Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
Purpose	Leave exploitative employer during investigation
Stay	Up to 6 months
Cost	NZD $0
Apply from	Within New Zealand
Eligibility timing	Within one month of letter
Work rights	Open work, legal temporary jobs
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	No travel; departure expires visa
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Cannot include family members
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Processing time	Not stated in the source

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Purpose

The Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa (MEPV) allows eligible workers to leave an employer-supported job while Employment New Zealand investigates reported migrant exploitation.

It lets you work for any employer in New Zealand, subject to visa conditions.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be in New Zealand.
• Have reported exploitation to Employment New Zealand.
• Receive a Report of Exploitation Assessment Letter from Employment New Zealand.
• Apply within 1 month of receiving that letter.
• Hold a current work visa that names your employer.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to meet visa conditions.

You cannot apply if you hold an open work visa, limited visa or interim visa instead of an employer-linked work visa.

Exploitation report

Report exploitation to Employment New Zealand by:

• Calling 0800 200 088, or
• Using the Report Migrant Exploitation form.

Employment New Zealand issues the required assessment letter to migrants who meet its requirements.

Character considerations

When assessing your application, Immigration New Zealand will ignore visa-condition breaches and false, misleading, forged or withheld information where these occurred because of the exploitation being investigated.

Stay and conditions

The visa can be granted for up to 6 months.

You must leave New Zealand before it expires, unless you obtain another visa. Immigration New Zealand will not consider a variation of conditions for this visa.

Work rights

You may work in any legal job if:

• You work under an employment contract or contract for services.
• You do not take permanent employment.
• You do not operate a business as its owner.
• You do not provide commercial sexual services.
• You do not invest in a business providing commercial sexual services.

Travel

This visa has no travel facility.

If you leave New Zealand, the visa expires. You must apply for another visa before returning.

Family provisions

You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your application.

If they already hold visas based on their relationship with you, they may apply for further visas of this type.

Required documents and evidence

Provide:

• Your Report of Exploitation Assessment Letter.
• Two acceptable head-and-shoulders photographs.
• Your original passport, certificate of identity or full birth certificate; or a certified copy.

If you submit a certified passport copy, Immigration New Zealand may later request the original passport.

Immigration New Zealand may also request:

• A medical examination.
• Further character information.

Application steps

1. Report exploitation to Employment New Zealand.
2. Obtain a Report of Exploitation Assessment Letter.
3. Apply for the MEPV within one month.
4. Submit identity documents, photographs and the assessment letter.
5. Provide any further health or character information requested.

Important warnings

• You must hold a current employer-linked work visa to qualify.
• Apply within one month of receiving the assessment letter.
• Leaving New Zealand causes the visa to expire.
• You cannot include family members in your application.
• Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.