Moving to New Zealand for Work: Documentation Guide for Americans and Canadians

Before you can legally work in New Zealand, you need the right visa. And there isn't just one work visa to pick from. New Zealand offers several, and the right one for you depends on your situation, like how old you are, whether you already have a job offer, and the kind of work you'll be doing.

For most Americans and Canadians, the choice comes down to two paths. If you're young and want a working adventure without a job lined up first, the Working Holiday Visa is the easy entry point. If you already have a job offer from a New Zealand employer, the Accredited Employer Work Visa is usually the one you'll go for. The rest of the visas below cover more specific situations, from entertainers and athletes to religious workers and partners of New Zealand residents.

Check Out New Zealand Working Holiday Visa for Canadians

The table below lays out the main NZ work visas side by side, so you can quickly see what each one costs, who it's for, and how long it lasts. Find the row that fits your situation, and that's your starting point. 

If you want to travel or visit New Zealand before your work visa comes through, or even before you apply for one, an NZeTA is what you need instead. 

What is NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority)? 

The NZeTA is a travel approval you get online before you go to New Zealand. It is not a visa. It is a digital pass that is linked to your passport, and it lets people from visa free countries enter New Zealand for short trips without applying for a full visa.

New Zealand started using the NZeTA in 2019. The idea is to check travellers before they board their flight or ship, which helps keep the border safe and makes arrival faster.

Citizens of about 60 visa free countries need an NZeTA before travelling to New Zealand. This includes people from the UK, the US, Canada, EU countries, Japan, and many others. Australian citizens and permanent residents do not need one. Cruise ship passengers need an NZeTA no matter what country they are from, even if they only stop for a day.

Every traveller needs their own NZeTA. This includes babies and young children, even when they travel on a parent's passport.

Once your work visa is approved, you don't need an NZeTA anymore, since your visa already covers your entry. The NZeTA itself is quick to apply for online and usually comes through within a few days, so it is not something to stress over, just something to remember before you book your flight. 

Every work visa in New Zealand has its own specific rules, and the exact paperwork can change depending on which visa you are applying for. But no matter which visa you choose, INZ (Immigration New Zealand) asks for a few common things from every applicant. These are the core paperwork everyone needs, with a few extra documents added on top depending on your visa type.

1. Proof of Who You Are

This one is simple. You need to prove you are who you say you are. For this, you will need:

• Two recent photos of your head and shoulders
• Your passport or a certificate of identity

2. Proof That You Are Healthy

You must be in good health to get a visa. Sometimes INZ will ask for a chest X-ray, a medical exam, or both. Once you submit your application, they will look at any medical documents you sent and reach out if they need more information.

Whether you need a chest X-ray or medical certificate depends mostly on how long you plan to stay.

You will need a chest X-ray also if you have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in a country that does not have low TB rates. And even if you already gave them an X-ray before, you may need a new one if you have spent 6 months in a row in a higher TB country since your last X-ray.

3. Proof of Good Character

New Zealand wants to make sure you are not a risk to the country. If you have a criminal record or are seen as a security concern, your visa could be denied.

You will need to submit police certificates if your total time in New Zealand adds up to 24 months or more across all your visits, including past visits on other visas or if INZ specifically asks you for one.

Check about getting police certificates for NZ work visas here.

If you’re a Canadian, you’ll need to apply for an RCMP criminal record check; Americans have to obtain a FBI Identity History Summary Check. A few rules about these certificates:

• They must be less than 6 months old when you apply.
• You need one from every country you are a citizen of, and from any country you have lived in for more than 5 years since you turned 17.
• If you are 16 or younger, you do not need to provide one at all.

4. Proof That Your Intentions Are Genuine

This is less about paperwork and more about honesty. INZ wants to see that you actually plan to follow the rules of your visa and do what you say you will do. They look at everything you share in your application, plus anything from your past applications, to make this judgment. There is no separate form for this, but being clear, honest and consistent in your application really helps.

To know more about proving your genuine intentions for NZ visas, click here!

5. Proof of a Genuine Job Offer

If your visa is tied to a job, and most work visas are, you need to show proof of a real, full time job offer. This includes:

• A copy of your employment agreement and job description.
• A signed copy of the job offer.

Your employment agreement is one of the most important documents in your entire application, so it needs to include specific details, such as:

• Your employer's name, address and phone number.
• Your name and address.
• Your job title.
• The address of your workplace.
• What kind of work you will do and what your responsibilities are.
• Any qualifications or experience needed for the job.
• Whether you need New Zealand registration to do this job.
• Your working hours and how long the job will last.
• How much time you have to accept and start the job.
• Pay and working conditions that follow New Zealand employment law.

Extra Documents Some Visas May Ask For

On top of everything above, some visas will ask for a few more things. These do not apply to every visa, but it is worth checking if they apply to yours:

• Proof of your work experience, skills and qualifications.
• Proof of any professional registration needed for your job.
• Proof that you can speak and understand English.
• A Statement of Undertaking from your employer, where they agree to cover your accommodation, living costs and the cost of your return trip home.
• A signed declaration showing you understand and accept your job conditions in New Zealand.
• Proof that you have enough money to support yourself, or proof of an approved sponsor. 

Once you know which NZ visa fits your situation, the actual process is fairly simple. It comes down to four main steps.

Step 1: Get a Job Offer

You need a genuine job offer from a New Zealand employer, and it has to come with a proper employment agreement, not just a verbal offer or a casual email. As mentioned earlier, this agreement needs to include details like your job title, pay, work hours, your employer's contact information and how long the job will last. Without a solid job offer and agreement in place, you cannot move forward with most work visas.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Once your job offer is confirmed, it is time to collect all the paperwork. This includes everything mentioned in the documents section above, plus any extra documents specific to your visa type.

Canadians moving to NZ need to be aware of one important thing. If any of your documents, such as your criminal record check or other official paperwork, are issued in French, you need to get them translated into English before you submit your application.

This rule is not just for Canadians though. It applies to anyone submitting a document in a language other than English, no matter which country you are from. If your document is not in English, it needs a proper translation attached to it.

Step 3: Submit Online Application and Pay the Fee

With your job offer and documents ready, you can submit your application online. As part of this step, you also need to pay the visa fee. The fee is different for every visa. So make sure you check the correct fee for the specific visa you are applying for before you submit your payment.

Step 4: Wait for Decision

Once your application and fee are submitted, INZ will review everything and make a decision. If they need anything else from you during this time, such as extra documents or clarification, they will reach out and let you know.

If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa at all times. If your current temporary visa is set to expire while you are still waiting for a decision on your new application, INZ will normally issue you an interim visa. This lets you stay in the country lawfully while your application is being processed.

The moment you start earning money in New Zealand, whether through a job, freelance work, or investments, you become part of the tax system here. There's no way around it. But unlike countries where tax responsibilities get split across federal, state, and local agencies, New Zealand keeps things centralized. A single body called Inland Revenue, or IRD, manages all national taxes.

There's no separate state or provincial income tax to worry about, and no payroll tax either.

Getting Your IRD Number

Before you can get paid properly or even open a bank account, you'll need something called an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number. This is basically your personal tax ID in New Zealand, made up of 8 or 9 digits, used by employers to deduct tax from your income. You can apply for one directly through the Inland Revenue website.

If you start working or earning interest before your employer or bank has your IRD number, you get taxed at a flat rate of 45%. This is known as the "no notification" rate, and it applies until your number is on file. So, get this done as soon as possible.

After that, you can start with the process of opening a bank account in NZ.

NZ Income Tax Rates

New Zealand uses what's called a progressive tax system. This means you don't pay one flat rate on your entire income. Instead, your income gets divided into chunks, and each chunk is taxed at a different rate depending on how much you earn.

For example, if you earn $70,000 a year, you're not taxed at 30 percent on the whole amount. You only pay 30 percent on the amount of income that falls between $53,501 and $70,000. Everything below that is taxed at the lower rates that apply to those earlier chunks. This keeps your actual, overall tax burden lower than the top bracket might suggest.

What Changes if You're American or Canadian

Most people who move to New Zealand only have to think about New Zealand tax. For you, there's an extra layer. The country on your passport still has rules that reach across the ocean, and those rules are very different depending on whether you're American or Canadian. Getting this part wrong can mean double tax bills or penalties back home, so it's worth understanding before you go.

If You're American

The United States is unusual. It taxes its citizens based on citizenship, not on where they live. That means even after you move to New Zealand, settle in, and start paying tax to Inland Revenue, you still have to file a US tax return every single year with the IRS.

This is true even if you never go back to the USA again during the year and earn nothing from a US source. You report your worldwide income, including your New Zealand salary.

But that does not usually mean paying twice. Most Americans in New Zealand end up owing little or no US tax because of two tools:

• The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) lets you leave a huge chunk of your foreign salary out of your US taxable income. For the 2026 tax year, you can exclude up to $132,900 USD per person. To qualify, you generally need to be outside the USA for at least 330 full days in a 12 month period, or be a genuine resident of New Zealand for a full tax year.
• The Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) gives you credit for income tax you already paid to New Zealand. Since New Zealand's tax rates are similar to or higher than USA rates, this credit usually wipes out whatever USA tax might be left.

There's also a separate reporting rule, called the FBAR. If the total across all your foreign bank accounts adds up to more than $10,000 USD at any point during the year, even for a single day, you must report those accounts to the USA government. This is a separate filing from your tax return, and it's just a report, not a tax. But skipping it can lead to steep penalties, so don't ignore it.

If You're Canadian

Canada works in the opposite way, and this usually makes life simpler once you've moved. Canada taxes are based on residency, not citizenship. So the goal is to become a non-resident of Canada for tax purposes. Once you do, Canada generally stops taxing your New Zealand income.

Becoming a non-resident isn't automatic, though. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) looks at whether you've cut your main ties to Canada. The big ones are your home, your spouse or dependents, and your personal belongings. If you sell or rent out your home, your family moves with you, and you build a real life in New Zealand, you're usually treated as a non-resident. But if you keep a home sitting empty for you or leave your family behind, the CRA may still consider you a resident and tax you on your worldwide income anyway.

Opening a bank account should be the next one in your list once you have your visa and IRD number done. This is where your salary will be paid, where you will manage your daily expenses, and where you will build your financial life in New Zealand. Without a local bank account, getting paid and paying for everyday things becomes a lot more complicated.

When You Can Apply

You do not have to wait until you land in New Zealand to open your bank account. Most banks let you apply in one of two ways:

• Up to 90 days before you arrive in New Zealand.
• Once you have already arrived in the country.
• Applying early is better, since it means your account is already set up and ready to go once you land.

Who Can Apply

To open an account before arriving, you will usually need to meet a few basic requirements:

• You must be arriving in New Zealand within the next 90 days.
• You need a valid visa, usually with at least six months of duration left.
• You must be at least 13 years old.

Documents You Will Need

Most banks ask for the same basic set of documents:

Applying Before You Arrive

If you apply online before arriving in New Zealand, your account will not be fully active right away. This is how it usually works:

• Once your application is approved, you will get an account confirmation email.
• You can deposit money into your account once you receive this email.
• You will not be able to withdraw money or apply for other banking products until your account is fully activated.

So while you can start putting money in, you cannot take money out just yet. You need to activate your account by visiting in-person for that.

Activating Your Account

To fully activate your account, you will need to visit a bank branch in New Zealand and complete an identification check in person. This usually means bringing your passport and other original documents with you. Once this step is done, you will be able to access your account through the bank's mobile app and internet banking, or use your debit or EFTPOS card, if you applied for one.

A Few Popular Banks to Consider

While the process above applies to most banks in New Zealand, here are some of the major ones people commonly choose from:

Each bank may have small differences in their exact requirements. So we advise you to check their website directly once you have picked one that suits you best.

What If Someone Else Is Applying on My Behalf?

If you are using an immigration agency or any third party to help complete your application, you need to let the bank know right away. Most banks require the actual account holder to complete their own application. If a third party is handling it without informing the bank, your application may not move forward at all.

If this applies to you, reach out to the bank directly and share your application reference number so they are aware of the situation.

One of the best things about moving to New Zealand for work is that many jobs come with a real path to permanent residency. New Zealand keeps a list called the Green List roles, which names all the jobs the country needs workers for. If your job is on this list, you are in a strong position to settle here for good.

The Green List splits jobs into two groups, called tiers, and each tier leads to a different visa.

Tier 1 Jobs: Straight to Residence Visa

If your job falls under Tier 1, you do not need to wait years to apply for residency. As long as you have a job offer (or are already working) with an employer approved by INZ, you can apply for residency straight away. This is called the Straight to Residence Visa.

Tier 1 usually covers the highest skilled roles, things like doctors, nurses, engineers, and senior IT specialists. Most core healthcare jobs fall under this tier because New Zealand needs medical staff urgently.

Once you get this visa, you can live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. After holding it for two years in a row, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which lets you travel in and out of the country freely, without any conditions.

Tier 2 Jobs: Work to Residence Visa

If your job is Tier 2, the path takes a bit longer, but it still leads to the same result. These are skilled jobs that New Zealand needs, but where you are expected to build up some local work experience first. Trades like electricians, plumbers, and construction workers usually fall here, along with several technical and support roles. This visa also lets you live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely once approved.

Moving to New Zealand for work takes real planning. Get your job offer first, gather your documents early, and pay close attention to the small details like translations, police checks, and medical requirements. Americans and Canadians each have their own requirements to watch for, from tax rules to working holiday visa terms, so do not assume the process is identical just because the visas look similar on paper. Take it one step at a time, and you will have a much smoother path to your new life in New Zealand.