Religious Worker Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Religious Worker Work Visa
Stay	Up to 2 years
Cost	From NZD $1,355
Processing	80% within 3 weeks
Eligibility timing	Two years’ training or experience
Work rights	Specific religious work only
Study	Up to 3 months yearly
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple travel for 2 years
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family must apply separately
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Residence pathway	May lead to residence
Sponsor	Registered religious charity required

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Purpose

This visa is for people with an offer of religious work from a sponsoring religious organisation in New Zealand.

It may lead to a Religious Worker Resident Visa.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have at least 2 years of religious training and/or work experience.
• Be sponsored by an acceptable religious organisation.
• Have an offer of qualifying religious work from that organisation.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to meet your visa conditions.

You cannot be an officer or nominated person of your sponsoring organisation.

Sponsor requirements

Your sponsor must:

• Be registered as a charity with Charities Services.
• Have a main purpose of advancing religion.
• Have a genuine need for you to undertake religious work.
• Be able to provide accommodation, financial support and return-home assistance if needed.
• Complete the Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190).

A visa will not normally be granted if the sponsor is on the Labour Inspectorate’s non-compliant employer list.

Qualifying religious work

Your offered work must substantially involve one or more of:

• Teaching religious scripture or philosophy.
• Leading ceremonies, worship or prayer.
• Ordaining leaders, initiating members, or conducting ceremonies.
• Providing spiritual guidance and care.

Religious study is not considered religious work for this visa.

If the work is paid by salary or wages, provide an employment agreement. If unpaid or paid another way, provide a description of the work.

Stay and further visas

You can stay for up to 2 years.

You may apply for another Religious Worker Work Visa, allowing up to 4 years total in New Zealand.

After 3 years of religious work on this visa, you may be eligible for a Religious Worker Resident Visa.

If you have held this visa for 4 years or more, you cannot obtain another Religious Worker Work Visa. You may be eligible for residence if you are 55 or under.

Work, study and travel rights

Work

You may work only:

• For the named sponsoring religious organisation.
• In the specific religious role approved.
• At the location in the supporting employment agreement or job description.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

For longer study, apply for a variation of visa conditions.

Travel

After first arrival, you may travel in and out of New Zealand for 2 years.

Family

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

A partner or dependent child who wants to come to New Zealand must apply for their own visa.

Evidence and documents

Provide:

• One acceptable photo for an online application, or two for paper applications.
• Passport or certificate of identity.
• Chest X-ray and medical examination.
• Police certificates, if aged 17 or older.
• Evidence of religious training and/or experience.
• Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190).
• Employment agreement or religious-work description.

Evidence of training or experience may include:

• Testimonials from your religious community.
• Ordination documents.
• Curriculum vitae or résumé.
• Evidence of relevant religious work.
• Certified copies of relevant qualifications.

Police certificates

If you are 17 or older, provide police certificates from:

• Your country of citizenship.
• Any country where you lived for 5 years or more since turning 17.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you apply. Non-English certificates require an English translation.

Additional identity documents

Chinese citizens applying from China must also provide:

• Hukou household registration book.
• Chinese identity card.
• INZ 1027 supplementary form for paper applications.

Applicants applying in Hong Kong or Macao must provide:

• A copy of their identity card.
• INZ 1220 supplementary form for paper applications.

Subsequent Religious Worker Work Visas

For a further Religious Worker Work Visa, you must:

• Hold a current Religious Worker Work Visa.
• Be in New Zealand.
• Be working to advance your sponsor’s religious objectives.
• Meet all other visa requirements.

Your new offer must be for religious work that continues from your previous work and be with the same organisation that sponsored your first visa.

Evidence may include sponsor letters, payslips and Inland Revenue tax records.

Application

Apply online through Immigration New Zealand Online.

The visa costs from NZD $1,355. Immigration New Zealand states that 80% of applications are processed within 3 weeks.

Arrival requirements

Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before your journey begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before your ship leaves its last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since the visa was issued.
• Refuse a photo, fingerprint or iris scan.

Obligations and warnings

• Maintain an acceptable sponsor throughout your stay.
• Meet all conditions recorded in your eVisa.
• Leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
• Do not work outside the approved organisation, role or location.