Working in New Zealand: the accredited employer, your partner and registration before your visa

Yes, you can work in New Zealand, but you almost always start with an employer. The usual route is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): an offer of at least 30 hours a week from an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand, for a role with an approved job check. The visa costs from NZD 1,540 and 80% are processed within 5.5 weeks. The finding at the source concerns the order: for occupations with a legal registration, such as nursing, you must have that New Zealand registration before you apply for the visa.

What does the Accredited Employer Work Visa require?

Element	Requirement or fact
Job	at least 30 hours a week, with an accredited employer with an approved job check
Pay	at least the required rate for the role
Experience or qualification	2 years of relevant work experience, or a qualification at level 4 or higher on the NZQCF; with a bachelor's the field may differ
English	to be shown for roles at skill level 3 to 5
Registration	required if your occupation has it, before you apply
Cost	from NZD 1,540
Processing	80% within 5.5 weeks
Maximum duration	5 years for most roles, 3 years at ANZSCO level 4 or 5

You prove work experience with documents from others: employment certificates, pay slips or tax certificates. A CV alone is not enough, and a reference letter without pay slips or tax certificates may not be either.

The visa links you to the employer who made the offer. If you want to change employer, role or location, you must apply to vary your visa conditions, apply for a Job Change or apply for a new visa. Self-employed work is not covered by this route.

What may not be in your employment agreement?

The agreement must comply with New Zealand employment law, and may not contain a trial period, unlawful deductions or a bonding clause that makes you repay money if you leave within a certain time. An employer or agent may also not charge you for the job or for their recruitment costs. Anyone who promises money for a job offer has their application declined.

Once working, after twelve months of continuous employment you are entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual holidays.

May my partner work too?

Yes, with a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, from NZD 1,630, without your partner needing a job offer of their own. On an AEWV it depends on what you earn:

• In a role at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a role on the National Occupation List: at least NZD 28 an hour. Below that your partner can only get a visitor visa.
• In a Green List role whose requirements you meet: at least NZD 35 an hour.
• In any role: from NZD 52.50 an hour.

On a work visa other than the AEWV there is no income requirement for your partner. Separate thresholds apply to your children; they are in children at school in New Zealand.

Register first, then the visa. For a number of occupations you must be registered with a New Zealand registration authority, such as the Nursing Council for nurses, and you need that proof for your visa application. Immigration New Zealand advises starting straight away if your occupation is on the list. If you need to come to New Zealand for the registration, there is an Occupational Registration Visitor Visa of NZD 441 for at most 3 months.

Should I have my Dutch diploma assessed?

Often, yes. NZQA's International Qualification Assessment compares your qualification with the New Zealand framework, for work and immigration. A standard assessment of one qualification costs NZ$445, an assessment for teacher registration NZ$746, and for a qualification from before 1998 NZ$275 is added. NZQA does not accept evaluations from other countries and does not assess professional registrations or licences; those remain with the registration authority. Which occupations are on the Green List, and what that list means for your residence, is in the Green List.

And if I start my own business?

Then you need a visa other than the AEWV. For tax: you register for GST, New Zealand's sales tax, if your turnover in the past twelve months was at least $60,000 or is expected to be in the next twelve months. How the routes relate to each other is in the four routes to New Zealand; the route is at /nieuw-zeeland.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 2 of 5 of the journey, step 2.4: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to New Zealand or go straight to step 2.4 in the open plan.