If you’re thinking of coming to New Zealand to work for a few years, or maybe even to settle, you’ll need a work or resident visa. To get that – you’re likely to need a job.
It’s not a boom time for jobs, but it’s not a bad time either. Unemployment is coming off historic highs (still consistently lower than the OECD average) as the global financial crisis slowly recedes and the economy picks up. And in certain areas of work we have shortages that make it much easier to get that precious visa.
Finding a job
Being overseas isn’t a major handicap if you’re looking for work in New Zealand.
Before you start looking for a job view our industry pages, job market overview and tips for job hunting.
There are many job vacancy websites to visit, or you can go straight to the sites of employers in your field. Some of the most popular job websites are TradeMe, Seek and New Kiwis.
You’ll find links to many more job hunting sites at Careers New Zealand, which is a useful Government website dedicated to helping job hunters. It’s well worth bookmarking.
To help you find a job and plan your move try the NZ Ready planning tool. It will help you create a customised list of things to do before you leave and when you first arrive.
Choosing the right visa
There may be a number of New Zealand visas you are eligible to apply for.
Our work-related visas fall into two general categories:
- Resident visas allow you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely and access most publicly funded services. Popular resident visa categories include Skilled Migrant and Residence from Work.
- Temporary visas allow you to live and work in New Zealand for a set period time. Popular temporary visas include work visas and working holiday visa.
There are a number of other New Zealand visas, including ones for your partner or family. View information on this site about study visas or investment visas, or visit Immigration New Zealand for a definitive list of all visas.
