You may be qualified in a highly specialised or in-demand field, or have an exceptional talent in sports or the arts. If so, you can apply for a work permit under the Work to Residence category. This category allows you to work temporarily in New Zealand as a step towards gaining permanent residence. Unlike the Skilled Migrant Category, English language skills are not specifically tested (unless required by an industry registration board).

To find out more about the steps to take to qualify for acceptance, follow this link. For the process and timing related to your application click here. The necessary application forms for this visa type can be found here.