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Employer-assisted work visa: process worksheet

A general outline of how an employer-assisted work visa process is typically structured, including the published employer and job checks that generally come before an individual visa application. It is educational background you organise for yourself, not advice about your own situation.

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1. Step 1. Employer accreditation (employer step)

   The published process generally requires the employer to hold Immigration New Zealand accreditation. This is a step for the employer, not for the visa applicant.

   Indicative phase: Employer-led: before the visa application

2. Step 2. Job check (employer step)

   The role generally passes a published job check (which can include advertising where required) before a person applies. This is also an employer-led step.

   Indicative phase: Employer-led: before the visa application

3. Step 3. Count the published gates with the self-check tool

   Use the readiness self-check to count how many of the published gates the situation you enter appears to meet. It is a self-count, not an assessment of your eligibility.

   Indicative phase: Preparation: self-paced · Open the tool

4. Step 4. Gather the applicant documents

   Collect the categories of documents the published guidance describes for the applicant (identity, the job offer, and evidence of meeting the published requirements). Confirm the exact list with Immigration New Zealand.

   Indicative phase: Preparation: self-paced · Open the tool

5. Step 5. Submit the visa application

   The applicant submits the work visa application to the published process with the required evidence and fees.

   Indicative phase: A defined task once your evidence is ready

6. Step 6. Receive the decision

   Immigration New Zealand assesses and decides the application. Processing times vary; confirm current times on the official page.

   Indicative phase: See the INZ published processing times