[Tonyc32]

I've been offered a 6 month contract in NZ. However I don't have contractor experience and I keep reading about how you need at least a 12 month permie role in order to get a work Visa.

Is this accurate? Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks

[JandM]

Hello, and welcome to the site.:)

Here's a page from the NZIS site with several links. It sounds as if one of them may answer some of your questions. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/requirements/

[Tonyc32]

Thanks, i'm looking at that page but iI can't see where it says about contracting.

Reading old thread like this one - http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14335&highlight=contracting

It seems to say that if you're not already a contractor you can't accept a contract position in NZ AND it must be at least 12 months.

My contract will be 6 months....

Is what was said in that thread still valid? or is that for residence?

Thanks

[JandM]

Maybe the members on that thread will turn up and clarify, but from the outset, they seem to be talking about going for PR - permanent residency. You don't need that to work in NZ in the short term. How about the 'quick check' links down at the bottom of the page - do they help at all?

Is the contract being offered to you by an NZ company?

[Alan]

I believe you can get a visa for this type of short term contract but you would not be able to use this for gaining points and applying for PR as it needs to be at least a 12 month contract to count.

[icemaiden]

Tony - my son goes out each year on a 6 month working visa as he is a snowboarding instructor. It's just referred to as a work permit and they will want to see your job offer stating start and finishing dates, etc. Once you have all the documentation together you just go into the NZ Embassy in London and they will issue your visa there and then. If you want to stay in NZ slightly longer than your contract term then you need to ask them to include a holiday visa extension on it. Have a look at the following link:

http://www.visabureau.com/newzealand/work-permit.aspx

I hope this is what you were looking for. Good luck.

[Tonyc32]

Thanks for the replies all :)