Common work routes: duration & processing
Official sources · Reviewed 2026-10-16The two routes serve different purposes. Immigration New Zealand publishes the processing figures shown on the official route pages; these are dated snapshots, not guarantees. A maximum continuous-stay allowance does not mean every individual visa is granted for that full period.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- Stay / permit duration
- Up to 5 years depending on the job. The maximum continuous stay is generally 3 years for ANZSCO/NOL skill-level 4 or 5 roles; individual grants may be shorter.
- Official processing guidance
- 80% within 5 weeks, as shown on the official route page when reviewed.
Requires an eligible offer from an accredited employer and the relevant candidate requirements. Employer accreditation and job-check preparation are separate stages.
Specific Purpose Work Visa
- Stay / permit duration
- For the time needed to complete the approved purpose or event, subject to that purpose’s rules.
- Official processing guidance
- 80% within 3 weeks, as shown on the official route page when reviewed.
For qualifying specific purposes or events; it is not a general job-search or unrestricted employment visa.
Informational route examples, not a list of confirmed vacancies or a promise that every route is available through the agency. Check the linked official guidance for current eligibility and timing. Recruitment, document preparation and government processing are separate; confirm the route-specific service scope and fees.
Start with the work you want to do.
Immigration New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa information starts with an offer from an accredited employer. It also sets role-related experience or qualification requirements. No offer is represented by this page.
Prepare your candidate background
Document recent responsibilities and training, then discuss registration and workplace communication. Check the official route against the actual job before any application.
- A complete CV with consistent dates and recent responsibilities
- Qualification, trade or professional evidence where relevant
- Employment references and any language results already held
- Your nationality and current residence, discussed through an appropriate channel
What our support can cover
We can review your skills summary, discuss a focused recruitment search and help prepare your employment application. Document-readiness support can identify questions to resolve before appointments or submission. Confirm availability, fees and the written service scope for your case.
Keep four different steps clear
Employment offer: the proposed work and its terms.
Work authorisation: permission to carry out the specified work.
Entry visa: permission relevant to entering the destination, where required.
Residence permission: the conditions for staying. It is not automatically created by signing a contract.
Language and professional readiness
Ask what language is used at work and whether formal language evidence is required. Professional registration, trade licensing and an immigration language requirement can be separate checks. Choose examinations only after confirming the receiving body’s current rules.
Questions to settle before committing
Is this page advertising a live job?+
No. This is a destination preparation guide. Use the opportunity directory to request a recruitment search or express interest in future discussions.
Can you quote a fixed processing date or extension?+
No. Requirements and decisions depend on the actual route and circumstances. Ask the authority for current information and confirm any service timetable in writing.
Can I apply while living in another country?+
Your residence, nationality and application route may affect where and how you apply. Confirm the official application location and do not assume that being nearby gives you work rights.
NEW COUNTRY PROGRAMMES
Explore your next job abroad.
Plumbing, building, hospitality, warehouse work and other occupations: tell us your skills and preferred country.
Agency-announced recruitment programmes with work-visa preparation support. Request the current role, employer, work location, contract and written visa-support terms before applying or paying. This overview is not an individual employment offer.
New Zealand
- Programme estimate
- 3.3 months
- Processing-stage estimate
- 1 month
- Programme service fee
- Request a written quote
View this job programmeThese are agency-supplied estimates, not official visa deadlines or permit validity periods. The programme estimate and processing-stage estimate are separate figures supplied by the agency; do not add them together. Confirm the stages and starting point in writing. Timing and service fees vary by country and role.
Dollar fees are approximate conversions, not fixed USD quotes. Conversion basis: 1 USD = 583.7988 XAF, 18 October 2026. Bank rates and charges may differ. Existing destination starting prices describe separate service scopes; request one itemised quote for your chosen programme.
Exchange-rate reference ↗ · Prepare your programme documents ↗
