Moving to New Zealand through a job offer
For many people, the dream scenario is getting invited by a New Zealand employer who literally relocates you from overseas. And yes, it does happen. Some specialists even have their visa handled and paid for by an adviser or lawyer, and sometimes employers cover part of the family’s relocation costs.
But even before, this was rare — reserved only for unique, highly specialised, and genuinely in-demand professionals. And in today’s labour market, it has become almost impossible.
Many vacancies receive hundreds of applications, and the lower the position, the more applicants there are.
The IT sector is going through global transformation, and New Zealand’s economy and job market, according to industry representatives, are only beginning to show modest signs of recovery.
But why does this happen? After all, skilled professionals are needed in New Zealand, and there are always companies that want to hire them. The reasons are simple: hassle, time, money, and most importantly — risk.
Company accreditation to hire foreigners
This is the first step. Not every company in New Zealand is allowed to employ a foreign worker. To do so, they must hold a special accreditation that many employers simply don’t qualify for.
A company has to be financially stable: no losses, a positive balance sheet, and compliance with several other criteria. And obtaining this accreditation already means the employer has to spend money upfront.
Job Check — permission to hire for a specific role
A company must request permission from Immigration New Zealand to hire a foreign worker for a specific position, explaining why this role is genuinely needed. To do this, they must prove that no suitable local candidate was found.
The employer posts the job ad for several days — that’s already the second expense. Then they must record all applications and provide INZ with clear reasons why none of the local candidates were suitable.
And if the vacancy receives hundreds of CVs (which happens quite often), someone has to review and process all of them — the third cost: time, and therefore money.
At the same time, the chance of not finding an acceptable local candidate for many roles is extremely low.
If the occupation is on a skill shortage list or offers a high salary, the employer may skip advertising.
But the Job Check application itself is still paid — the fourth expense.
Work visa application
Once the Job Check is approved, the employer can send an invitation to the selected candidate to apply for a work visa. As a courtesy, some employers may offer to pay for an adviser or lawyer to assist with the process (a fifth expense), although this isn’t a requirement or a regulated standard — it’s entirely up to the employer.
The candidate must perfectly match the role that was previously submitted — the role for which, supposedly, no suitable local applicants were found.
This means their education, experience, and skills must align. And many professions require an understanding of the local market — something you simply cannot gain it without having lived in the country.
Visa processing time
All the previous stages already take quite a bit of time. On top of that, the visa processing period can range from several weeks to several months.
Sometimes the person is moving with their family, applying for visas for them as well, which means the employee’s arrival is delayed even further. In most cases, we’re talking about months of waiting, and not every company is willing to wait that long.
In essence, this is another cost — the sixth one, because the most valuable resource is lost: time.
Risks of a difficult adaptation in a new country
And after all these efforts, there is always a chance that the person simply won’t cope with the job. Just like any local employee — the human factor applies to everyone. But when it comes to a foreign hire, the employer has already invested significantly more time, effort, and money.
Add to this the fact that English may not be their native language, and their mindset may be different. Because of that, they might not fit into the team right away. And perhaps most importantly — they may simply not settle in.
Immigration is stressful, and it’s not for everyone. Some people struggle with the move, some face challenges with their family’s adaptation, and some simply don’t like New Zealand. Neither the employer nor the employee can be sure things will work out well. No one can know this in advance.
That’s why, for employers, hiring a foreigner is a complicated, expensive, and high-risk decision. And this is exactly why most job ads include the line: “Apply only if you already have the right to work in New Zealand.”
Competition with locals and people who already have valid visas
And we shouldn’t forget about competition. Even if a vacancy has been open for a long time, and even if your occupation is on a skill shortage list, there will almost always be candidates from among locals or those who are already in New Zealand, hold an appropriate visa, and have gone through the initial stages of adaptation.
The system is structured logically: the priority goes to local residents and those who already have the right to work. It is a way of protecting their own workforce, and that is quite natural.
Some people start wondering, almost a bit dramatically:
“Why don’t they want to bring me over when I’m such a great specialist?”
It is important to realistically assess how unique and in-demand you actually are and to understand what you can do to improve your chances and win the competition.
New Zealand welcomes skilled migrants
New Zealand is a very multicultural and inclusive country. In many companies, you’ll actually meet more international employees than Kiwis — or at least a very diverse mix. No one really judges you by your nationality here. That’s not the issue. What matters is the balance of effort and risk for the employer.
And once again: the system that allows skilled professionals to move to New Zealand does exist, and it works. But it requires the employer to take active steps.
Which means it all comes down to one thing — how well you can interest a company that is willing to support your visa process.
Professional study from 1 year ⇒ Work visa
For an employer, a candidate who has already lived in New Zealand is far more attractive someone who has studied locally, learned how the industry works, adapted, and maybe even gained some work experience, even if it was just a part-time job.
Local employers really value New Zealand experience and New Zealand references.
But the most important part is the work visa you can get after completing a professional programme. You can’t get such a visa after English courses, though language study can still be a good starting point: improve your English and start looking for work while already in the country.
Still, it’s the professional study, starting from one year — that opens the pathway to a work visa.
A candidate like this can be considered on equal terms, without extra complications. That’s how you remove the main barrier standing in your way.
The chance to become better
Professional study is also an opportunity to update your skills and knowledge, or even gain new ones — diversifying your portfolio and making yourself an even more attractive specialist. And for some people, it’s a chance to finally do what they’ve always wanted.
So moving to New Zealand through study is a key pathway that benefits everyone: the economy, employers, and the people who want to build their future here.
So I wanted to write a short reply to a comment… and somehow ended up with a whole article. As usual.
And it’s all your fault!So subscribe to my Telegram channel, send in your questions — my colleagues and I are always happy to help and find answers.
And hopefully, I’ll see you in New Zealand!
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