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New Zealand · Work

New Zealand South Island Contribution Work Visa

7 facts quoted from the official source

You can apply for this visa if you have an Essential Skills Work Visa and have been employed in the South Island for over 5 years. This visa provides a path to residence if you remain in the same industry and region.

Route type
Work
Can bring
children, partner
from the official record
Requirements
2
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

2 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Prior immigration or residence statusYou can apply for this visa if you have an Essential Skills Work Visa and have been employed in the South Island for over 5 years. This visa provides a path to residence if you remain in the same industry and region.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementIf you want to travel, your visa must be in a valid passport.
Also stated by the source
  • Dependent-family rightsYou cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
  • Work rightswork in the industry and region specified on your visa; study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period; apply for residence after 2 years.
Family

Who you can bring

childrenpartner
  • Dependent-family rightsYou cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Government feeFrom NZD $1630checked 2026-07-27
Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingUp to 30 months
How it works

From here to a yes

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FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to New Zealand?
The official source states: You can apply for this visa if you have an Essential Skills Work Visa and have been employed in the South Island for over 5 years. This visa provides a path to residence if you remain in the same industry and region.
02Can I bring my family?
The official record lists: children, partner.

Every answer is quoted from the official immigration.govt.nz page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 7 points against the official source; 7 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Processing time is not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source immigration.govt.nzLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this New Zealand government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other work routes to New Zealand

40 other work routes to New Zealand.

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Same category, elsewhere

Work routes in other countries

224 other countries publish at least one work route. Nearest first.

Australia43 work routes Canada68 work routes Japan56 work routes Germany40 work routes Denmark30 work routes France30 work routes

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