Religious Worker Work Visa

At a glance

The Religious Worker Work Visa allows individuals sponsored by a registered charitable religious organisation to undertake genuine religious work in New Zealand. It is part of the Special work policies stream. [WM3]

To be eligible, applicants must be sponsored by a qualifying religious organisation, have at least two years' relevant training or experience, meet health and character requirements, not exceed the cumulative four‑year stay limit, and not be an officer or nominated person of the sponsoring organisation. [WM3]

Holders of a Religious Worker Work Visa may be eligible for a further work visa under Religious Worker instructions (see Further work visa section). [WM4.1]

Work visas granted under Religious Worker instructions are valid for up to two years and allow multiple entry travel. They are subject to conditions: the visa holder must undertake religious work only for the sponsoring organisation, and the sponsor must meet sponsorship obligations for the duration of the visa. [WM5] The total period a person may hold such a work visa cannot exceed four years, unless a further visa is granted to permit completion of a residence application. [WM5]

How to apply

Applicants must lodge a completed work application form with the fee and immigration levy, accompanied by:

1. Training/experience evidence: At least two years of training and/or experience relevant to the religious work, demonstrated through testimonials, certificates of ordination, curriculum vitae, documentation of relevant work experience, or a verified copy of an awarding certificate for a relevant qualification. Training and experience may be assessed cumulatively. [WM4]
2. Sponsorship form: A completed Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190) from a religious organisation registered as a charity whose purpose is advancing religion. [WM4]
3. Financial ability: Evidence from the sponsoring organisation that it has the financial ability to meet all sponsorship undertakings. [WM4]
4. Genuine need statement: A statement from the sponsoring organisation explaining why there is a genuine need for the applicant to work as a religious worker, including information on the size of the organisation's membership. [WM4]
5. Employment arrangements: Evidence of the employment arrangements as set out in paragraph (d) or (e) of the definition of 'religious work' [WM2]. [WM4]
6. Health and character: Evidence that the applicant meets health and character requirements, if required. [WM4]

Any work visas granted under these instructions may be subject to conditions as set out in the instructions [WM4]. The specific conditions are set out in WM5: the visa holder must work only for the sponsoring organisation, and the sponsor must meet sponsorship obligations for the full visa period. [WM5]

The application is assessed by Immigration New Zealand against the criteria in WM3 and the overarching Religious Worker instructions (WM).

For a further work visa, the applicant must also meet the specific criteria in WM4.1 and follow the same prescribed application process (see WM4). [WM4.1]

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. Sponsorship: Be sponsored by a religious organisation that is registered as a charity with Charities Services, whose primary purpose is advancing religion, that meets generic sponsorship requirements, and that demonstrates a genuine need for the applicant to work as a religious worker. [WM3]

2. Experience: Have at least two years of training and/or experience relevant to the religious work they are being sponsored to undertake. [WM3]

3. Health and character: Meet the temporary entry health and character requirements. [WM3]

4. Cumulative stay: Not previously have held a work visa under Religious Worker instructions (or equivalent earlier instructions, including Ministers of religion, missionaries, and members of religious orders instructions, or Specific purpose or event work instructions before 5 November 2011) for four years or more. [WM3]

5. No management role: Not be an 'officer' or 'nominated person' of the sponsoring religious organisation. [WM3]

Visa grants are for up to two years and include multiple entry travel. The visa is subject to conditions that limit work to the sponsoring organisation and require the sponsor to meet their obligations. [WM5]

Further work visa

A holder of a current Religious Worker Work Visa may apply for a further work visa under Religious Worker instructions. [WM4.1]

Eligibility

To be eligible for a further work visa the applicant must: [WM4.1]

• Hold a current work visa granted under Religious Worker instructions (or equivalent earlier instructions for Ministers of religion, missionaries, and members of religious orders, or Specific purpose or event work instructions before 5 November 2011).
• Be in New Zealand at the time of application.
• Submit an application in the prescribed manner (see WM4) and pay the appropriate fee and immigration levy.
• Provide evidence that they have been working to advance the religious objectives of the sponsoring organisation for a period of up to two years. Acceptable evidence includes letters from the sponsoring organisation, wage slips, and IRD tax records.

Sponsorship

The sponsoring organisation must provide a statement establishing why it considers there is an ongoing genuine need for the applicant to continue working for it as a religious worker. [WM4.1]

Duration and conditions

If successful, the applicant will be granted a further work visa: [WM4.1][WM5]

• For a period of up to two years from the expiry date of the current work visa, provided the total time spent on a Religious Worker work visa does not exceed four years.
• With the same conditions as the original work visa granted under Religious Worker instructions [WM4.1][WM5]. These conditions require the applicant to work only for the sponsoring organisation and the sponsor to meet sponsorship obligations. [WM5]

The religious work undertaken by the applicant must be for consecutive periods and with the same sponsoring organisation. [WM4.1] A further work visa may also be granted to allow a resident visa application under Religious Worker residence instructions to be completed, even if the four‑year maximum has not yet been reached. [WM4.1]

Dependent children

Dependent children of a Religious Worker work visa holder may be granted student or visitor visas if either:

• a minimum income threshold is met by the Religious Worker visa holder and their partner; or
• the religious organisation sponsoring the principal applicant agrees to sponsor the dependent children. [WM5.1]

The child's visa application will be assessed against the criteria set out in V3.10.15 or U8.20.10. [WM5.1] The parents' work visas and the child's visa are subject to a condition requiring the parents to maintain the minimum income threshold for the duration of the child's visa (unless the sponsoring organisation has undertaken to sponsor the children). If the threshold is not maintained, the parents and child may be liable for deportation. [WM5.1] The income of both parents may be combined; employment-related allowances are excluded, and the threshold is calculated on the basis of no more than 40 hours per week. [WM5.1]

For full details, including the general minimum income threshold and other dependent child rules, see Temporary entry class visa for partners and dependent children.

Interpretation & edge cases

The four‑year cumulative limit applies to all work visas granted under these instructions, including those issued before 5 November 2011 under predecessor categories. [WM3]

The definition of 'religious work' is narrow and is set out in Religious work definition [WM2]. Work that does not fall within that definition cannot support a successful application, even if the other criteria are met.

The sponsorship requirements are strict: if the sponsoring organisation loses its charitable status or ceases to meet generic sponsorship obligations, the visa may be affected.

The prohibition on officers and nominated persons ensures that only individuals engaged in genuine religious duties—rather than governance or management—qualify for the visa.

Further work visa specifics: The further work visa requires that the religious work be performed for consecutive periods and for the same sponsoring organisation. If the applicant changes employer or there is a gap in the work, a further work visa cannot be granted. [WM4.1] A further work visa may also be granted to allow a resident visa application under Religious Worker residence instructions to be completed, even if the four‑year maximum has not yet been reached.

Visa conditions: Work visas under Religious Worker instructions are granted for up to two years, allow multiple entry travel, and are subject to conditions requiring the holder to work only for the sponsoring organisation and the sponsor to meet sponsorship obligations. [WM5]

Citations

• WM3 — Who is eligible for a work visa under Religious Worker instructions?
• WM — Religious Worker instructions
• WM1 — Objective
• WM2 — Definition of 'religious work'
• WM4 — Making an application under Religious Worker instructions
• WM4.1 — Further work visa under Religious Worker instructions
• WM5 — Conditions and currency of Religious Worker visas
• WM5.1 — Minimum income requirement for dependent children of Religious Worker work visa holders