Short answer
Since 20th October 2026, accredited employers in New Zealand can hire Indian citizens on two new work visas: the India Skilled Work Visa and the India Iconic Work Visa. They came in with the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Up to 5,000 people can hold them at any one time. The person needs a full-time job offer from an accredited employer in one of the listed jobs, the visas last up to 3 years, and they don't lead to residence.
What changed on 20th October 2026
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement came into force on 20th October 2026. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) says it brings two new Temporary Employment Entry visa categories, for highly skilled jobs and a small number of professions it calls iconic to India.
Up to 5,000 people can hold these visas in New Zealand at any one time:
- India Skilled Work Visa: up to 4,400 at any one time, across 12 listed jobs.
- India Iconic Work Visa: up to 600 at any one time, for yoga instructors, Indian chefs, music teachers and AYUSH practitioners.
Both work inside New Zealand's existing immigration system, so the usual checks on health, character, identity and English still apply.
The jobs on each visa
India Skilled Work Visa. INZ groups the 12 jobs into sectors, and the places are shared across each sector rather than set for each job:
| Jobs | Places at any one time |
|---|
| Software engineer, software and applications programmers, ICT project manager | 1,000 |
| Civil, mechanical, structural and environmental engineers | 1,000 |
| Construction project manager, building project manager | 700 |
| Primary and secondary school teacher | 500 |
| Registered nurse | 900 |
| Physiotherapist | 300 |
India Iconic Work Visa. Up to 100 yoga instructors, 250 Indian chefs, 50 music teachers and 200 AYUSH practitioners (ayurveda, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and homeopathy) at any one time.
If a sector has no places left, INZ won't accept the application and refunds the fee. INZ said on 20th October that all places were available.
Who can apply
To apply, the person must:
- Be a citizen of the Republic of India, with a valid Indian passport.
- Be outside New Zealand when they apply for their first visa.
- Have a current offer of full-time work, at least 30 hours a week, from an employer accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) rules, in one of the listed jobs.
- Meet the qualification, work experience or registration requirements INZ sets for that job.
- Have an acceptable English test result, taken in person and no more than 2 years old.
- Meet the health, character and identity requirements, and genuinely intend to keep to the visa's conditions.
What each skilled job needs
INZ lists the requirements job by job. In short:
- Software and ICT roles: a bachelor's degree in software engineering, engineering or an equivalent degree, and at least 5 years' work experience in the field.
- Civil, mechanical, structural and environmental engineers: one of a set of recognised engineering degrees, a letter from Engineering New Zealand, or registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer.
- Construction and building project managers: one of the construction, engineering, quantity surveying or construction management qualifications INZ lists.
- Teachers: registration with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and a provisional or full practising certificate.
- Registered nurses: registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent, and at least 3 years' experience.
- Physiotherapists: registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, a physiotherapy degree or equivalent, and at least 3 years' experience.
A qualification from outside New Zealand may need an International Qualifications Assessment from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Check the exact wording on INZ's requirements for India Skilled Work Visa jobs before you make an offer.
How long the visas last
INZ says each visa lasts up to 3 years, and the length depends on the job offer. The 3 years is a total across both visas. If someone gets a shorter visa first, they can apply for another to use the rest of the 3 years, and they can do that from inside New Zealand. Once the 3 years are used, they need to spend at least 3 years outside New Zealand before getting either visa again.
What the visas don't do
- No pathway to residence. INZ is clear about this. Time on these visas doesn't count as skilled work experience for the Skilled Migrant Category or the Work to Residence visas.
- No family on the same visa. Family members can't be included in the application, and they won't get a visa because of their relationship to the visa holder.
- Tied to one job. The visa holder can only work in the job, for the employer and in the location on their visa. If that changes, they have to apply to change their visa conditions.
How employers hire on these visas
- Check you're accredited. Only employers accredited under the AEWV rules can make an offer. You can check on INZ's accredited employer list.
- Check the job is on the list. The role has to be one of the listed jobs, full-time and at least 30 hours a week.
- Check the person meets the job's requirements before you offer. Registration for nurses, teachers and physiotherapists can take time, so start early.
- Put the offer in writing. INZ asks for a signed job offer, the employment agreement and a job description. The agreement has to include pay, hours, the place of work, the duties and all the clauses New Zealand employment law requires.
- The person applies from outside New Zealand. They send the application, their documents and the fees to INZ.
- Be clear about the limits. Tell anyone you hire that the visa lasts up to 3 years in total, doesn't lead to residence and doesn't cover their family. It saves disappointment later.
Watch out for job offer scams
INZ warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia. It will decline an application if it believes the applicant, or their agent, offered or promised money to the employer, or the employer's agent, for a job offer. If anyone asks you for money for a New Zealand job, run through our job offer scam checklist.
What else the agreement brings
INZ has also announced that from 16th November 2026, Indian graduates with a New Zealand PhD will be able to get a post-study work visa of up to 4 years, rather than 3. A working holiday scheme for Indian citizens aged 18 to 30, capped at 1,000 places a year, is due within 2 years of the agreement coming into force.
For employers in New Zealand
Hiring in New Zealand? Post a role on Global Sponsor Hub. You can post one role free and reach over 3,000 candidates and growing daily. Our guide to hiring in New Zealand covers the wider rules.
For candidates
Looking for work in New Zealand? Browse sponsored jobs in New Zealand, read the New Zealand country guide and our guide to visa sponsorship jobs in New Zealand. Create your free Global Sponsor Hub account to get alerts for new roles.
For advice on your own case, find immigration and relocation specialists in the Global Sponsor Hub specialist directory.
FAQ
Who can apply for New Zealand's India Skilled Work Visa?
Indian citizens outside New Zealand with a full-time job offer from an accredited employer in one of the 12 listed jobs, who meet that job's requirements, have an acceptable English test result and meet the health and character rules.
How many places are there?
Up to 5,000 people can hold the two visas at any one time: up to 4,400 on the India Skilled Work Visa and up to 600 on the India Iconic Work Visa.
Do the visas lead to residence in New Zealand?
No. INZ says they don't provide a pathway to residence, and time on them doesn't count as skilled work experience for residence visas.
Can I bring my family?
No. Family members can't be included in the application and won't get a visa based on their relationship to you.
Does the employer have to be accredited?
Yes. The job offer must come from an employer accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa rules.
Is it legal to pay for a job offer?
You shouldn't pay for one. INZ will decline an application if it believes you or your agent offered or promised money to the employer for a job offer.
Official sources
Last checked: 29 Oct 2026
