At a glance
This temporary visa allows work on a specific assignment, project or event accepted by Immigration New Zealand. You must show why you are needed, how long the work will take and that you meet the rules for that purpose. The visa restricts the work, employer and location.
- Who can apply
- People needed for an accepted temporary assignment, project, or event in New Zealand
- Work restrictions
- Only the work, employer, and location stated on the visa
- Residence
- This temporary visa does not itself provide residence
Summary
This is a temporary work route for a clearly defined New Zealand purpose, such as a project, event, installation, secondment, or specialist assignment. It is not a general open work visa and usually does not include family members in the same application.
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Match the work to an accepted purpose Check the category’s stay limit and whether another visa can be granted.
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Gather assignment and personal evidence Include duties, dates, skills, support, and the required employer records.
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Apply and follow the approved assignment Obtain any required approval before changing the work, employer, or location.
An ordinary job offer is not enough unless the work fits an accepted purpose or event.
Eligibility
The applicant must identify an accepted purpose or event and show both why they are needed and how long the work will take. Depending on the category, evidence may include a job offer that meets the rules, invitation letter, schedule of events, contract, employer supplementary form, or proof of international standing, specialist skills, qualifications, or experience.
The applicant must also:
- have genuine temporary intentions and be able to leave at the end of the stay;
- have enough money for living costs, or an acceptable sponsor or employer guarantee where permitted;
- meet health, character, identity, and document requirements; and
- meet every additional rule for the particular purpose, including any employer or labor-market evidence.
Length of stay and whether another visa can be granted vary by purpose. For example, some temporary assignments or transfers within a company have specific maximum periods, while some one-off categories cannot be renewed. The temporary seasonal-work option under this visa closed on 8 December 2025; current seasonal workers should check the Peak Seasonal Visa or Global Workforce Seasonal Visa instead.
What This Route Allows
The holder can perform only the specific work recorded in the eVisa, for the employer and at the location stated there. Travel in and out is possible only if the visa has valid multiple-entry travel conditions.
A partner or dependent child cannot be included in this application. They may apply separately for a visa based on the relationship if the applicable family-visa rules are met; that outcome is not automatic.
What This Route Is Not
It is not a general job-search route, an open permission to change jobs, or a direct route to residence. A general overseas job offer does not qualify unless the work fits an accepted purpose or event.
Entertainers and tour guides from China have separate visa routes. Ordinary seasonal recruitment also no longer belongs in this category. Extending the assignment, changing the employer or location, or taking different work may require a new visa or approval to change the visa conditions before the change happens.
Next Steps
- Match the assignment to INZ's exact list of accepted purposes and identify its maximum stay and renewal rule.
- Obtain a detailed offer, invitation, contract, or event schedule showing duties, dates, employer, location, pay, and why the applicant is needed.
- Gather the qualifications, references, professional credentials, or evidence of distinction required for that purpose.
- Document living-cost support, return travel, health, character, identity, and genuine temporary intentions.
- Check the family route separately and do not assume dependents receive the same work or study rights.
- Obtain any required new visa or approval to change conditions before changing the assignment, employer, or location.
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