
- Visa duration: Up to 3 years (5 years for some occupations)
- Application fee: NZD $750
- Can lead to residence through the Skilled Migrant Category or Green List pathways
Green List Occupations
The Green List provides a fast-track pathway to residence for workers in highly sought-after occupations:
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence: Construction Project Managers, Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Other Medical Practitioners, Veterinarians, ICT Security Specialists (with 5+ years experience).
Tier 2 – Work to Residence (after 2 years): Registered Nurses, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Quantity Surveyors, Software Engineers, Multimedia Specialists, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Structural Engineers, Telecommunications Engineers, and more.
Other Work Visa Options
- Working Holiday Visa: For citizens of 45+ countries, aged 18-30 (18-35 for some). Duration: 12 months (23 months for UK). Fee: NZD $455.
- Specific Purpose Work Visa: For specific events, projects, or roles not covered by other visas.
- Post-Study Work Visa: For graduates of NZ institutions, 1-3 years depending on qualification level.
- Essential Skills Work Visa: Now closed to new applications (replaced by AEWV).
- Skilled Migrant Category: Points-based residence visa requiring minimum 6 points. Fee: NZD $680.
Minimum Wage and Working Conditions
New Zealand’s minimum wage is NZD $23.15 per hour (as of April 2024). Workers are entitled to 4 weeks annual leave, 11 public holidays, and 10 days sick leave per year. New Zealand has strong employment protections and a safe working environment.