Once you have the offer of employment or sponsorship, complete the Application to Work in New Zealand form, under the Work to Residence section.

Provided you meet all the criteria detailed on the form, you will be advised as quickly as possible if your application has been approved.

The Application Process

As soon as your application has been accepted for processing, Immigration New Zealand will send you an acknowledgement letter telling you either the name of the officer looking after your application and how to contact them, or the likely date that an officer will be available to assess your application.

In the acknowledgement letter you may also be asked to provide any further information or documents.

The work involved in processing your application typically involves:

• checking your application against immigration policy requirements
• assessing whether you are a bona fide applicant and what benefits or potential risks to New Zealand are involved
• verifying any information and documents you have provided
• confirming details of your relationship with your partner or family members.

Before making a decision on your application, Immigration New Zealand may also ask you to:

• produce other photographs, documents and information
• undergo a medical examination or undertake further tests such as a chest x-ray
• appear for an interview.

How Long Will it Take?

The time it will take to process your application can vary depending on:

• the requirements of the immigration policy you are applying under
• the completeness of your application
• how easily Immigration New Zealand can check the information you provide
• how well and how quickly you respond to any concerns raised with you.

Processing times can also vary between offices. When your application is accepted, Immigration New Zealand will either give you a decision, or send you a letter to advise how long the processing time is predicted to be.