How to Get New Zealand Work Permit from India?

So you want to work in NZ and explore information about New Zealand work permit? There are various categories of NZ work visas, and processing times can vary depending on the visa type. The New Zealand work visa processing time generally takes several weeks.

New Zealand Work Visa is a legal document that allows international professionals to work in NZ. Due to the career opportunities, job security and optimum work-life balance, New Zealand attracts foreign nationals. The government of New Zealand offers various types of work visas based on your skills. Note that you do not need a work visa to do part-time jobs while studying in New Zealand.

The range of New Zealand Work Visa processing time is between 8 weeks to 11 weeks. The work visa processing time totally depends on the type of work, the embassy rules and the profile of the applicants. In this blog, we will help you know how to get a New Zealand work permit for Indians, including eligibility, fees, and other relevant documents.

Related reads

• Student Guide to New Zealand (NZ)
• How to get PR (Permanent Residency) in New Zealand after studying?
• Permanent Residency (PR) Courses in New Zealand

Benefits of Work Permit Visa in New Zealand?

Applicants can apply for a work permit visa to work in New Zealand temporarily only if they fulfil either of the following conditions:

• Officially hold a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.
• Those who are coming back to New Zealand for a specific work-related purpose or event.
• Also, those applicants who have their partners/spouses in New Zealand, and wish to join them and work.
• Applicants belonging to a country that has a special work scheme, or
• Candidates who have been studying in New Zealand and want to work there.

Read: Can You Work on a Student Visa in New Zealand?

How to Get a Work Permit Visa in New Zealand?

Candidates can apply for a Post-study work visa for 1, 2 or 3 years. Today, we will talk about the eligibility requirements for applying for a three-year post-study work visa in New Zealand. Candidates should know that there is no difference in the eligibility requirements for different durations of the post-study work visa application; the only difference is the length of your stay. 

Apply on Time for Your Post-Study Work Visa

Candidates are required to apply for their post-study work visa no later than 3 months after their New Zealand Student Visa expires, or 6 months if the candidate is granted a visa to complete a doctorate. Candidates should keep this in mind to apply on time, as their records will be checked to make sure they apply before the deadline.

Good Health Condition

Candidates applying for a three-year post visa must prove they are in good health. They could be required to get a chest x-ray or a medical examination or both from an approved panel of doctors provided on the official New Zealand Immigration website. This is valid for all candidates looking to stay for over 12 months in the country and who have attained the age of 17 and above. This is not mandatory, however, the New Zealand (NZ) immigration could require the same, and you would have to comply.

Character Certificate

Again, not mandatory, but a lot of times, NZ immigration might require you to provide a police certificate stating your good character. This rule applies to candidates above 17 years of age.

Proof of Requisite Funds

According to Immigrant New Zealand, candidates applying for their work permit visa in New Zealand are required to provide evidence that they have at least NZD 4,200 when they apply. Evidence can include bank statements, credit card statements, bank drafts or travellers’ cheques.

Education Qualification

Candidates will not be eligible to apply for their post-study work visa if they have not completed the qualification recorded on their student visa. Hence, students have to complete the course they came to New Zealand to pursue in the first place. Candidates applying for their work permit in New Zealand would be required to provide a copy of an acceptable qualification and a letter or academic transcript from their tertiary education provider confirming they have completed their qualification.

Acceptable qualifications for a Post-study work visa include

• You must have studied in New Zealand, and
• Your qualification must be Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.

OR

• Your qualification at level 7 or higher is acceptable if your course lasted 30 weeks or more.

OR

• Your Level 4, 5 or 6 qualification is acceptable if you:
• Completed it after study of 60 weeks or more, or
• Gained 2 qualifications that:
• Each involved 30 weeks study, and
• The level of your last qualification was higher than the first.
• You studied the English language

Also Read

• Job prospects In New Zealand
• Part-time Work Options in New Zealand
• Changes in Post-Study Work Rights in New Zealand

How to Apply for a Work Permit in New Zealand?

There are two ways via which candidates can apply for a 3-year post-study visa in New Zealand. The online method or submitting the application form in person – the offline method. The rules for the two are slightly different. Read to understand.

The online method: Candidates would be required to complete the online application form for a work permit in New Zealand. They would be required to provide one acceptable photograph (check the official website for photograph requirements). They would also be required to upload a copy of their valid passport during the application process. Candidates would be asked to send their original passports after the application process has begun, but that is during a later stage. Your passport has to be valid for a period of 3 years.

Post Study Work Visa Fee and Time – Online

The offline method: The candidate would be required to submit the completed paper application form, along with 2 acceptable photographs. If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy, which shortens the application process time.

Post Study Work Visa Fee and Time – Offline

New Zealand Work Visa Processing Time

New Zealand work visa processing time depends on the type of work visa and profile of the applicants. The following is the New Zealand work visa processing time for those applying in the table below:

The timelines may vary in case there are a lot of applications for assessing in New Zealand for a work visa. But ideally, New Zealand work visa processing time should not vary beyond the above-given timelines. 

New Zealand Work Visa Cost

The following is the New Zealand work visa cost for different types of visas:

The New Zealand work visa fees may vary for online or offline modes of submission. Usually, an online mode of submission is preferred. In case the New Zealand work visa fee cannot be submitted online then applicants can submit offline also and vice versa.

Want to Apply for Another Post-Study Work Permit?

Candidates can apply for a second post-study work permit if they are looking to work for longer, however, they would have to qualify for the following.

• You can apply for another Post-study work visa, but only if you complete another qualification in New Zealand that:
• You studied for 30 weeks or more
• Is a bachelor's degree or post-graduate qualification, and
• Is at a higher level than the qualification you used to get your previous visa.

Have any query related to studying abroad? Get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. Candidates with queries can get in touch with us in the comments section below.