To apply for a visa sponsorship job in New Zealand, you need an offer from an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand, and that employer must pass a “job check” before you can lodge your own application for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Three steps, in a fixed order: employer accreditation, job check, then your visa. You cannot start the third step until the employer has finished the first two and sent you an official invitation link.
The system was overhauled in March 2025. The median-wage pay threshold was removed, the experience requirement dropped from three years to two, and visas for lower-skilled roles became longer. This guide explains what changed, how the Green List gives some occupations a fast track to residence, how to find accredited employers, and what the move will cost you.
How does visa sponsorship work in New Zealand?
New Zealand does not use the word “sponsorship” officially, but the AEWV is an employer-led visa in every practical sense.
| Step | Who does it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Employer accreditation | Employer | Immigration New Zealand (INZ) checks the business is genuine, financially sound and compliant with employment law. Accreditation lasts 12 months at first, then 24 months. |
| 2. Job check | Employer | The employer shows the role is genuine, pays the market rate, and was advertised to New Zealanders first (unless exempt, for example on the Green List at the required pay). For lower-skilled roles the employer must also engage with Work and Income. |
| 3. Work visa application | You | The employer sends you a unique invitation through INZ’s system. You apply online with proof of identity, skills, health and character. |
The employer pays for accreditation and the job check. You pay your own visa fee, unless the employer agrees to cover it. An employer may not charge you for the job itself; that is unlawful in New Zealand.
What changed in 2025, and what does it mean for you?
- No more median-wage threshold. Since 10 March 2025, employers no longer have to pay at least the national median wage. They must pay the market rate for the role and location, and never less than the minimum wage, which is a little under NZD 24 an hour in 2026.
- Two years’ experience instead of three. You need at least two years of relevant work experience, or a relevant qualification at the required level. INZ checks this, so keep reference letters, payslips and tax records.
- Longer visas for lower-skilled roles. Jobs at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5 can now get a visa for up to three years, matching their maximum continuous stay. Skill level 1 to 3 roles can get up to five years.
- Simpler local recruitment check. For skill level 4 and 5 roles, employers declare that they advertised with Work and Income and considered local candidates in good faith.
- Higher income threshold to bring children. AEWV holders must earn above a set annual income to support dependent children’s visas. Check the current figure before you plan a family move.
- New seasonal visas. Two seasonal work visas were introduced in late 2025 for peak-season roles in sectors such as horticulture, meat processing and ski fields.
INZ is also gradually replacing the ANZSCO job classification with a new National Occupation List, and further changes to skilled residence were announced for 2026. Always confirm the current rules on immigration.govt.nz.
English language requirement
If your job is at skill level 4 or 5, you must show basic English, such as an overall IELTS General score of 4.0 or an equivalent test, unless you are from an exempt English-speaking background. Higher-skilled roles have no AEWV English test, although professional registration bodies often set their own, higher standard.
What is the Green List and who is on it?
The Green List is New Zealand’s list of hard-to-fill occupations with a defined residence pathway, provided you meet the specific qualification, registration or pay requirement listed for your role.
- Tier 1, Straight to Residence: you can apply for residence immediately with a job or offer from an accredited employer, even from overseas. Roles include many doctors and specialists, registered nurses and midwives, engineers, construction project managers, quantity surveyors, ICT managers, software engineers and security specialists (with pay thresholds), veterinarians and secondary school teachers.
- Tier 2, Work to Residence: you can apply for residence after 24 months working in the role in New Zealand. Roles include a range of trades, such as certain electricians, plumbers, diesel mechanics and welders, along with some teaching, health and technical occupations.
If you are not on the Green List, the main residence route is the Skilled Migrant Category, a simplified six-point system based on qualifications, registration or income, plus skilled work in New Zealand. Care and transport roles have had their own sector work-to-residence arrangements, some now closed to new entrants, so check their current status.
What do sponsored jobs pay in New Zealand?
| Occupation | Typical annual pay (NZD) | Green List? |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | 75,000 – 106,000 | Tier 1 |
| Software engineer | 95,000 – 150,000 | Tier 1 (pay threshold applies) |
| Civil or structural engineer | 85,000 – 135,000 | Tier 1 |
| Secondary school teacher | 61,000 – 103,000 | Tier 1 |
| Electrician or plumber | 70,000 – 100,000 | Tier 2 for listed roles |
| Heavy truck driver | 60,000 – 80,000 | No (check sector rules) |
| Dairy farm assistant or herd manager | 55,000 – 75,000 | No |
| Chef | 55,000 – 72,000 | No |
| Aged care worker | 52,000 – 65,000 | No (care sector pathway) |
These are rounded market ranges at the time of writing. New Zealand salaries are lower than Australia’s, and Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown housing is expensive, so run a budget before accepting.
How to apply for a visa sponsorship job in New Zealand: step by step
- Check your occupation. Look up your role on the Green List and note the exact qualification or registration it requires. Regulated professions (nursing, teaching, medicine, electrical work, engineering sign-off) need New Zealand registration, and some need an NZQA International Qualification Assessment.
- Search the main job boards. SEEK NZ and Trade Me Jobs carry most vacancies. Health New Zealand’s careers site and Kiwi Health Jobs list health roles, the Education Gazette lists teaching jobs, and Farm Source lists dairy roles. Many adverts state “accredited employer”.
- Write a New Zealand-style CV. Two to three pages, plain language, achievements, referees, and a cover letter that says why New Zealand and when you can arrive.
- Interview and get a written offer. You need a signed employment agreement for at least 30 hours a week that complies with New Zealand employment law.
- Wait for the job check and invitation. Once approved, the employer sends your invitation through INZ’s online system. If someone offers a job but can never produce this official invitation, the offer is not real.
- Apply online. Upload your passport, photo, offer and agreement, evidence of two years’ experience or qualifications, police certificates from countries where you have lived for five years or more, and a medical certificate and chest X-ray if required.
- Plan your arrival. Apply for an IRD number for tax, open a bank account (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank let you start online) and arrange short-term accommodation.
What does the process cost?
- AEWV application: around NZD 1,540 at the time of writing, after a large fee increase in October 2024.
- Medical and chest X-ray: set by panel physicians, often the equivalent of NZD 300–600.
- Police certificates, translations, qualification assessment: allow NZD 200–1,000 depending on your profession.
- Professional registration: nursing, teaching and engineering bodies charge their own fees, and nurses may need a competence assessment.
- Flights and set-up: rental bond of up to four weeks’ rent plus rent in advance. A one-bedroom flat in Auckland commonly costs NZD 450–600 a week.
- Immigration advice: only licensed immigration advisers listed on the Immigration Advisers Authority register, or New Zealand lawyers, may give immigration advice for a fee.
Health cover and insurance
Accident treatment is covered for everyone in New Zealand through ACC, and work visa holders whose visas allow a total stay of two years or more are generally eligible for publicly funded health care. If your first visa is shorter, or you want faster access to specialists, you need private cover. Our guide to health insurance for work visa holders in New Zealand explains the rules and typical policies.
Scam warning: paying for a job is illegal
New Zealand has prosecuted cases where migrants paid agents tens of thousands of dollars for AEWV jobs that turned out to have little or no work. Protect yourself:
- Never pay a “job fee”, “premium” or “token fee” to an employer or recruiter. Charging for employment is unlawful.
- Check the company on the New Zealand Companies Office register and confirm its accreditation with INZ.
- Apply only through the official INZ online system, using the invitation the employer sends.
- Be cautious of offers for roles you were never interviewed for, especially in labour hire, hospitality and construction.
- If you are exploited after arrival, report it to Employment New Zealand. A Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa lets genuine victims leave a bad employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change employers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa?
Yes, but not freely. Your visa names your employer, occupation and location. To move, the new employer must be accredited with an approved job check, and you apply for a variation of conditions or a new visa.
Can my partner and children come with me?
They can apply for visas based on your AEWV, but partner work rights depend on your skill level and pay, and you must meet an income threshold to support dependent children. Children on dependent student visas can usually attend school as domestic students.
Is there an age limit?
The AEWV has no upper age limit. Residence pathways, including the Green List and Skilled Migrant Category, generally require you to be 55 or younger when you apply.
How long does an AEWV take to process?
Once the employer’s job check is approved, many work visa applications are decided within a few weeks, but times vary with demand and the quality of your documents. INZ publishes current processing times on its website.
Is New Zealand a good stepping stone to Australia?
Only in the long run. New Zealand citizens can live and work in Australia, but citizenship generally takes five years of residence. If Australia is your real goal, compare the direct routes in our guide on how to relocate to Australia for high-paying jobs.
Bottom line
New Zealand’s process is transparent once you know the order: accredited employer, approved job check, then your visa. The 2025 reforms made it easier for employers to hire and for experienced workers without degrees to qualify, while the Green List rewards nurses, engineers, teachers and tech professionals with fast residence. Target accredited employers, keep proof of your experience, and never pay for a job. To weigh New Zealand against other destinations, see our comparison of the best countries for visa sponsorship jobs, and if you lack formal qualifications, compare entry-level visa options in Australia too.