You Have Been Offered a Job in New Zealand – What to do Next?
Getting a job offer in New Zealand is exciting, particularly if you have been applying for jobs from overseas for some time.
It can feel like the hardest part is finally done.
But before you hand in your notice, book your flights or start making plans to move your family to New Zealand, there are a few things you need to check.
A job offer does not automatically mean you will qualify for a New Zealand work visa.
If you are planning to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), there are requirements for both the employer and the person applying for the visa.
Is your employer accredited?
The first thing to establish is whether your New Zealand employer holds the appropriate accreditation to employ migrant workers on an AEWV.
If they are not currently accredited, this doesn't necessarily mean the job offer can't go ahead. However, the employer will need to obtain accreditation before they can complete the next stage of the process.
Does the employer have an approved Job Check?
Once an employer is accredited, they generally need to complete a Job Check for the position they want to fill.
The Job Check looks at the role being offered, including things such as the position, pay, hours, location and the skills or experience required.
Depending on the role, the employer may also need to advertise the position and show they have genuinely attempted to recruit suitable and available New Zealand workers.
Once the Job Check is approved, the employer can provide you with the information you need to apply for your AEWV.
Do you meet the requirements for the visa?
This is an important part of the process.
Having an employer who wants to employ you doesn't automatically mean Immigration New Zealand will approve your work visa.
You still need to meet the immigration requirements that apply to you and the position you have been offered.
This may include requirements around your skills, qualifications or work experience, as well as health and character requirements.
Depending on the skill level of your occupation, you may also need to meet an English language requirement.
There can also be occupation-specific requirements, such as New Zealand registration, that need to be considered.
Before making any major decisions based on the job offer, it is worth making sure you understand whether you meet the requirements for the visa.
What about your partner and children?
If you are planning to relocate to New Zealand with your family, don't just look at your own work visa.
Depending on your occupation, skill level and how much you will earn, there may be restrictions on the visas you can support for your partner and dependent children.
For example, you may be able to support a work or visitor visa for your partner and student or visitor visas for your children. In other circumstances, the options available may be more limited.
This is something I would recommend looking into before making the decision to relocate your whole family.
Finding out after you have accepted the job that your partner cannot obtain the visa you expected, or that there are different requirements for your children's visas, can significantly change whether moving to New Zealand works for your family.
Are you hoping to stay in New Zealand long term?
This is another question worth asking right from the beginning.
Your immediate goal might simply be getting the work visa approved and getting to New Zealand.
But if your longer-term goal is New Zealand residence, it is worth understanding your potential pathway before you make the move.
Not every job will provide a pathway to residence.
Depending on the residence category you may eventually rely on, your occupation, qualifications, pay and skilled employment in New Zealand can all become important.
Sometimes the job that gets you to New Zealand may be a good step towards your longer-term goal.
Other times, you may discover that the position you have been offered is unlikely to take you where you ultimately want to go.
Knowing that from the start gives you the opportunity to make an informed decision.
Then it's time to prepare your visa application
Once the employer side of the process is complete and you have established that you meet the relevant visa requirements, you can prepare your AEWV application.
This is where you will need to provide the required information and supporting evidence to Immigration New Zealand.
Exactly what you need will depend on your circumstances, so don't assume that what a friend or colleague provided for their work visa will necessarily be the same for you.
Look at the whole picture before you make the move
Receiving a New Zealand job offer is a huge step, especially if you have been trying to secure a position from overseas.
But the job offer is only one part of the process.
Before you resign from your current employment, make financial commitments or start planning an international move, make sure you understand:
Whether you are eligible for the work visa.
Where your employer is at in the AEWV process.
What visa options are available for your family.
Whether the job fits with your longer-term plans in New Zealand.
A little bit of planning at the beginning can give you a much clearer idea of what to expect and help you make decisions with the full picture in front of you.
At Navigate Immigration Services, I can assess your circumstances, talk you through the visa process and help you understand not only your immediate work visa options, but also what your potential longer-term pathway in New Zealand may look like.
If you've received a job offer in New Zealand and you're not sure what happens next, feel free to reach out to Jo at Navigate Immigration Services Limited.
📧 jo@navigateimmigration.co.nz 📞+64 27 477 2088
👩💻 ww.navigateimmigration.co.nz
