Documents Required for a New Zealand Work Visa

The documents required for a New Zealand work visa are not set out as a single universal checklist. Immigration New Zealand specifies requirements per visa type, and the evidence you must provide depends on the visa you apply for, your country of citizenship, your job offer, and your personal circumstances. The key point is that you must check the specific requirements for the particular visa you are applying for rather than relying on a generic list. This page explains the main categories of documents that commonly apply across work visa categories, and where to verify the exact requirements for your situation.

Start with the visa type, not a generic checklist

New Zealand has many different work visas, and the documents required differ between them. Some work visas require a job offer at the application stage, while others do not. Some are country-specific, some are for partners of New Zealanders or workers, and some are for specific occupations or industries.

Because of this, the first step is to identify which visa you are applying for. The main categories include:

• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) — for people with a job offer from an accredited employer.
• Working holiday visas — for young people from countries with a working holiday agreement.
• Country-specific work visas — for example, the China Skilled Workers Visa, the Philippines Special Work Visa, or the Thai Chefs Work Visa.
• Partner work visas — for partners of New Zealand citizens, residents, students, or workers.
• Specific purpose and talent visas — for entertainers, specific events, or exceptional talent in arts, culture, or sport.
• Fishing crew visas and domestic worker visas.

Each of these has its own eligibility criteria and evidence requirements. The Immigration New Zealand page “Visas for working in New Zealand” lists the visa types and links to each one’s specific requirements. You should use that page as your starting point.

Documents that commonly apply to work visa applications

While the exact list varies, the following categories of documents are commonly required across many New Zealand work visa categories. You should treat this as a guide to the types of evidence you may need, not as a definitive checklist.

Document category	What it typically covers
Identity and passport	Valid passport, passport-style photos
Job offer or employment agreement	Offer letter, signed employment agreement, job description
Employer accreditation evidence	For AEWV — confirmation your employer is accredited
Qualifications and experience	Certificates, transcripts, references, professional registration
Health and character	Medical certificates, chest X-ray, police certificates
Financial evidence	Funds to support yourself, return ticket or ability to pay for one
Relationship evidence	For partner visas — proof of partnership
Country-specific documents	Varies by scheme — for example, proof of citizenship for country-specific visas

You should check the specific visa page for the exact documents required for your application.

Job offer and employer requirements

For many work visas, a job offer is a core requirement. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is the most common route for skilled workers. To apply for this visa, you must have a job offer from an accredited employer. The employer must send you a link to the online application form. This means the application process is initiated by the employer, and you cannot simply apply on your own without their involvement.

For the AEWV, the employer’s accreditation status is a critical part of the application. You should confirm that your employer is on the accredited employer list before you apply. The AEWV allows you to stay in New Zealand from 7 months to 5 years, depending on your job, skill level, how much you are paid, and when you applied for your visa.

Country-specific work visas also require job offers. For example:

• The China Skilled Workers Visa requires a job offer for a role on the China skilled job list.
• The China Special Work Visa requires a job offer as a qualified chef, traditional medicine practitioner, Mandarin teacher’s aide, Wushu martial arts coach, or tour guide.
• The Thai Chefs Work Visa requires an offer of full-time work as a Thai chef.
• The Vietnam Special Work Visa requires an offer of work as a chef or engineering professional.

In each case, you must also meet the qualification and experience requirements for the role.

Working holiday visa documents

If you are applying for a working holiday visa, the documents required are different from those for a skilled work visa. Working holiday visas are available to young people from countries that have a working holiday agreement with New Zealand. The age range is normally 18 to 30, but 18 to 35 in a select few countries.

Key requirements for working holiday visas include:

• You must be a citizen of a country with a working holiday agreement.
• You must be coming mainly to holiday — work or study should be secondary intentions.
• You must have a return ticket, or be able to pay for one.
• You may need to provide a medical certificate if you apply while in New Zealand.
• If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months, you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination.

All working holiday visas must be applied for online and in English. Some schemes require you to be in your home country when you apply — for example, you must be in China when you apply for the China Working Holiday Visa.

Health and character requirements

Health and character requirements apply to many New Zealand visa applications. The specific evidence you need depends on how long you plan to stay and your country of origin.

For working holiday visas, if you apply while in New Zealand, you may need to provide a medical certificate. If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months — including time on visas other than a working holiday visa — you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination.

For other work visas, health and character checks are typically required, but the exact requirements vary by visa type and your personal circumstances. You should check the specific visa page for details.

Study and work rights on a student visa

If you are in New Zealand on a student visa and want to work, your visa conditions determine whether you can work and how many hours. You may be allowed to work part-time for up to 25 hours a week, and during mid-year study breaks and the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

To find out if you can work on your student visa, you need to check the conditions of your visa. These are recorded on your eVisa or in the visa letter you received. Student visas can only be given with conditions to work if the student is 16 years or older.

If your current student visa does not allow you to do paid work, you may be able to change the conditions of your visa if you are eligible. However, if you want to change from full-time to part-time study, you will need to apply for a different visa.

Where to verify the exact documents for your application

The requirements for each work visa are set out on the specific visa page on the Immigration New Zealand website. The page “Visas for working in New Zealand” is the main hub that links to all work visa categories. From there, you can navigate to the specific visa you are applying for and find the detailed requirements.

You should also check the country-specific requirements if you are applying for a working holiday visa, as the conditions vary depending on where you are from. The page “Who can apply for a working holiday visa” lists all countries with a working holiday agreement and links to each country’s specific requirements.

What to do next

Before you apply, you should:

1. Identify the specific work visa you are applying for.
2. Read the full requirements on that visa’s page on the Immigration New Zealand website.
3. Confirm whether your employer is accredited if you are applying for an AEWV.
4. Gather your identity, qualification, and experience documents.
5. Check whether health and character requirements apply to your situation.
6. Prepare your job offer or employment agreement if required.

Remember that the documents required for a New Zealand work visa are not a single universal list. The exact evidence you need depends on the visa type, your country of citizenship, your job offer, and your personal circumstances. Always verify the specific requirements on the official Immigration New Zealand page for your visa before you apply.