Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa
Purpose	Seasonal horticulture or viticulture work
Stay	Up to 6 months
Cost	From NZD $1,355
Processing	Priority
Age	18 or older
Eligibility timing	Already in New Zealand
Current visa	Valid visitor or student visa
Work rights	SSE-approved employer only
Study	Up to 3 months
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and children excluded
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Previous SSE/TRSE visa	Must not have held one

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Purpose

This visa allows people already in New Zealand on a visitor or student visa to do eligible seasonal work in horticulture or viticulture.

Eligible work is limited to planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops for an employer approved under the Supplementary Seasonal Employer Scheme (SSE).

Work in plant nurseries, food processing or manufacturing does not qualify.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be aged 18 or older.
• Be physically in New Zealand when applying.
• Hold a current student or visitor visa.
• Genuinely intend to undertake eligible seasonal work.
• Intend to comply with all visa conditions.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have onward travel arrangements or enough money to buy a ticket.
• Not previously have been granted an SSE or TRSE work visa.

People holding a work visa are not eligible if applying after 31 December 2022.

Stay and Work Conditions

You may work for up to 6 months from visa approval.

You may work only:

• For an SSE-approved employer.
• In horticulture or viticulture.
• Planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires and have the means to leave throughout your stay.

Study Rights

You may:

• Complete study or training authorised by your SSE-approved employer.
• Do other study or training for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

Family

You cannot include a partner or dependent children in your application. They must apply for their own visas if they wish to come to New Zealand.

Required Evidence

Identity

Provide:

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

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

A certified passport copy may be accepted initially, but Immigration New Zealand may request the original.

Seasonal Work Intention

Evidence may include:

• Travel or accommodation bookings near SSE-approved employers.
• Information about available crops, employers or regions.
• A harvest trail plan.
• Records of contact with a Seasonal Labour Co-ordinator.
• Records of contact with an SSE-approved employer.

Onward Travel

Provide either:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand, or
• Evidence of funds to buy a return ticket, such as bank or credit-card statements.

Health

You must be in good health. Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

Normally, you do not need:

• A chest X-ray for stays under 6 months.
• A medical certificate for stays under 12 months.

Applicants in China, Hong Kong or Macao may have additional chest X-ray requirements.

Character

You must be of good character. A criminal conviction or security risk may prevent visa approval.

Police certificates are required if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits, or if Immigration New Zealand requests them.

Police certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when submitted.
• Cover countries of citizenship or where you lived over 5 years since age 17.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates. Previously submitted certificates may be reused if less than 24 months old.

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 in Hong Kong or Macao must also provide:

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

How to Apply

1. Confirm you hold a current visitor or student visa.
2. Gather identity, health, character, onward-travel and seasonal-work evidence.
3. Check the SSE-approved employers list.
4. Enter your nationality details to view country-specific application process and costs.
5. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.

Important Warnings

• This visa does not permit general employment.
• You may only work for an SSE-approved employer.
• You cannot use this visa if previously granted an SSE or TRSE work visa.
• Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.
• You must leave New Zealand before visa expiry.