Foreign workers can live and work in New Zealand with family. They have the option to migrate via permanent residency or New Zealand working visa either. Visitors cannot work on a tourist visa.
Therefore, aspirants need to get a work permit. New Zealand immigration allows foreign workers to work on a temporary or long-term basis. Usually, job seekers who are outside New Zealand want to know about the easiest way. Because there are various categories of the work permit.
Hence, in this blog, I am sharing some details about the long-term skill shortage work visa of New Zealand, because its requirements are very low.
First, I will discuss the importance of that work visa category. So, it will be easy for you to match your profile for eligibility. Afterward, you can go through the steps by step process of the program. So, let’s dig-out further details.
New Zealand work Visa requirement under a long-term skill shortage category
This work visa category offers candidates a pathway to New Zealand permanent residence. To qualify for New Zealand work visa under LTSSL, you’ll need to have the specific qualification, work experience, a job offer, and occupational registration in New Zealand.
Also, your age at the time of the application should be under 55 years. You can apply if it enlists your occupation on the long-term skill shortage list. Your spouse and children can also apply for visas on behalf of their relationship with you.
You can work in New Zealand for 30 months under this visa. However, you can apply for a New Zealand PR after 2 years, if working in the same occupation. And your occupation should be on the long-term skill shortage list at the time of your residence application. So, let’s have a look at the skill shortage list.
Long Term Skill Shortage List of New Zealand
This list allows candidates to evaluate their eligibility for a New Zealand work visa under this migrant class. The long-term skill shortage list or (LTSSL) reflects the labor shortage in specific occupations all over New Zealand. The list also includes details & requirements about the absolute skill shortage areas of New Zealand’s economy.
So, you can easily check if your profession is on the LTSSL. Besides, you can go through the eligibility & requirements of the occupation.
Importantly, overseas qualifications need to be comparable with the New Zealand qualification framework standards. Therefore, you may require a qualification assessment from New Zealand’s authority NZQF.
However, some occupations have exemption and do not require an assessment. Hence, you need to check your occupational requirements on the long-term skill shortage list.
New Zealand immigration reviews and updates the long-term skill shortage list every 6 months. This means that the authorities may add or remove some occupations from the list. Usually, the LTSSL includes occupational groups such as;
- Construction
- Health & Social Services
- Engineering
- Finance & Business
- Information Technology
- Telecommunication
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Electrical Trades
- Mechanical Trades
- Science
You can go through the full list on the New Zealand immigration website. There are several occupations listed under occupational groups.
Job Offer Requirement
You need to get a full-time job offer to apply for a New Zealand work visa under the long-term skill shortage category. You can find a New Zealander employer online. Many websites are showcasing the current job positions such as;
So, you can search for an employer who is currently hiring. Read the job description properly and ensure you are a suitable candidate for that vacancy. Visit the company or employer’s site to collect their work-related details and tailor your resume accordingly.
Your employment contract must include your complete details, employer’s details, work and pay details. Make sure the job offer is genuine. Otherwise, the consequence will bring rejection and financial loss to you.
New Zealand Accredited employers list
What jobs are in demand in New Zealand?
Corresponding to a Survey-Report 2021, in-demand jobs in New Zealand are:
- Information Technology: Software Engineers, UI/UX Designers, and Product Owners.
- Engineering: Civil Engineers, Technical Facilities Managers, Geo-technical Engineers, and Licencee Cadastral Surveyors.
- Construction: Project Architects, Revit Technicians. Project Manager, Site Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Contract Managers, Fore-people, Project Engineers.
- Business & Finance: Project Manager, Business Analysts, CA Accountants, Pay-rollers, Financial Accountants.
Eligibility Criteria
Once you get a genuine job offer, then you have to meet the criteria for eligibility. For that purpose, you need to visit the long-term skill shortage work visa official page.
You will see a tab ‘Check Criteria’, click on that. In the drop-menu, fill in your nationality and location details. Then hit on the ‘view’ tab. It will redirect you to another page where you will see the program’s eligibility 9 factors and their detail. Such as;
- Identity
- Health
- Character
- Genuine Intention
- Age
- Job offer
- Qualification
- Work Experience
- Occupational registration
To meet all eligibility criteria factors, you can go through the relevant details and links.
Find here: New Zealand Long-Term Skill Shortage List

Also Read: How to find a job in Canada from overseas in 2021
How to apply for a New Zealand work visa under the LTSSL category?
You can submit your application for New Zealand work visa online or on paper. However, I am illustrating the method of online application here as it is relatively easy.
1st Step
So, to submit an online work visa application, you need to go to the New Zealand Immigration website and create an account called RealMe.
2nd Step
After you complete account creation on NZ RealMe, launch your application online for a New Zealand work visa. You must enclose scanned copies of your supporting documentation. Then, pay the New Zealand work visa fees of $635 online. Remember the fee is non-refundable, if your visa application declines.
3rd Step
Authorities will review the New Zealand work visa application once it is submitted online. After that, New Zealand Immigration will then notify you of its decision via email. For New Zealand long-term skilled-shortage work visas, the processing time is four months.
4th Step
If your work visa application is approved, the authorities will instruct you to go to the Visa Application Center (usually VFS Global) and submit your passport.
Final Step
Then, you can go to the Visa application Center (VAC) on the scheduled date to get your passport and a New Zealand work visa. Then, pack your bags and take off for New Zealand.
Qualification Assessment
This is a very important factor for this program. Many candidates are interested to apply for a New Zealand Work visa. But they feel so confused to know whether they need qualification assessment?
No worries, keep in mind that is super easy. If it does not exempt your occupation, then you can apply for qualification assessment online. However, you can easily check by visiting the official site as below;
Occupation Registration for New Zealand work visa via LTSSL
In order to work in New Zealand, you do not need to register your occupation such as ‘Accountant’. Unlike, for some jobs, registration is mandatory, for example ‘Dentist’. Thus, before applying for a work visa, apply for an occupational registration.
To confirm if your occupation requires registration or not, simply visit the long-term skill shortage work visa website. Then click on the occupation registration section. By clicking on the registration button, you see another page to find your occupation details.


FAQs
New Zealand work visa fee (immigration cost) depends on your category and nationality. For example;
Long-Term Skill-Shortage list work visa, Fee $635.
New Zealand Entertainers work visa Fee $35 (for United States citizens).
NZ Entertainers work visa for Indians Fee $530.
Post-Study work visa Fee $495.
Essential Skills work visa Fee $495.
Working Holiday Extension Work Visa fee for UK citizens is £150.
Getting a New Zealand working visa is easy for UK, US, and European citizens.
As a result, most Asian countries have had difficulty getting work visas for New Zealand, except for a few.
This is because a work visa usually requires a job offer from a New Zealand employer, which is a difficult step.
However, if you are already in New Zealand as a student or visitor, it is easy to get a New Zealand work visa regardless of your nationality.
Conclusion
There are several categories of New Zealand work visas that are difficult to understand. So in this article, I have covered all the aspects of a category long-term skill-shortage list.
Additionally, all aspects of the eligibility test and the application process are explained in simple language for those who wish to work in New Zealand. However, if you still have a question, you can ask in the comment box.
Hi Sir
M y name Haroon Muhammad
I m site Forman in UAE
I need job in Newzeland
My name is Farhan..I am ageneral labore in pakistan.iapply nZ farm work visa.
I am diesel mechanic, I have working experience in Dubai, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and saudi arabia. Want to know I am eligible or not? And also need job offer, If your agency will arrange so please let me know the charges and complete details.
Call or WhatsApp +966543958654
Hi sir
My name is touqeer khan and I am working in Qatar as security officer and I need job in New Zealand
Driving jobs
I Am Babul Hussain And I Am worker salesman Ready Made clothes shop Bangladesh and I want average Any company workers Helper And Labour jobs kindly Remember me And My Gmail : babulbai456@gmail.com And my WhatsApp number.. +8801865672409 kindly Contact me And Help me Registrations And Processing work permit Jobs offer visa
[…] Read: New Zealand Work Visa 2021 | long Term Skill Shortage Visa | How to […]
Tailor master
Driver late turak
Am looking for New Zealand Work visa.am interested foe any jobs available for overseas workers now.
Dear Sir,
I am a power plant operator and machenical technician.My age is 48years old.Previouse work experience consist of 18 years in Saudi Arabia.I wish to need work in any industry as a machenical helper and can I get work visa or sponsor by employers?I should be try or not?.is it possible in this age?physically I am fit and good knowledge of english and machenical field.
Kind Regards.
faithfully,
Waseem Afzal
You can try, and follow important points as explained in the video.
Sir i am intersted for job. I am good driver, good Ticniction,
Dare sir /madam
Job for regarding hospitality
My name is Sandeep Singh
I am from India.
Give me one chance work in New Zealand.
Dear Sir
With due respectfully l am nader albird Bangladeshi national and my passport noA00910783. I have dairy farming 6 years experience of field. I am graduate BSS in sociology and trained first aid treatment of livestock programmes in hajee danish science and technology University Dinajpur Bangladesh. I have knowledge dariy farm as well as soil remains properly irrigated, pripered, seeding techniques and spraying crops ensure the well production. I known to English, Hindi, Urdu and my native language Bangali.
I request for a dairy farm assistant job or farm assistant job in anywhere Newzeeland. I am fit for any types of harsh realities of weather changes and capable to continue my duties properly work. Please help me a chance to show my experience working in your organisations growth estimate. I will try my best experience by my work
If given me chance. Please contract with my whatsapp number :+8801761255089 or email address :naderalbird33@gmail.com
Kindly regard
Nader Albird