Philippines Work Visa

At a glance

The Philippines Work Visa allows limited numbers of citizens of the Philippines who are qualified and/or experienced in certain occupations, and who hold a full-time job offer in New Zealand in that occupation, to be granted a work visa and entry permission. [WI14.1] This visa falls under the International/Humanitarian stream. [W2.5] One specific occupation track under this visa is for Philippines nurses, with a cap of up to 100 nurses at any one time permitted to work in New Zealand for a period of up to three years. [WI14.5] Another track is for Philippines farm managers, with a cap of up to 20 farm managers at any one time permitted to work for up to three years. [WI14.10] A third track is for Philippines engineering professionals, with a cap of up to 20 at any one time permitted to work for up to three years, requiring a relevant engineering degree and international registration or Washington Accord accreditation. [WI14.15]

How to apply

WI14.1 does not set out specific application procedures. Applicants must also satisfy the generic work visa requirements, including health, character, lodgement, and the offer of a genuine and sustainable job by a compliant employer (see Generic Work Visa Instructions). [W2.10]

WI14.20 sets out the generic requirements for a Philippines Work Visa application. The applicant must: [WI14.20]

• provide a completed work visa application form, fee and immigration levy;
• have a full-time New Zealand job offer in one of the occupations listed in WI14.5, WI14.10 or WI14.15, which meets the requirements set out in W2.10;
• meet the specific registration, qualification and/or experience requirements for their occupation;
• meet health (A4) and character (A5) requirements;
• meet the requirements for bona fide applicants (E5).

No labour market check is required. [WI14.20]

Successful applicants will be granted a work visa with the following conditions: [WI14.20]

• first entry to New Zealand must be within six months;
• the work visa is valid for multiple entries for a maximum of three years, depending on the length of the job offer;
• the visa is endorsed with conditions allowing work only for a specified employer in a specified occupation.

If the initial visa is valid for less than three years, a further visa may be granted for the balance of the three-year period, as long as the applicant still meets all the requirements of these instructions. [WI14.20]

On completion of the three-year period, the applicant must remain outside New Zealand for three years before applying for a further visa under these instructions. [WI14.20]

These instructions reflect New Zealand's international trade commitments (see E9). [WI14.20]

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must be citizens of the Philippines. [WI14.1]
• Applicants must be qualified and/or experienced in an occupation that is listed in a schedule (not detailed in WI14.1). [WI14.1]
• Applicants must hold a full-time job offer in New Zealand in that occupation. [WI14.1]
• The number of work visas granted under this instruction is limited. [WI14.1]

Nurse-specific criteria

For Philippines nurses applying under this visa, the following additional requirements apply: [WI14.5]

• The applicant must hold a full-time job offer as a registered nurse from a New Zealand employer. [WI14.5]
• The applicant must hold a qualification assessed as equivalent to a New Zealand Bachelor of Nursing or Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing (including diploma or hospital-based certificate). [WI14.5]
• The applicant must hold New Zealand nursing registration. [WI14.5]
• The applicant must meet the generic requirements set out in WI14.20.
• Nurses are not required to be resident in the Philippines at the time of application and may lodge at their nearest receiving office. [WI14.5]
• Nurses already in New Zealand under a Specific Purpose or Event visa (WS2.1.1(j)) may lodge an application under the Philippines Special Work Instructions once they have obtained their New Zealand registration. [WI14.5]

Farm manager-specific criteria

For Philippines farm managers applying under this visa, the following additional requirements apply: [WI14.10]

• The applicant must have a full-time job offer from a New Zealand employer as a farm manager, and the role must be assessed as equivalent to ANZSCO Skill Level 1. [WI14.10]
• The applicant must hold a relevant qualification and/or have relevant work experience. [WI14.10]
• The applicant must meet the generic requirements in WI14.20.
• The applicant must be ordinarily and actually resident in the Philippines at the time of application, unless an exception in WI14.20 applies. [WI14.10]
• The applicant must lodge their application with the appropriate receiving office in the Philippines (as required by E4.15). [WI14.10]

Engineering professional-specific criteria

For Philippines engineering professionals applying under this visa, the following additional requirements apply: [WI14.15]

• The applicant must have a full-time job offer from a New Zealand employer as an engineering professional, assessed as equivalent to ANZSCO Skill Level 1. [WI14.15]
• The applicant must hold a bachelor degree (level 7 or above) qualification and be registered on the International Professional Engineers Register or APEC Engineers Register, OR hold a Washington Accord accredited engineering degree. [WI14.15]
• The applicant must hold New Zealand registration, where required. [WI14.15]
• The applicant must meet the generic requirements set out in WI14.20. [WI14.15]
• The applicant must be ordinarily and actually resident in the Philippines at the time of application, unless WI14.20(d) applies. [WI14.15]
• The applicant must lodge their application with the appropriate receiving office in the Philippines (see E4.15). [WI14.15]

Interpretation & edge cases

WI14.1 provides only the objective for this visa category. WI14.5 fills in one occupation-specific track by setting the nurse quota at 100 at any one time, a maximum stay of three years, and specific qualification and registration requirements. [WI14.5] WI14.10 fills in the farm manager track, setting the quota at 20, a maximum stay of three years, and requiring the job to be assessed as ANZSCO Skill Level 1. [WI14.10] The farm manager track requires the applicant to be resident in the Philippines unless an exception applies, and to lodge in the Philippines. [WI14.10] WI14.15 adds a third occupation track for Philippines engineering professionals, with a cap of 20, a maximum stay of three years, and a requirement for a Washington Accord degree or registration on the International Professional Engineers Register or APEC Engineers Register, plus New Zealand registration where required. [WI14.15] The engineers track, like the farm manager track, requires residency in the Philippines and lodgement there unless an exception applies. [WI14.15] Nurses already in New Zealand on a Specific Purpose or Event visa under WS2.1.1(j) are permitted to transition to this visa once registration is obtained, providing a pathway for those who secure registration while already in the country. [WI14.5] Additional occupation tracks beyond nursing, farm managers, and engineering professionals may be set out in other WI14 instructions not yet ingested.

Citations

• WI14.1 — Objective
• W2.5 — Work visa streams
• W2.10 — Generic work visa instructions
• WI14.5 — Philippines Nurses
• WI14.10 — Philippines Farm Managers
• WI14.15 — Philippines Engineering Professionals
• WI14.20 — Generic Requirements