Work Visa New Zealand from South Africa
Foreign nationals with the right skills and qualifications can migrate to New Zealand to work. If you intend to apply for a New Zealand work visa from South Africa, it’s important to understand the requirements.
Our immigration lawyers at Total Law can provide you with detailed information on applying for a New Zealand work visa from South Africa. Call 0333 305 9375 or fill out the online contact form to get in touch with us.
Visas That Allow You to Work in New Zealand
If you are a South African considering moving to New Zealand for employment purposes, you must apply for a work visa. The New Zealand work visa grants you the legal authorisation to live and work in the country for a specified period.
There are different types of work visas in New Zealand, and they are categorised based on the type of work you are permitted to do. You can apply for a work visa as a skilled migrant, an individual with exceptional talent, to attend a short-term business meeting, or to join your partner.
The New Zealand work visas can either be temporary, typically valid from 3 months to 5 years or residence-type visas, which allow you to live in the country indefinitely.
Irrespective of the work visa you intend to apply for, you must meet the eligibility criteria for your application to be successful. As such, it’s important to thoroughly understand each visa’s requirement before you apply.
Page Contents
- Visas That Allow You to Work in New Zealand
- List of New Zealand Work Visas for South Africans
- Requirements for the New Zealand Work Visas
- How to Apply for the New Zealand Work Visas
- What is the Cost and Processing Time of the New Zealand Work Visas?
- What is the Validity of the New Zealand Work Visa?
- How Can Total Law Help You
- Frequently Asked Questions
List of New Zealand Work Visas for South Africans
New Zealand has several work visas with different requirements. Here is a breakdown of the ones you can apply for from South Africa.
Business Visitor Visa
The Business Visitor Visa is a short-term visa valid for 3 months. This visa only permits certain activities, such as attending business meetings, carrying out trade missions, and buying and selling goods and services.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is a temporary work visa designed for individuals with a full-time job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.
You must have the skills, qualifications, and experience for the job to be eligible for the visa. Additionally, your income must meet the average wage in New Zealand.
Skilled Migrant Category Work Visa
The Skilled Migrant Resident Visa is a residence work visa that will allow you to work in New Zealand if you have skills that can contribute to the country’s economy. It is a points-based visa, and you must earn 6 points based on your skills, qualifications, and income to qualify.
As part of the visa requirements, you must also earn at least 1.5 times the average wage in New Zealand to qualify.
Specific Purpose Work Visa
You might be eligible for this visa if you have a specific work or event to conduct in New Zealand. Your work can include judging a sporting or dance event, installing equipment, making a supply, or taking up a short-term secondment for your foreign employer.
You must have the skills and expertise related to your specific event and intend to work for a particular employer for your application to be successful.
Talent Visa
The Talent Visa is for individuals with exceptional talent in any art, sport, or culture field who intend to do a job in their field while in New Zealand.
If you intend to apply for this visa, you must have an international reputation in your field. You must also get sponsorship from an acceptable sponsor and support from a New Zealand organisation with a national reputation in your field.
Partner of a Worker Work Visa
As a South African, you can join your partner working in New Zealand with this work visa.
You and your partner must meet certain requirements, including being able to prove that you are both of good character and are in a genuine relationship. Additionally, your partner must agree to support your application and complete Form INZ 1146 as evidence of their support
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
If your partner has a residence visa or is a New Zealand citizen, you should apply for the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa.
In addition to being of good character, having a genuine relationship, and sponsoring your application, your partner must be eligible to sponsor your residence visa within 12 months of your arrival in New Zealand.
The reason is that the Partner of a New Zealander Visa is a temporary visa, and you will be required to switch to a residence visa within 1-2 years.
Straight to Residence Work Visa
The Straight to Residence Work Visa applies to you if you have a job offer for a role listed on Tier 1 of New Zealand’s Green List of in-demand jobs. However, your employer must be accredited by the immigration authorities before hiring you.
Note that the jobs on the Tier 1 Green List require you to have specific qualifications, registrations, and professional membership.
Consider discussing these requirements with a legal advisor before you apply for the Straight to Residence Work Visa. Speak to a New Zealand immigration lawyer at 0333 305 9375.
Requirements for the New Zealand Work Visas
Overview
Before applying for a New Zealand work visa, you must meet some eligibility criteria and have the required supporting documents.
Eligibility Requirements
The general eligibility requirements for the work visas include:
- You must be of good character
- You must have the skills and qualifications for the job you intend to take
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself
- You must speak and understand English fluently
- You must have the New Zealand Occupational registration if required for your role.
- You must be in good health
- You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa.
There are other specific requirements you may need to meet, depending on the type of visa you are applying for.
Documents Required
When applying for a New Zealand work visa, you will be required to provide the following documents:
- Your valid passport
- 1 passport-sized photograph
- A copy of your job offer or employment contract
- Original or certified copies of your qualifications
- Copies of your chest x-ray and full medical examination
- Police clearance certificates from
- All the countries you are a citizen of and
- Any country you’ve stayed in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
- New Zealand occupational registration certificate, if applicable
- Medical health insurance if required.
If you are applying as the partner of a worker or partner of a New Zealander, you will need to submit additional documents, including proof of your relationship and Form INZ 1146, as evidence of their support for your visa application.
How to Apply for the New Zealand Work Visas
The process of applying for a New Zealand work visa from South Africa differs depending on the type of visa you’re applying for. Some visas are only available to apply online, while for others, you can apply either online or in person at the visa application centre.
If you are required to get a job offer, you must do so first before you begin the application process. Also, if you’re applying for the Skilled Migrant Visa, you must have an approved expression of interest (EOI) before applying.
After you have gathered your supporting documents, visit the Immigration New Zealand website to begin the application process. Select a visa category, download and fill out the application form, upload your other documents, pay the application fees, and submit your application.
The immigration authorities will review your submission and get back to you with a decision at an appropriate time.
What is the Cost and Processing Time of the New Zealand Work Visas?
Each New Zealand work visa has varying costs and processing times. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:
| Visa Type | Fee (NZD) | Processing time |
| Business Visitor Visa | 211 | 3 weeks |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | 750 | 7 weeks |
| Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa | 4290 | 11 months |
| Specific Purpose Work Visa | 700 | 4 weeks |
| Talent Work Visa | 860 | 4 weeks |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 700 | 6 months |
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | 860 | 13 weeks |
| Straight to Residence Visa | 4290 | 5 months |
What is the Validity of the New Zealand Work Visa?
Each work visa has its validity period.
The Skilled Migrant Category and Straight to Residence visas will allow you to live in New Zealand indefinitely. You can apply for permanent residence within 2 years of living in the country to eliminate travel restrictions.
The validity period for other work visas includes:
- Talent Visa: Up to 30 months, after which you can apply for a residence visa.
- Accredited Employer Work Visa: Up to 5 years. You can apply for a residence visa after 2 years.
- Specific Work Purpose Visa: For the time you need to complete your specific work.
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa: Same duration as your partner’s visa. Afterward, you can apply for a residence visa.
How Can Total Law Help You
A New Zealand work visa is a great way to visit or move to a new country and explore international employment opportunities.
While the visa application process may seem straightforward, New Zealand has a lot of work visas. As such, it can be overwhelming to determine which ones you can apply for from South Africa and then narrow them down to which suits your circumstances.
However, our lawyers at Total Law can help. We have assisted several individuals in migrating to New Zealand from their home countries. Our knowledge and years of experience make us experts in immigration law, and this has been a great advantage to our clients.
If you choose Total Law, we will assign a dedicated lawyer to help with your visa application. Your lawyer will provide you with a detailed breakdown of each visa’s requirements and assist you in preparing your documents.
If you have any questions, we will be available to answer them. Get in touch with one of our lawyers at 0333 305 9375. You can also contact us online.
You may be interested in reading about.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common reasons for a visa denial include:
- Incomplete or missing information in your application
- Presenting forged documents
- Health and character concerns
- Failure to present genuine intent to enter the country
- Not having sufficient funds to support yourself
- Not meeting the skills and qualifications requirement.
Yes. Some work visas, such as the Partner of a Worker Work Visa, do not require you to have a job offer before applying. Upon entering New Zealand, you can find an appropriate job.
Some work visas will allow you to bring your partner and older dependent children, who are not more than 24, with you. Speak to our immigration lawyers at 0333 305 9375 to determine if you can bring dependents on your chosen visa category.
