[kimandgareth]

Hi all :)

One of our potential plans is coming down on our passports (if we can't secure jobs whilst still in the UK) and then finding work as soon as we can. However, I keep reading on job adds that they won't consider anyone unless you have legal authority to work in NZ. So....does that mean you can get a work permit before you actually have a job if you are actually in NZ or do employers still take you on under the provision that you can get a work permit quickly (I know once in NZ it tends to be a lot quicker and easier to get).

Thanks as always for the advice :)

[Ana&Steve]

Yea, you still have to get the job offer, but I've heard that some people have gotten the visa in 24/48 hours once in NZ.
Also, it is possible to get a job offer from overseas, just difficult. I think it helps to have some definite travel plans to NZ that you can state in a cover letter, thereby buttering up the recruiters a bit. (that's how I understand it, anyway :))
Ana

[wilson182]

When we came to Chch three years ago, OH got a job offer. He went down to the NZIS office with all the documentation needed, stood in the queue and (eventually) was issued his work permit there and then. His job was on the skilled shortage list so no labour market survey was needed and his employer did not have to be accredited.

Debs

[ruthyroo]

Being on the skills shortage list definitely helps. We came to NZ on visitor visas. Mr Rr already had a job offer (teacher) but we didn't have time to apply for WP before leaving the UK. We went to the NZIS office with all the paperwork including the written job offer, spent around a half an hour with NZIS and came out with his visa / work permit (my open work permit was a different story but not for here!) in his passport. Easy peasy.

As I understand it you can't get a WV / WP without having a job offer. Most employers want to meet you before they will make a formal job offer - unless they are really desperate or just used to employing folk from abroad. My current employer (local authority) employs a lot of overseas staff, and are willing to make job offers in the understanding that it's the employees responsibility to sort out the visa / permit requirements before starting work. So if you are applying for jobs in NZ from the UK you should be 99% sure that you will get the required permits should you be offered the job - it reassures the potential employer that they aren't wasting their time.

[kimandgareth]

Hi everyone

Thanks for all the advice. We sort of expected that we'd need a job offer before being able to get a WP/WV, but as we will be over there and able to be interviewed in person we can just do as you've all mentioned and hot foot it down to the NZIS to get the permit.

We're both in IT so we're hopeful it should be easy (or as easy as it can ever be!) to find work. We have looked on the job sites and it looks promising, we just didn't want to head down all hopeful and then get told to buzz off because NZ employers don't look at you twice if you don't have a permit/visa. Now we know we can interview then apply straight away thats great news :D