WORK VISAS TO NEW ZEALAND

SEASONAL WORK VISAS TO NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand's Seasonal Work policies allow eligible overseas workers to undertake seasonal work (in planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops) for an approved employer in the horticulture or viticulture industries.

There are three seasonal work policies available:

• Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE);
• Transitioning to Recognised Seasonal Employer (TRSE); and
• Working Holiday Maker Extension.

Seasonal Work policies allow employers experiencing difficulties in filling seasonal work to access overseas workers. A limited number of places are made available under this policy by Immigration New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND SEASONAL WORK VISA BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Applicants applying to for a visa to undertake seasonal work must meet health and good character criteria and other requirements based on the seasonal work policy.

RSE applicants - must be aged 18 years or over; be outside New Zealand; and have a job offer from a Recognised Seasonal Employer who holds a current 'approval to recruit'. This policy is generally only open to workers from the following countries: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Applicants may also be required to undergo HIV/AIDS screening.

TRSE applicants - must be aged 18 years or over; be in New Zealand; and have not held a work permit(s) to work in horticulture or viticulture industries totalling more than 7 months in the last 12 months.

Working Holiday Maker Extension - applicants must have undertaken seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture industry for at least 3 months while on a Working Holiday Visa. Successful Working Holidaymakers will be eligible for a further 3 month work permit. See 'Working Holiday Visas' for further information.

NEW ZEALAND SEASONAL WORK VISA ENTITLEMENTS

Approved RSE applicants may be issued with a Limited Purpose Visa and Permit entitling the holder to undertake seasonal work for a maximum period of 7 months. Holders of Limited Purpose permits may not apply for any other type of permit while they are in New Zealand.

Approved TRSE applicants may be granted a work permit allowing the holder to work for an approved employer for up to 4 months.

Working Holiday Maker Extension work permits will be valid for 3 months, and subject the same conditions as a Working Holiday Visa.

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