Specific Purpose Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Specific Purpose Work Visa
Purpose	Specific work purpose or event
Stay	Time needed for purpose
Cost	From NZD $1,455
Processing	80% within 3 weeks
Eligibility timing	No general deadline stated
Work rights	Visa-specified job, employer, location
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Public health care	Some people may be eligible
Travel facility	Multiple entry only if granted
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family cannot be included
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Arrival deadline	Within 12 months of issue
Application method	Online or paper
Financial support	Funds or acceptable sponsor
Onward travel	Required at stay end

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Purpose

This visa allows work in New Zealand for an approved specific purpose or event. The visa duration depends on the time needed to complete that purpose.

Workers in entertainment should apply for an Entertainers Work Visa. Tour guides from China should apply for a China Special Work Visa.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be coming for an approved specific purpose or event.
• Meet the requirements for that purpose.
• Provide relevant qualifications and experience, if required.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
• Have enough funds or an acceptable sponsor, if required.
• Show that you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
• Provide evidence of how long you need to stay.

Evidence of required time may include a job offer, invitation letter, or event schedule.

Approved purposes and key limits

Purpose	Maximum stay or rule
Senior/specialist short-term secondment	Up to 12 months
Multinational-company transfer	Up to 3 years
Business activities over three months	Up to 12 months
UK contractual services supplier	Up to 6 months
UK independent professional	Up to 12 months
EU supplier or independent professional	Up to 12 months
Dance or music examiner	Usually up to 6 months
Entrepreneur Resident Visa applicant	Up to 9 months
Business Investor Resident Visa applicant	Up to 9 months
Overseas equipment installer or servicer	Up to 3 months
Approved investor investigating investments	12 months
Philippines nurse registration	Up to 3 months
Referee or judge	Usually up to 6 months
Seasonal activity	Closed to new applications
Other qualifying purpose or event	Depends on circumstances

For an other specific purpose or event, you must show:

• Your skills, expertise, or attributes will likely benefit New Zealand or individuals.
• The work will not negatively affect opportunities for New Zealanders.
• Why a New Zealand citizen or resident cannot appropriately do the work.
• A job offer and completed Employer Supplementary Form if employed in New Zealand.
• Sufficient funds to support yourself.

Business and professional categories

Senior or specialist business people on short-term secondment need a compliant job offer from a substantial New Zealand company or New Zealand subsidiary, evidence of senior or specialist status, secondment terms, an Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113), and evidence of funds.

Business people transferred within a multinational company need evidence of senior or specialist status, job offer, secondment terms, and sufficient funds.

Business people undertaking activities exceeding three months in one year must show the time needed and their New Zealand business activities. They cannot apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if they already hold one.

UK contractual service suppliers need a tertiary degree of at least three years and six years’ relevant experience. UK independent professionals need a degree or diploma after at least three years of formal post-secondary education and six years’ relevant experience.

EU contractual service suppliers and independent professionals need a tertiary degree of at least three years and six years’ relevant work experience.

Health and Character

You must answer health questions when applying. Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

• For stays under six months, a chest X-ray is not normally required.
• For stays under 12 months, a medical certificate is not normally required.
• Health evidence must be less than three months old when received.
• For stays over six months, a chest X-ray is required in specified tuberculosis-risk circumstances.

You may need police certificates if you are aged 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, including previous stays. Certificates must:

• Be less than six months old when submitted.
• Be from countries of citizenship.
• Be from countries where you have spent over five years since age 17.

Previously supplied police certificates may not be needed if issued within the last 24 months.

Financial Support and Departure

You must show sufficient money for living costs, or have an acceptable sponsor.

Acceptable evidence may include:

• Bank statements.
• Wage, salary, or payment evidence.
• Employer guarantee of maintenance and accommodation.
• Sponsorship by a New Zealand friend or relative.

You must also show you can leave New Zealand by providing:

• An onward ticket to a country you may enter; or
• Evidence you have enough money to buy one.

Funds for departure must be additional to living-cost funds. A sponsor may provide bank statements showing they can pay for onward travel.

You or your sponsor must pay for health care or medical assistance needed in New Zealand. Full medical insurance is recommended.

Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity copy.
• One acceptable photo online; two photos on paper.
• Evidence of the specific purpose and required duration.
• Job offer, invitation, or event schedule, where relevant.
• Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113), if required.
• Qualifications and work-experience evidence, if required.
• Financial-support evidence.
• Departure-ticket or onward-funds evidence.
• Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry, if sponsored.
• Police, medical, or chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Certified English translations of non-English police and medical certificates.

Paper applications require originals or certified copies.

Chinese citizens applying from China must also provide a Hukou and Chinese identity card. Paper applicants in China must complete Supplementary Form INZ 1027.

Applicants in Hong Kong or Macao must provide an identity card copy. Paper applicants must also complete Supplementary Form INZ 1220.

How to Apply

1. Confirm that your purpose or event is eligible.
2. Gather identity, purpose, employment, qualification, financial, health, character, and departure evidence.
3. Translate police and medical certificates into certified English translations where needed.
4. Apply online through Immigration Online, or submit a paper application.
5. Pay the applicable fee.
6. Respond to any request for further information.
7. Check application status online or await the decision email.

If approved, you receive an eVisa.

Rights and Conditions

You may work only:

• In the job specified on your visa.
• For the employer specified on your visa.
• In the location specified on your visa.

You must pay New Zealand tax and need an IRD number to do so.

Your eVisa records your visa conditions.

You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your application. They may apply separately based on their relationship to you.

Travel and Arrival

You must travel to New Zealand within 12 months of visa issue.

Your visa starts:

• On first arrival, if you are outside New Zealand; or
• On visa issue, if you are already in New Zealand.

Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before travel:

• Air travellers: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• Sea travellers: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

To leave and return to New Zealand, your visa must have a valid multiple-entry travel condition. If it does not and you leave New Zealand, your visa expires. You may apply on paper for a variation of travel conditions.

Entry permission may be refused if your reasons are not genuine, you no longer meet character requirements, circumstances have changed, you refuse biometrics, or you cannot prove onward travel or funds.

Staying Longer

Only certain business categories may apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa:

• Senior or specialist short-term secondees: another period of up to 12 months.
• Multinational-company transferees: another period of up to 3 years.

Other categories may have separate restrictions on further Specific Purpose Work Visa applications.