The term “New Zealand 2 Year Work Visa 2025” most commonly refers to accredited employer or sector-based temporary work visas issued for up to two years (often AEWV or sector agreement roles). It’s for skilled and semi-skilled workers who have a genuine job offer from an accredited NZ employer (or meet the sector agreement / Green List rules). Apply online, upload certified documents, pay the fee + immigration levy and IVL (if applicable).
Eligibility Criteria
This visa pathway is for people who meet the specific visa’s requirements (commonly via the Accredited Employer Work Visa — AEWV or sector/Green List roles). Core eligibility items include:
Key eligibility points
- You must have a genuine, full-time job offer from an accredited employer in New Zealand, or a role covered by a sector agreement / Green List.
- You must meet the skills, qualifications and work-experience required by the job (INZ reduced some experience thresholds to 2 years for some roles from 10 March 2025).
- Meet health and character requirements (medical exam and police certificates may be requested).
- Provide proof of English language ability where required (some low-skill roles now have minimum English checks).
- Salary / median-wage rules: visa length can depend on whether you meet or exceed median wage thresholds (roles paid below median often lead to 2-year visas).
Tip: eligibility details depend on the exact visa class (AEWV, sector agreement, working holiday, post-study etc.). Always check the specific INZ visa page for that class.
Also Check: Move Australia on Working Holiday Visa 2025: Benefits, Cost and Step-by-Step Application Process
Documents Required (download checklist + note about certified translations)
Prepare digital copies (PDF/JPG) and have originals available for checks. Typical documents:
- Signed employment offer / contract (must show job title, hours, pay and employer details).
- Passport bio-data page (valid for the intended stay).
- Evidence of required 2 years work experience or equivalent (contracts, payslips, employer references).
- Qualifications and transcripts (IQA only if required; some countries/qualifications are exempt from IQA from June 23, 2025).
- Police certificate(s) / character documents (if requested).
- Medical certificates (if INZ asks or if your role requires it).
- Proof of English (if required for your role).
- CV / role description, payslips, tax records, and any employer job-check paperwork (for AEWV job checks).
Certified translations: Any non-English documents must be translated by an accredited translator and certified. Add the translator’s contact details and a signed statement attesting accuracy.
(You can use this as a downloadable checklist: Download: NZ-2yr-work-visa-checklist.pdf — create on your site.)
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Get a confirmed job offer from an accredited employer (or confirm sector agreement role / Green List position). Employer may need accreditation or a job check first.
- Create an Immigration Online account (or log in). Fill the correct visa application form (AEWV or other visa class).
- Upload docs: passport, job offer, evidence of experience, medical/police if available. Ensure translations are certified.
- Pay application fee, immigration levy and IVL (if applicable). Keep receipt and payment reference.
- Biometrics / medical: follow INZ instructions if asked — attend clinic / upload photos as required.
- Track your application via Immigration Online. Respond promptly if INZ requests extra information.
- Decision & arrival: if approved, check your visa conditions (work limits, travel validity, family inclusion), pay any further steps and plan arrival.
Fees and processing times
Below is a compact table of typical fees and INZ processing time indicators for AEWV / 2-year work visa scenarios. Always confirm on INZ before publishing.
| Item | Typical amount (NZD) | Notes / source |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (AEWV) | Band A/B/C: 480 (fee guide) | Fee guide Oct 2024; Band depends on applicant location. |
| Immigration Levy | 1,060 (for many temporary work visas) | Added to the application fee for many offshore applicants → offshore total ≈ 1,540. |
| International Visitor Levy (IVL) | 100 per person | Payable with many visa applications; non-refundable. |
| Typical processing — AEWV (recent weeks) | Average 2.5 weeks; most completed within 5.5 weeks | INZ weekly wait page (updated continuously). |
| Processing by month (median) | Median ~12 working days (varies) | INZ monthly processing stats; 80% & 90% brackets vary. |
Expedite / prioritisation: INZ will prioritise some applications automatically (for example Green List roles) if the application is complete. You can also request escalation for urgent cases — INZ has an escalation process with specific criteria.
Common Reasons for refusal and how to avoid them
- Incomplete docs / missing evidence — Upload clear, certified documents and respond fast to INZ queries.
- False or inconsistent employment history — Provide consistent payslips, contracts, contactable employer referees.
- Health or character issues — Submit police certificates and medicals proactively if asked.
- Job does not meet requirements — Ensure the role is on an eligible list (Green List / sector agreement) or employer is accredited. Employers must complete job checks correctly.
- Fees/levies not paid correctly — Pay exact INZ fee bands + immigration levy + IVL where required. Keep receipts.
After Approval — arrival checklist & rights while in NZ
Arrival checklist
- Print visa grant letter and carry passport used in application.
- Ensure employer has relocation details and start date.
- Apply for IRD number (tax) after arrival.
- Open a NZ bank account (many banks allow online setup from offshore).
- Arrange accommodation and transport.
Your rights while in NZ
- Work: You may work in the role / employer and hours stated on your visa; some visas allow changing employers — check visa conditions. (AEWV holders in some circumstances can change employers; confirm limits).
- Tax: If you earn in NZ you must apply for an IRD number and pay taxes. Employers will deduct PAYE.
- Healthcare: Limited public healthcare depends on your visa type and length of stay; check eligibility on the NZ govt health pages.
- Family: Family inclusion rules depend on your visa salary and visa type (partner & dependent rules vary, e.g., lower wage 2-year visas often exclude open partner work rights). Always confirm in your visa decision letter.
Final Checklist & Tips For a Faster Approval
- Use Immigration Online and upload all docs in one go.
- Ensure your employer has completed accreditation/job check (AEWV).
- Provide certified translations for all non-English documents.
- Include payslips, tax records and references to prove 2 years experience (INZ reduced some experience thresholds to 2 years from March 10, 2025).
- Pay exact fees and keep payment proof.
- If your role is on the Green List, INZ may prioritise your application—label and evidence accordingly.
Evergreen advice + recent official update (for Google Discover freshness)
Evergreen advice: Start the application only after you have a signed job offer. Getting paperwork, police checks and medicals ready in advance saves weeks. Keep clear copies of payslips and employment contracts — consistency is key.
Recent update (official): On 10 March 2025 INZ reduced the minimum work experience requirement for some migrants from 3 years to 2 years (this affects many AEWV/job-check cases). Also, INZ updated the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA) effective 23 June 2025 adding several countries (including India) to streamline qualification checks. Always confirm the specific requirements for your job class.
FAQs
What is the New Zealand 2 Year Work Visa?
A temporary NZ work visa (commonly AEWV or sector-based) that allows qualified foreign workers to work in New Zealand for up to two years under an accredited employer or sector agreement.
Who is eligible for the 2-year work visa in 2025?
Applicants with a genuine job offer from an accredited NZ employer (or sector/Green List role), required skills, health, character and any role-specific experience (now often 2 years).
How long does processing normally take?
Processing varies: INZ weekly data shows averages around 2–3 weeks for AEWV, while monthly stats show median decisions in roughly 12 working days (check INZ live wait times).
What documents do I need to apply?
Passport, signed job offer, proof of work experience, qualifications, payslips, police certificates, medicals (if required), and certified translations for non-English documents.
Can I bring family with this visa?
Family inclusion depends on visa type and income thresholds; some 2-year visas may restrict partner work rights — check the visa decision and INZ guidance.
Can I change employers while on this visa?
Rules vary by visa. Some AEWV holders can change employers if they meet the new employer requirements; always confirm visa conditions before changing jobs.