South Island Contribution Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	South Island Contribution Work Visa
Stay	Up to 30 months
Cost	From NZD $1,630
Processing	80% within 10 weeks
Age	55 or under
Eligibility timing	Five years before 22 May 2017
Work rights	Specified industry and region
Study	Up to 3 months yearly
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Not stated in the source
Residence pathway	Apply after 2 years
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and children apply separately
Visa record	Current Essential Skills Work Visa
Health evidence	Medical examination and chest X-ray
Character evidence	Police certificates required

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Purpose

This visa provides a pathway to residence for eligible Essential Skills Work Visa holders who remain in the same industry and region in the South Island.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be aged 55 or under.
• Currently hold an Essential Skills Work Visa specifying employment in the South Island.
• Have worked full time in the South Island for the 5 years before 22 May 2017.
• Have held an Essential Skills Work Visa or Interim Visa specifying South Island work during that period.
• Have ongoing eligible employment in the South Island.
• Meet health, character and genuine-intention requirements.

Counting South Island employment

Time working outside the South Island may count if you were outside the region for:

• No more than 3 months per calendar year; and
• No more than 12 months total.

Ongoing employment requirements

Your current job or job offer must be:

• Full time.
• Paid by salary or wages.
• Genuine.
• Sustainable and ongoing.
• Permanent, indefinite, or at least 24 months.
• Located in the South Island.
• Paid at terms no less than the New Zealand market.
• With an employer compliant with immigration and employment law.

The employer must not be on the Labour Inspectorate’s non-compliant employer list.

Stay, Work and Study

The visa can be granted for up to 30 months.

You must work in the industry and region specified on your visa.

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

Residence

You may apply for residence after holding this visa for 2 years.

Family Provisions

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

Your partner and dependent children may apply for visas based on their relationship to you.

Evidence Required

Identity

Provide:

• Two acceptable head-and-shoulders photographs.
• Your passport or certificate of identity.

You may submit an original passport or certified copy. Immigration New Zealand may request the original passport.

Applicants from China applying in China must also provide:

• Hukou household registration book.
• Chinese identity card.
• Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027) for paper applications.

Applicants from Hong Kong or Macao applying there must also provide:

• Copy of identity card.
• Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) for paper applications.

Character

If you are aged 17 or over, provide police certificates from:

• Your country of citizenship; and
• 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, including those recording no convictions, require an English translation.

Health

You must provide:

• A medical examination; and
• A chest X-ray.

Applicants applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao must provide a chest X-ray completed within the last 3 months if they:

• Spent 6 consecutive months in China since their previous X-ray; and
• Are coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months.

Genuine Intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet your visa conditions.

Immigration New Zealand considers your supporting information, personal circumstances and information from previous applications.

Application and Cost

The listed application cost is from NZD $1,630.

Country-specific submission and payment information is not stated in the source.

Arrival Requirements

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

You can submit it:

• By air: from 24 hours before your journey begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

Customs and Biosecurity requirements also apply.

Important Warnings

You may be refused entry permission if you:

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

Passport and Travel

Your visa must be in a valid passport to travel.

If your passport expires, apply to transfer the visa before travelling. You must send your old and new passports, complete the Application for Transfer or Confirmation of a Visa (INZ 1023), and pay the transfer fee.