Vietnam Special Work Instructions

At a glance

The Vietnam Special Work Instructions (WI15) outline special provisions for work visa applicants from Vietnam. [WI15]

These instructions allow limited numbers of citizens of Vietnam who are qualified and/or experienced in certain occupations, and who hold a full-time New Zealand job offer in that occupation, to be granted a work visa. [WI15.1]

Currently, two occupations are covered:

• Vietnamese chefs, capped at 100 workers at any one time, permitted to work for up to three years. [WI15.5]
• Vietnamese engineering professionals, also capped at 100 at any one time, permitted to work for up to three years. [WI15.10]

How to apply

Refer to the specific requirements and procedures set out under WI15. [WI15] To apply, an applicant must submit a completed work visa application form together with the required fee and immigration levy. [WI15.15] The applicant must have a full-time job offer in a covered occupation (Vietnamese chef or Vietnamese engineering professional) that meets the generic work visa instructions. [WI15.15] No labour market check is required. [WI15.15] The applicant must be ordinarily and actually resident in Vietnam at the time of application, unless an exception under WI15.15(d) applies. [WI15.15]

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility is determined by the conditions specified in WI15. [WI15]

Specifically, applicants must be citizens of Vietnam, hold a full-time job offer in New Zealand in an occupation for which they are qualified or experienced, and be subject to the cap on numbers. [WI15.1]

In addition, for Vietnamese chefs, the following specific requirements apply [WI15.5]:

• The applicant must have a full-time job offer from a New Zealand employer as a Vietnamese chef, which has been assessed as equivalent to at least ANZSCO Skill Level 3. [WI15.5]
• The applicant must hold a relevant qualification and/or have relevant work experience. [WI15.5]
• The applicant must meet all generic requirements under WI15.15 (see Generic requirements below). [WI15.15]

For Vietnamese engineering professionals, the following specific requirements apply [WI15.10]:

• 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. [WI15.10]
• The applicant must hold a bachelor degree (level 7 or above) qualification and be registered on the International Professional Engineers Register or Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Engineers Register, or hold a Washington Accord accredited engineering degree. [WI15.10]
• The applicant must hold New Zealand registration, where required. [WI15.10]
• The applicant must meet all generic requirements under WI15.15 (see Generic requirements below). [WI15.15]

Generic requirements

All applicants must satisfy the following generic requirements [WI15.15]:

• Provide a completed work visa application form, fee, and immigration levy.
• Hold a full-time New Zealand job offer in one of the specified occupations that meets the generic work visa instructions.
• Meet health and character requirements set out in immigration instructions.
• Meet the requirements for bona fide applicants.
• Be ordinarily and actually resident in Vietnam at the time of application, unless the exception in WI15.15(d) applies.
• No labour market check is required.

Interpretation & edge cases

The Vietnam Special Work Instructions provide two defined occupation pathways, each with its own qualification and registration requirements. [WI15.5][WI15.10] The cap of 100 applies separately to chefs and to engineering professionals; the instruction does not aggregate across occupations. [WI15.5][WI15.10]

For engineering professionals, registration on an international register (IPER, APEC Engineers Register) or a Washington Accord accredited degree is accepted as a qualification, but where New Zealand registration is legally required for the occupation, the applicant must obtain it. [WI15.10]

The visa conditions under WI15.15 include: first entry to New Zealand must be made 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. 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, provided the applicant still meets all the requirements. Work visas granted under these instructions are endorsed with conditions that allow work only for a specified employer in a specified occupation. 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. These instructions reflect New Zealand's international trade commitments. [WI15.15]

Citations

• WI15 — Vietnam Special Work Instructions
• WI15.1 — Objective
• WI15.5 — Vietnamese Chefs
• WI15.10 — Vietnamese Engineering Professionals
• WI15.15 — Generic Requirements