3 alternative visas to New Zealand if you are not eligible for the WHV

New Zealand is a favourite destination for WHV-makers but unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) due to their age or nationality. Don’t worry, you may still be able to live your New Zealand dream thanks to these 3 visas:

• The Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa
• The Accredited Employer Work Visa
• The Specific Purpose Work Visa

Note: for eligible countries, you can apply for your WHV until the day before your 31st (or 36th birthday), New Zealand time. Once granted, you have 1 year to arrive in New Zealand and activate your visa, which will then be valid for 1 year.

The Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa (SSE)

The SSE visa is a seasonal visa created to compensate for labour shortages in the horticultural sector. Although this visa is subject to annual quotas, it is very rare that these are actually reached. This visa is available to travellers already in New Zealand on an active visitor or student visa.

You can only apply for an SSE visa by post. In addition to a few identity documents, you will need to provide proof of your intention to work in horticulture. For example:

• documents proving that you have booked transport or accommodation in a region where there are SSE-approved employers
• documents that describe the seasonal work potentially available in the horticulture or viticulture industries, such as information on employers, crops and regions approved by the SSE, or a harvest plan
• proof of contact with a seasonal work coordinator
• proof of contact with an employer approved by SSE.

In some cases, you may be required to submit a medical certificate or a chest x-ray. You must also be able to prove that you have the necessary funds to buy a plane ticket to leave the country if you do not already have one.

With this visa, you can work in horticulture (planting, maintening, picking, harvesting, packing) for an SSE accredited employer. You do not have to keep the same employer, so you can travel and work in different areas depending on the opportunities available and your personal preferences. This visa is, therefore, particularly interesting for travellers who want to spend a little more time in New Zealand while working in horticulture.

If you are not currently in New Zealand, to apply for this visa, you must travel there as a tourist. Once in New Zealand, you can apply for the SSE visa. If you are from a visa-exempt country, you must apply for an NZeTA to travel (instead of a visitor visa) and your visitor visa will be granted when you enter the country.

Tip: When arriving in New Zealand as a tourist, it is compulsory to have a return ticket to leave the country. You will want to consider buying a flexible return ticket with the option of changing the return date at a later date.

More information: Immigration New Zealand – Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

The AEWV is a temporary work visa on which you are sponsored by an accredited employer. To obtain this visa, you must mainly be offered a job of at least 30 hours per week. You must also prove your qualifications and/or experience in the field of employment. Note that some professions are regulated in New Zealand and you may have to register with the professional associations in question. You then have two options:

• If your job is not on the Green List, your employer will have to prove that they have not found a New Zealander to fill the position.
• If your job is on the Green List, your employer will not have to prove anything. Note that if your job is on the Green List Tier 1, you can apply directly for a ‘Straight to Residence’ visa. If it is on the Green List Tier 2, you will be eligible for the ‘Work to Resident’ visa after 2 years on the AEWV visa.

The advantage of the AEWV is that, in theory, it is accessible to everyone. However, in New Zealand work culture, it is rare to employ people remotely, especially for unskilled jobs. New Zealanders prefer to meet you and talk to you so that they can hire you straight away. So it’s almost impossible to get sponsored as a waiter when you’re still a long way from New Zealand and there are plenty of other working holiday makers around to apply for the job.

However, this visa is more beneficial for people working in tourism or adventure sports. For example, every year, the kayak companies in Abel Tasman recruit guides (whether they are in New Zealand or not). The same applies if you’re a canyoning or rafting guide, a ski instructor, or anything similar. The AEWV is also of interest to people with experience in a qualified field that is in need of workers in New Zealand (even if it is not on the Green List). You can consult the site Careers NZ to get an idea of the job market in various fields in New Zealand.

Please note that if this is not the case for you, this does not mean that you cannot apply for an AEWV. Some people clean hotels or wait tables in restaurants on this visa. It’s just more complicated to secure sponsorship. Many people advise going to New Zealand as a tourist first so that they can start networking with potential employers. While this may be a good idea in theory, be aware that it won’t necessarily lead to a job. It would be a shame to travel to a beautiful country and not enjoy it because you spent all your time looking for an employer.

More information: Immigration New Zealand – Accredited Employer Work Visa

The Specific Purpose Work Visa

The Specific Purpose Work Visa is a visa that allows anyone to work in New Zealand for a specific event or purpose. It allows you to work for the duration of the event or project in question. Examples of people on this visa include sports referees/judges, athletes and their coaches, installers of specific machinery (or machinery maintenance), people working in critical areas, etc.

This year, the New Zealand authorities have added a new category: working in a seasonal sector during the high season. To be eligible for a visa under this new category, you must have a promise of employment from an accredited employer for a position in a seasonal sector. Seasonal work is defined as work that

• occurs during a peak in a sector’s activity
• responds to changes in weather and climate and is directly affected by them
• takes place at a specific time of the year
• only takes place for part of the year, for a period of less than 9 months.

This applies in particular to people like ski instructors, wine producers, bungee jumping operators, etc. However, it does not apply to seasonal jobs in horticulture or viticulture.

Additionally, you must:

• be paid at least $29.66/hour
• work at least 30 hours/week
• start your work by 31 May, 2025 at the latest
• have at least 4 months of experience in a job with the same duties or responsibilities as the one you have been offered.

There is no age limit for this visa and you can apply several times. So it’s perfect for people who are no longer eligible for a WHV!

More information: Immigration New Zealand – Specific Purpose Work Visa