New Zealand Visa Sponsorship Jobs 2026: How Employer-Sponsored Work Visas Work

New Zealand remains an attractive destination for international professionals looking for skilled employment, competitive salaries and possible pathways to permanent residence.

For many foreign workers, the most common route into the country is through a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer. The employer supports the application by completing the required accreditation and job-check stages, after which the worker can apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa.

This process is commonly described as New Zealand visa sponsorship. However, sponsorship does not mean that an employer can guarantee a visa. Immigration New Zealand makes the final decision after assessing the employer, the position and the applicant.

Understanding the process can help applicants identify legitimate opportunities, avoid employment scams and choose jobs that may eventually lead to New Zealand residence.

What Is New Zealand Work Visa Sponsorship?

New Zealand work visa sponsorship generally means that a New Zealand business offers a foreign worker a qualifying job and completes the employer-side immigration requirements connected to that position.

The main employer-sponsored visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa, commonly called the AEWV.

To hire a worker through this programme, the business usually needs to:

• Hold valid employer accreditation
• Offer genuine full-time employment
• Meet New Zealand employment-law requirements
• Pay the market rate for the position
• Complete an approved job check
• Verify that the migrant has the required skills or qualifications
• Provide the applicant with a link to submit the visa application

Immigration New Zealand states that an AEWV applicant must have a job offer from an accredited employer. Depending on the position, skill level and salary, the visa may allow the employee to remain in New Zealand for between seven months and five years.

How the Accredited Employer Work Visa Process Works

The AEWV process contains separate stages for the employer and the foreign worker.

A genuine job offer is important, but it is not enough on its own. The employer must first receive permission to recruit migrant workers for the specific position.

Step 1: The employer becomes accredited

Before sponsoring foreign workers under the AEWV programme, a New Zealand business must apply for employer accreditation.

The accreditation process is intended to confirm that the business is genuine, financially viable and compliant with employment and immigration requirements.

Common accreditation types include:

• Standard accreditation for employers hiring up to five migrant workers
• High-volume accreditation for employers hiring six or more migrants
• Triangular employer accreditation for certain businesses that place workers with third parties

At the time of publication, Immigration New Zealand lists the standard accreditation fee at NZD $775 and high-volume accreditation at NZD $1,280. Triangular employer accreditation costs more. These fees are paid by the employer and can change, so businesses should confirm the current amount before applying.

Step 2: The employer advertises the position when required

In many cases, the employer must advertise the vacancy and make a genuine attempt to recruit suitable New Zealand citizens or residents.

The advertisement should generally include information such as:

• The job title and location
• Duties and responsibilities
• Minimum and maximum pay
• Guaranteed working hours
• Required experience
• Qualifications or professional registration

Advertising may not be required where the job meets an exemption, such as certain Green List positions, jobs paid at least NZD $70 per hour or qualifying Global Workforce Seasonal Visa roles.

For some lower-skilled occupations, the employer may also need to engage with Work and Income before submitting the job check.

Step 3: The employer applies for a job check

After receiving accreditation and completing any required recruitment process, the employer applies for a job check.

During this stage, Immigration New Zealand examines whether:

• The job is genuine
• The salary meets the required market rate
• The working conditions comply with New Zealand law
• The employment requirements are reasonable
• The employer has completed the required advertising
• Suitable New Zealand workers were considered where necessary

An approved job check is generally valid for six months or until the employer’s accreditation is no longer valid.

Step 4: The employer offers the job to the migrant worker

Once the job check has been approved, the accredited employer can formally offer the position to a suitable foreign worker.

The employer must confirm that the applicant has the required:

• Work experience
• Educational qualifications
• Occupational registration
• Professional licence
• English-language ability, where applicable
• Technical skills

The employer then sends the worker the unique application link needed to apply for the AEWV online.

Step 5: The foreign worker submits the visa application

The worker completes the online application and provides evidence supporting their eligibility.

Documents may include:

• A valid passport
• Signed employment offer
• Employment agreement
• Educational certificates
• Professional registration
• Evidence of relevant work experience
• Police certificates
• Medical or chest X-ray certificates
• English-language test results, where required

The exact documents depend on the applicant’s nationality, occupation and personal circumstances.

Since June 1, 2026, minimum English-language requirements have also applied to certain AEWV positions classified at ANZSCO or National Occupation List skill level 3, in addition to relevant lower-skilled roles.

Accredited Employer Work Visa Requirements

To qualify for an AEWV, an applicant generally needs a genuine offer of full-time work from an accredited employer.

The offer must normally satisfy requirements relating to:

• Guaranteed working hours
• Pay and employment conditions
• The approved occupation and location
• Relevant qualifications or experience
• Health and character
• Occupational registration, where required

The visa is usually tied to the employer, occupation and location stated in the application. A worker who wants to change employer, job or location may need to apply for a Job Change or obtain new visa conditions before beginning the new position.

Immigration New Zealand can approve changes relating to the worker’s employer, occupation, location or a combination of these, provided the relevant requirements are met.

New Zealand Work Visa Salary Requirements

There is no single salary that applies to every AEWV job.

The general AEWV median-wage requirement was removed in March 2025. However, employers must still pay at least:

• The New Zealand legal minimum wage
• The market rate for the occupation
• Any higher wage specifically required by the immigration pathway or occupation

Immigration New Zealand assesses the proposed pay range during the employer’s job-check application. The actual rate is then considered again when the worker applies for the visa.

Some Green List and residence pathways still have specified wage thresholds.

The immigration median wage increased to NZD $35 per hour from March 9, 2026. Although it is no longer the general AEWV minimum, the figure continues to affect several residence, family and occupation-specific immigration settings.

Applicants should therefore avoid websites or recruiters that claim every sponsored worker must earn one fixed annual salary.

How Long Can You Stay on an AEWV?

The permitted length of stay depends on factors including:

• The occupation
• Its recognised skill level
• The rate of pay
• Whether the role is seasonal
• When the visa application was submitted
• The applicable maximum continuous stay

Some AEWV holders may receive visas lasting up to five years, while others may receive a substantially shorter period.

A seasonal worker, for example, may qualify under a separate seasonal AEWV category rather than the standard work-visa route.

The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa permits eligible workers to stay for up to nine months and currently has an application cost starting from NZD $1,540. The applicant must be invited to apply by an appropriately accredited employer.

Can an AEWV Lead to Permanent Residence?

An AEWV does not automatically provide permanent residence.

However, sponsored employment can help a worker qualify for one of New Zealand’s skilled residence pathways.

The principal routes include:

• The Green List Straight to Residence pathway
• The Green List Work to Residence pathway
• The Skilled Migrant Category
• Care workforce and transport sector pathways
• Other occupation-specific residence categories

Eligibility depends on the worker’s occupation, salary, qualifications, registration, age and New Zealand work experience.

Green List Jobs in New Zealand

The Green List identifies occupations where New Zealand has a significant need for qualified workers.

Green List roles are divided into two tiers.

Tier 1: Straight to Residence

A foreign worker with an eligible Tier 1 job or job offer may be able to apply directly for a Straight to Residence Visa.

The applicant must generally:

• Have a job or job offer from an accredited employer
• Work in an eligible Tier 1 Green List occupation
• Meet the occupation’s qualification requirements
• Hold any required professional registration
• Meet the applicable salary threshold
• Be aged 55 or younger
• Satisfy health, character and English-language requirements

The Straight to Residence Visa allows successful applicants to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

As of the current published information, applications cost from NZD $6,450, and Immigration New Zealand reports that 80% are decided within approximately four months. Processing times are estimates rather than guarantees.

Tier 2: Work to Residence

Tier 2 Green List workers generally need to complete 24 months of eligible employment in New Zealand before applying for residence.

The applicant must work in the qualifying Tier 2 position and meet its registration, qualification and wage conditions.

Where an occupation does not have a separate specified rate, the Work to Residence threshold is currently linked to the NZD $35-per-hour median wage.

Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that applicants must ordinarily complete 24 months of qualifying New Zealand work within the 30 months immediately before applying for a Work to Residence Visa.

Occupations That May Appear on the Green List

Green List occupations can change. Applicants must therefore check their exact occupation rather than assuming that every healthcare, technology or engineering job qualifies.

Roles commonly represented across Green List categories may include selected:

• Doctors and specialist physicians
• Registered nurses
• Medical laboratory scientists
• Engineers
• Construction professionals
• Information-technology specialists
• Telecommunications professionals
• Teachers
• Tradespeople
• Agricultural specialists

Each occupation can have separate conditions involving salary, experience, professional registration and educational qualifications.

Being employed in the same general industry is not enough. The applicant’s exact occupation must appear on the applicable Green List and meet all listed conditions.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Foreign workers who do not qualify through the Green List may consider the Skilled Migrant Category.

The current pathway is generally intended for people who have a skilled New Zealand job and can claim eligibility through factors such as:

• Recognised occupational registration
• A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification
• Income at or above the applicable threshold
• Skilled work experience in New Zealand

The system normally requires applicants to reach the required number of skilled-residence points.

Immigration New Zealand states that the Skilled Migrant Category is available to people with an acceptable skilled job who have qualifying occupational registration, a bachelor’s degree or higher, or income of at least 1.5 times the median wage.

Further Skilled Migrant Category changes are scheduled to take effect on August 24, 2026, including a new skilled-work-experience pathway. Applicants applying after that date should verify the updated requirements before relying on older guidance.

High-Demand New Zealand Jobs With Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is generally more common where employers face genuine shortages and require workers with specialised training.

Healthcare jobs

New Zealand healthcare employers may recruit qualified overseas workers for positions such as:

• Registered nurse
• General practitioner
• Specialist doctor
• Medical imaging technologist
• Sonographer
• Medical laboratory scientist
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Clinical psychologist

Healthcare workers usually need professional registration with the appropriate New Zealand authority before beginning employment.

Visa approval does not replace occupational registration.

Engineering jobs

Potentially sponsored engineering roles include:

• Civil engineer
• Structural engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Geotechnical engineer
• Telecommunications engineer
• Environmental engineer
• Engineering technician

Applicants should demonstrate how their degree, work history and technical experience relate directly to the advertised role.

Information-technology jobs

New Zealand employers may recruit foreign technology professionals for specialised positions such as:

• Software engineer
• Cybersecurity specialist
• Systems administrator
• Cloud engineer
• Database administrator
• ICT project manager
• DevOps engineer
• Network engineer
• Data analyst

Certain Green List technology occupations have substantial salary thresholds. A technology job title alone does not guarantee eligibility for residence.

Construction and infrastructure jobs

Major construction and infrastructure projects may create opportunities for:

• Quantity surveyors
• Construction project managers
• Surveyors
• Civil-engineering technicians
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Welders
• Heavy-equipment specialists

Trade workers may need New Zealand registration or formal recognition of overseas qualifications.

Education jobs

Schools and educational institutions may recruit qualified overseas teachers, particularly in shortage areas or locations with recruitment difficulties.

Applicants normally need to satisfy Teaching Council registration and qualification requirements in addition to immigration requirements.

Agriculture and seasonal employment

New Zealand’s agriculture, horticulture and viticulture industries employ foreign workers through several visa programmes.

Seasonal work is not always the same as standard AEWV sponsorship. Some workers enter through the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme or newer seasonal AEWV categories.

Applicants should check the exact visa offered and avoid assuming that short-term seasonal work automatically provides a pathway to residence.

How to Find Accredited Employers in New Zealand

Job seekers should focus on employers that hold valid Immigration New Zealand accreditation.

Useful search phrases include:

• New Zealand accredited employer jobs
• AEWV jobs in New Zealand
• New Zealand jobs for foreigners with visa sponsorship
• Healthcare jobs in New Zealand for overseas applicants
• Engineering jobs with AEWV sponsorship
• Green List jobs New Zealand
• New Zealand construction jobs for foreign workers
• Software jobs with visa sponsorship in New Zealand

Applicants can also:

1. Search recognised New Zealand employment websites.
2. Visit the careers pages of large employers.
3. Check whether the employer is accredited.
4. Review the job description carefully.
5. Confirm whether the position has an approved job check.
6. Verify whether professional registration is required.
7. Apply directly through the company’s official website.
8. Keep evidence of all communication with recruiters.

Employer accreditation does not mean that every vacancy offered by the company is approved for an AEWV. The relevant job must also satisfy the job-check requirements.

Who Pays for New Zealand Visa Sponsorship?

The employer is responsible for its own accreditation, recruitment and job-check costs.

The worker generally pays their personal visa-application costs unless the employment agreement provides otherwise.

Potential worker expenses may include:

• Visa application fee
• Immigration levy
• Medical examination
• Chest X-ray
• Police certificates
• Qualification assessment
• Document translation
• Professional registration
• English-language test
• Travel and relocation
• Independent immigration advice

New Zealand employers and recruitment agents are not permitted to charge workers for a job or require them to pay the employer’s recruitment expenses.

Immigration New Zealand specifically warns that an employer or agent cannot charge a migrant for employment or make the worker pay recruitment costs.

New Zealand Work Visa Application Fees

Visa fees depend on the applicant’s nationality, current location and chosen visa.

Immigration New Zealand uses a fee finder to calculate the correct amount. Therefore, applicants should be cautious about articles that present one fee as applicable to every nationality.

Fees and immigration levies can change. Applicants should confirm the current cost immediately before submitting an application.

Similarly, advertised processing times are estimates and may change according to application volumes, complexity and whether additional documents are requested.

Common New Zealand Visa Sponsorship Scams

Demand for New Zealand employment has created opportunities for fraudulent recruiters and fake immigration agents.

Warning signs include:

• A demand for payment before receiving a job offer
• A promise of guaranteed visa approval
• A request to pay for employer accreditation
• A request to pay the employer’s recruitment costs
• An offer without an interview
• A poorly written employment agreement
• Communication only through an unverified messaging account
• A recruiter using a free personal email address
• Pressure to transfer funds immediately
• A company that cannot be located through official records
• A claim that medical, police or immigration checks are unnecessary

A legitimate employer cannot guarantee that Immigration New Zealand will approve an application.

Before making a payment, applicants should verify the business, inspect the employment agreement and confirm that any immigration adviser is legally permitted to provide New Zealand immigration advice.

Worker Rights in New Zealand

Migrant workers generally have the same minimum employment rights as New Zealand workers.

These rights may include:

• Receiving at least the legal minimum wage
• A written employment agreement
• Agreed working hours
• Holiday and leave entitlements
• A safe workplace
• Protection from unlawful deductions
• Freedom from discrimination and exploitation

An employer cannot lawfully keep a worker’s passport, demand repayment for purchasing a job or threaten unlawful deportation.

Workers who experience exploitation should seek help from the appropriate New Zealand employment or immigration authority.

Can Your Family Join You in New Zealand?

Whether an AEWV holder can support visa applications for a partner or dependent children depends on factors such as:

• The worker’s occupation
• Skill classification
• Salary
• Visa conditions
• The type of visa requested for the family member

A partner may qualify for an open work visa, a restricted work visa or a visitor visa depending on the applicable rules.

Children may be eligible for visitor or student visas.

Family eligibility rules change periodically and should be checked before an applicant assumes that sponsorship automatically covers dependants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for an AEWV without a job offer?

No. An AEWV normally requires a genuine full-time job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer with an approved job check.

Does the employer apply for the worker’s visa?

The employer completes accreditation and job-check requirements. The worker then submits their own AEWV application using the link provided by the employer.

Is every accredited employer allowed to sponsor workers?

Accreditation allows the employer to participate in the AEWV system, but the employer must still obtain an approved job check for the relevant position.

Does an AEWV guarantee permanent residence?

No. The visa permits temporary employment. Residence requires separate eligibility under the Green List, Skilled Migrant Category or another residence pathway.

Can I change employers after receiving an AEWV?

Potentially, but a Job Change application or new visa may be required. The worker should obtain approval before starting the new job.

Do I have to pay an employer for sponsorship?

No. Employers and agents cannot sell jobs or transfer their recruitment costs to migrant workers.

Is every Green List job eligible for immediate residence?

No. Tier 1 jobs may qualify for Straight to Residence, while Tier 2 roles generally require 24 months of qualifying New Zealand employment.

Is there an age limit for New Zealand skilled residence?

Several skilled residence pathways require applicants to be aged 55 or younger. Temporary work-visa rules may differ.

Can an overseas recruitment agency guarantee an AEWV?

No. A recruitment agency can help connect workers with employers, but it cannot guarantee an immigration decision.

Final Thoughts

New Zealand visa sponsorship can provide skilled foreign workers with access to employment and, in some cases, a future residence pathway.

The main process usually requires:

1. An accredited employer
2. A genuine job vacancy
3. An approved job check
4. A qualified foreign applicant
5. A complete AEWV application

Applicants should focus on positions that match their education, experience and professional registration. Those seeking permanent residence should also determine whether their occupation qualifies under the Green List or Skilled Migrant Category.

Immigration rules, salary thresholds, eligible occupations and fees can change. Always confirm current information with Immigration New Zealand before paying an agent, accepting an offer or submitting an application.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or licensed immigration advice.