[janmommy]

To get a work visa before you arrive in NZ do you HAVE to have a job?

[ruthyroo]

In general, unless someone knows different - yes. Work visas AFAIK are for specific people who are coming to work in a specific job that meets the NZIS criteria - not for general job searching.

HTH

[janmommy]

In general, unless someone knows different - yes. Work visas AFAIK are for specific people who are coming to work in a specific job that meets the NZIS criteria - not for general job searching.

HTH


thank you
we've been told that we should get the work visa first so you can start your job straight away and that you can't get a visa without a job.

[BkyMonster]

If you arrive on a non working visa ( you don't have a job offer or PR) and you are offered a job after you arrive I believe you can apply for a work visa based on your job offer.
This allows you to start working quickly (a couple weeks at most I've read). It also allows time to get your PR sorted if you are working toward that.
HTH

[ruthyroo]

Yep, it's real 'laying the track as the train is rolling forward' stuff. You can come to NZ, look for and get a job offer on a visitor visa - but you can't start work until you have your work permit. The speed with which a work permit is issued depends on a number of things - how straightforward your application is, whether it's a shortage occupation, whether all your accompanying paperwork is in place and whether you need / have had your quals assessed by NZQA, whether you need / have obtained professional registration. Mr Rr's work visa was issued on the spot - but only because he had all the above in place prior to applying for it - as well as the police checks and medicals done.

Best thing to do, if you can make a guess at the kind of job offer you are likely to get, is to work through the work permit form asap as if you were applying for it. That way you get all your paperwork / assessments / registrations together well in advance.