Approved Work Exchange Scheme Visa

At a glance

Approved work exchange schemes allow participants to undertake employment for gain or reward in New Zealand during all or part of their stay. [E11.10] There are up to 1000 places available annually across all approved schemes. [E11.10] Each scheme must be operated by a responsible organisation that has satisfied Immigration New Zealand that appropriate arrangements are in place for the accommodation, maintenance and welfare of participants and any accompanying dependants. [E11.10]

Participants who wish to remain in New Zealand for a further period as tourists may be granted visitor visas for a maximum of 3 months, provided they meet visitor visa requirements. [E11.40]

How to apply

An applicant must be a participant in a work exchange scheme that has been approved by INZ. The responsible organisation for the scheme will typically assist with the visa application process. The standard procedures for lodging and processing a temporary work visa application apply (see Lodging a temporary visa application and Processing a temporary entry visa application). [E11.10]

In addition to the standard temporary entry requirements, applicants must provide the following evidence: [E11.30]

• Evidence of acceptance to the approved work exchange scheme from the scheme organiser. [E11.30]
• Evidence of medical and dental insurance cover for the entire exchange period. [E11.30]
• Evidence that they meet outward travel requirements — either confirmed or open-dated travel tickets out of New Zealand to a destination they have right of entry, or a written guarantee from the New Zealand guarantor that they will ensure outward bookings at the end of the stay, regardless of whether the full exchange term is completed. [E11.30]

Applicants must also meet the generic temporary entry requirements: lodging an application (set out at E4), being a bona fide applicant (E5), and meeting health and character requirements (A4 and A5). [E11.30]

After completing the work exchange, a participant who wishes to stay longer for tourism purposes may apply for a visitor visa. This visa can be granted for a maximum of 3 months, provided the applicant meets the requirements and conditions for a visitor visa. [E11.40]

Eligibility criteria

• The applicant must be participating in an approved work exchange scheme. [E11.10]
• The scheme must be operated by an organisation that has demonstrated to INZ that it has made adequate arrangements for the accommodation, maintenance and welfare of participants and any dependants. [E11.10]
• A place must be available within the annual cap of 1000 participants. [E11.10]
• The applicant must provide evidence of acceptance to the scheme from the scheme organiser. [E11.30]
• The applicant must have medical and dental insurance for the length of the exchange. [E11.30]
• The applicant must meet outward travel requirements: either confirmed/open-dated travel tickets out of New Zealand or a written guarantee from the New Zealand guarantor that outward bookings will be arranged. [E11.30]
• The applicant must satisfy generic temporary entry requirements (lodging, bona fides, health, and character) as required by E11.30. [E11.30]
• To extend stay for tourist reasons, the participant must meet visitor visa requirements, and the maximum period granted is 3 months. [E11.40]

Partners and dependent children

Partners and dependent children of work exchange scheme participants may be granted visas that are current for the same period as the participant's visa, provided they meet the requirements for the particular visa category they apply for. [E11.35] Immigration officers must be satisfied that the exchange scheme allows participants to be accompanied to New Zealand by their partner and dependent children. [E11.35] Participants' partners may apply for work visas after their arrival, but they are subject to work visa criteria. [E11.35]

Interpretation & edge cases

• The 1000-place annual cap applies across all approved work exchange schemes combined, not per scheme. Once the cap is reached, no further visas can be granted under this instruction for that year. [E11.10]
• The responsible organisation bears the obligation to satisfy INZ about arrangements for participants; individual applicants do not need to separately prove accommodation or welfare arrangements beyond any information requested during processing. [E11.10]
• Accompanying dependants are permitted, but the organisation's welfare arrangements must also cover them. Immigration officers may assess whether the arrangements remain adequate when dependants are added. [E11.10]
• This instruction does not specify particular occupations, durations, or countries of origin; those details are determined by the scheme's approval conditions. Advisers should consult the specific scheme documentation for further requirements. [E11.10]
• Immigration officers have discretion to grant a work visa on arrival to a participant who arrives without a visa, if there are special reasons why a visa was not obtained beforehand and the applicant meets the requirements of E11.30(b) (i.e., the documentary and generic requirements). [E11.30]
• The outward travel guarantee from the New Zealand guarantor must cover the participant and any dependants, and the guarantee must ensure outward bookings will be made even if the participant does not complete the full exchange term. This provides flexibility for early departure. [E11.30]
• The provision for extending stay for tourist reasons under E11.40 applies only to participants, not necessarily to dependants. A visitor visa granted under this instruction is subject to standard visitor visa conditions, including that the holder is a bona fide applicant and meets character and funds requirements. The maximum period of 3 months is absolute; no further extensions may be granted beyond this unless under a different immigration instruction. [E11.40]

Singapore Work Exchange Programme

At a glance

The Singapore Work Exchange Programme is one of the approved work exchange schemes, with a standard annual cap of 300 places for young Singapore citizens. [WI2.130] A temporary additional allocation of 300 places was available until 8 September 2023. [WI2.130] Successful applicants receive a work visa allowing employment for 12 months. [WI2.130]

Eligibility

• The applicant must be a citizen of Singapore. [WI2.130]
• The applicant must have a minimum of NZ$2,250 available funds for maintenance during the stay. [WI2.130]
• The applicant must either hold a university qualification or have completed at least two years of full-time university study. [WI2.130]
• The applicant must agree to hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the entire stay. [WI2.130]
• The applicant must meet the requirements at WI2.1.1(b) (standard working holiday scheme requirements). [WI2.130]

Visa conditions

• If applying from outside New Zealand: first entry must occur within 12 months of visa grant; the visa allows work and multiple entries for 12 months from first arrival. [WI2.130]
• If applying from within New Zealand: the visa allows work and multiple entry for 12 months. [WI2.130]

Application process

Applicants must lodge their application in the prescribed manner as set out in E4.50. [WI2.130]

Citations

• E11.10 — Approved work exchange schemes
• E11.30 — Requirements for participants in approved work exchange schemes
• E11.35 — Partners and dependent children of work exchange scheme participants
• E11.40 — Extending the stay for tourist reasons
• WI2.130 — Singapore Work Exchange Programme