- Overview: New Zealand
- Global PEO and payroll
- Global HR Compliance
- Work permit for hiring expats via PEO
- Expand without a company set up
- Contractor vs. employee: which is better?
Immigration support for hiring expats in New Zealand via a PEO
If your business objectives are related to hiring expatriate personnel in New Zealand, there are some things you need to consider, from the peculiarities of immigration procedure in New Zealand to documents required to get a work permit, and local payroll for foreign citizens.
If your company is hiring or planning to hire expats in New Zealand, an in-country PEO employment post immigration might be a viable alternative to incorporation. A global PEO company will guide you through every step of immigration procedure in New Zealand and render a ‘no entity hiring’ after visa or permit receipt.
For many years Acumen International has been hiring and payrolling our clients’ expatriates for both short- and long-term projects. If you need to legally hire and pay the expatriates in New Zealand, we can help you. Regardless of your business objectives and timelines, Acumen International can arrange immigration and work permit support for hiring your expats in full legal compliance with local labor legislation after the permit has been issued.
Acumen’s ‘work permit and hiring expats through a Global PEO’ solution is designed for:
- employer companies like yourself that want to relocate their selected expats to New Zealand
- individuals that have an employer that is ready to finance their immigration and foreign employment in New Zealand
- the service is mainly used by companies hiring highly skilled personnel to fill some top positions in New Zealand
Note: Having a single provider that would sponsor a work permit or visa on your behalf and then employs expats in New Zealand, minimizes risks of visa rejection. In addition, it takes the hassle associated with immigration procedure off your head.
Unlike other global Professional Employer Organizations, Acumen International can provide extra benefits in addition to work permit support in New Zealand. This includes medical insurance, housing, office rent, mobile phone and car provision to meet-and-greet, dependents relocation, etc.
Attention: we are not an immigration service! We do not provide a work permit and immigration support as a standalone solution to individuals willing to find jobs overseas.
Estimated time for work permit issuance
Typically, the procedure of work permit issuance in New Zealand takes from 2 to 3 months until entry to New Zealand.
Major steps to get a work permit in New Zealand
- Labour Market Test
- Temporary Work Visa Application
- Entry to New Zealand
Documents for work permit in New Zealand, main applicant
| Name | Notes | Copies |
| Valid Passport | One original | |
| Chest X-Ray Fee | Pregnant women are exempted from the chest X-ray. The radiologist or registered medical practitioner will charge a fee for the immigration chest X-ray, any tests required and postage and courier fees. | One original |
| Application Fee (New Zealand) | Fees vary depending on the type of application, the country of citizenship and the country of residence. Please see Government Documents section for additional information. | One original |
| Work Visa Application Form (New Zealand) | This should be completed for applications where dependents are included. For applications where there are no dependents, there is an online form to complete. | One original |
| Evidence of Qualifications and Work Experience Relevant to the Job Offer | When assessing whether the applicant is suitably qualified for a position, Immigration New Zealand will consider whether the applicant has the qualifications and/or work experience described as the prerequisite for the occupation on the ANZSCO. Not all overseas qualifications are immediately recognized. If a qualification is not recognized, the applicant can prove a minimum period of work experience instead. Alternatively, the qualification can be assessed by the NZ Qualifications Authority. However, this takes at least one month. | One original |
| Evidence of Registration of Occupation | Certain occupations require full or provisional registration in New Zealand. If your occupation is one of them, you must be registered or prove that you can meet the requirements for registration. | One original |
| Completed Chest X-Ray Certificate (Short Term) or eMedical Reference Number | The eMedical Reference Number is now issued instead of a Chest X-Ray Certificate for nationals of over 120 countries. Proof of a chest x-ray examination is required for applicants who either are nationals of, or have stayed in, a “medium risk” or “high risk” country for at least 3 months in the previous 5 years, and who are applying for stays of between 6 and 12 months. Pregnant women are exempted. | One original |
| Visa Application Centre Fee | The Visa Application Centre charges a fee, which is addition to the INZ processing fee. It is usually around the equivalent of NZD50. | One original |
| 2 passport photographs 3.5cmx4.5cm or a digital passport photograph | For applications where dependents are included 2 passport photographs should be obtained. For applications where there are no dependents included the applicant should have their passport photograph taken and request a digital jpeg of the photograph is emailed to them. The photographs should be 3.5cm x 4.5cm, in color, with a white background. Face forward, mouth closed, eyes open. | One original |
| Immigration Levy | Currently $38 NZ for this visa category. | One original |
If you need to have your expat personnel legally work for you in New Zealand without having to set up your own business entity for that, trust us to assist you with work permit and immigration support, and then employ your expats locally on your behalf.
Contact our team to let us take up your foreign employees’ immigration matters and relieve you of the responsibility of getting work permit by working with our local partners to organize and obtain all the necessary permits, as well as provide you with a detailed update on the progress of the process.
Contact us for more details about how you can get a work permit for your expatriate staff and employ them through Acumen International in New Zealand.
