How to Get a Job in New Zealand

New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan. With a population of only four million people it’s also gloriously uncrowded. New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.

New Zealand's friendly and down-to-earth people will be one of the things you treasure most about your visit.

Travel to New Zealand is pretty simple but there are a few things that may be different to your home country. A little prior research will have you better prepared and ensure you make the most of your staying.

Whether it's learning about the currency, familiarizing yourself on the requirements for driving in New Zealand or contacting a Visitor Information Center for local information on what to see and do, our travel guide will help you out with everything you need to know.

If you have decided to come to New Zealand to work temporarily, you will probably need to apply for a work visa. Find out if you do, and what requirements you need to meet.

Top Advice in Getting a Visa:

• Essential Skills work visa are meant for temporary stays. The duration of the visa depends on the term of the job offer and labor market conditions. The Essential Skills in Demand Lists are Immigration New Zealand’s occupational skill shortage lists. If there are a job offer in an occupation on one of the lists and your qualifications and experience match, you can apply for an Essential Skills work visa.

• If you have a permanent or long-term job offer in an occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List and your qualifications and experience match, you could apply for a Work to Residence Visa. You’ll need to meet the age, health and character requirements. New Zealand accredited employer you could apply for a work to residence visa. You’ll need to meet the age, health and character requirements, and your job offer will need to meet certain requirements.

• You need to get an idea of the sort of jobs that are available in New Zealand, and whether your skills will fit. You may find there’s no direct equivalent for your current job here which will mean reviewing your core skills and finding other jobs where they will be relevant.

• You also need to research what New Zealand employers look for in job applications and how to present yourself in the best possible way. The Careers New Zealand webpage for migrants is a good starting point for preparing for you job search.

• You’ll want at least some basic background on the employers you’re considering - what sort of work they do, what they specialize in, how big they are, who they compete with, what clients and customers they have - for your own information.