Published on
August 14, 2025
New Zealand’s government has recently introduced two new visa categories aimed at addressing worker shortages in critical sectors during peak periods. These new visa options are designed specifically for workers in agriculture, forestry, and tourism, sectors that often experience fluctuating labor demand based on environmental seasons. The introduction of the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) is expected to offer much-needed support to accredited employers looking to hire foreign workers for short-term roles. These new visas will officially be available from 8 December 2025.
A Solution to Seasonal Workforce Needs
The New Zealand government has emphasized that these two visas are intended to provide solutions for industries that are driven by seasonal peaks, ensuring employers have access to skilled and unskilled workers when they need them most. The visa options are also designed to align with New Zealand’s immigration policies by maintaining a balanced approach to worker mobility and ensuring fair treatment for all involved. A key goal is to prevent labor shortages in critical sectors while managing the flow of foreign workers in a sustainable manner.
According to a statement released by the government on 10 August, the new visa categories will help employers address the challenges faced during peak seasons, especially when environmental and market conditions lead to spikes in workforce demand. These seasonal roles are often crucial for the functioning of industries like agriculture, forestry, and tourism, where the workforce requirements change according to the time of year.
Understanding the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)
The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa is aimed at skilled workers in seasonal roles and is valid for a period of up to three years. This visa option is designed to cater to workers who have specific expertise and skills needed for the roles that are integral to these industries during high-demand periods. Under the terms of the GWSV, accredited employers must first conduct a job check for the seasonal role they need to fill. Once this job check is completed, workers can apply for the visa.
However, the visa comes with a requirement that workers must spend a minimum of three months outside of New Zealand each year. This condition ensures that the visa remains within the scope of a seasonal work arrangement, with the worker returning home during the off-peak season. The inclusion of this rule aims to prevent long-term immigration while still allowing employers to address seasonal demands effectively.
Roles that are covered under the GWSV are diverse and include skilled positions such as agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operators, chairlift operators, tulip growers, thoroughbred yearling preparers, mountain or glacier guides, winemakers, and snow makers. These roles typically require a higher level of expertise and are central to industries where specialized knowledge and skills are essential for the operations during peak seasons.
The GWSV aims to bridge the gap in the workforce for sectors where these specific skills are in high demand during certain times of the year. By allowing foreign workers with specialized skills to fill these roles, New Zealand can ensure that critical industries operate smoothly during their peak seasons without compromising the quality of services or products.
The Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) for Entry-Level Roles
In addition to the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, the New Zealand government has also introduced the Peak Seasonal Visa, which targets entry-level and lower-skilled seasonal roles. The PSV is valid for up to seven months, making it suitable for workers who are filling temporary roles that do not require specialized skills but are essential to the seasonal nature of New Zealand’s agriculture, forestry, and tourism sectors.
The main requirement for PSV applicants is that they must have at least one season of relevant experience in the last three years. This experience requirement ensures that visa holders are familiar with the tasks they will be performing, which may involve physically demanding work. Additionally, applicants must hold comprehensive health insurance throughout the duration of their stay, ensuring that they are covered for any medical emergencies that might arise while working in New Zealand.
The government has made it clear that there is no English language requirement for applicants under the Peak Seasonal Visa, making it accessible to a broader pool of potential workers. However, applicants must engage with or be endorsed by Work and Income, a service under New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development that helps match foreign workers to employers in need of seasonal labor. This endorsement helps to ensure that both employers and workers are aligned with the expectations and responsibilities set out by New Zealand’s immigration policies.
The PSV covers a range of entry-level roles that are vital for seasonal operations in key industries. These include positions such as mussel or oyster farm workers, calf rearers, relief milkers, forestry workers, meat process workers, winery cellar hands, and wool handlers. While these roles do not require the same level of specialized skills as those covered by the GWSV, they are nonetheless critical to maintaining the smooth operation of seasonal industries.
The Role of Accredited Employers
Both the GWSV and PSV are designed for accredited employers who meet the criteria set out by New Zealand’s immigration authorities. The accreditation process is key to ensuring that employers are operating within the bounds of New Zealand’s labor laws and that they are committed to providing fair wages and working conditions to foreign workers. Employers must show that they have a genuine need for foreign seasonal labor and that they have made reasonable efforts to hire local workers before turning to foreign nationals.
The introduction of these visas also underscores the importance of the agricultural, forestry, and tourism sectors to New Zealand’s economy. These industries, which rely heavily on seasonal labor, play a significant role in the country’s economic stability, particularly in rural and remote areas where these sectors are often the primary sources of employment. By allowing employers to access the labor force they need during peak seasons, the government aims to ensure that these industries can operate at full capacity, boosting productivity and supporting the overall economy.
Ensuring Fair and Consistent Immigration Settings
The introduction of the GWSV and PSV is part of New Zealand’s broader efforts to manage its immigration system in a way that is fair, consistent, and responsive to the needs of its labor market. The government has stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to immigration, one that supports economic growth while protecting the rights of both local workers and foreign employees.
These new visa categories also align with New Zealand’s broader immigration policy, which aims to provide opportunities for skilled workers from around the world to contribute to the country’s economy. However, the policies are carefully designed to avoid exploitation and to ensure that foreign workers are not taking jobs that could be filled by New Zealand citizens. The government’s emphasis on accreditation for employers and requirements for health insurance for workers reflects this commitment to fair and responsible immigration practices.
Conclusion
The introduction of the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and the Peak Seasonal Visa represents a significant step forward in New Zealand’s efforts to address the labor shortages in key seasonal industries. By providing clear pathways for foreign workers to fill both skilled and entry-level roles, the government is ensuring that critical sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and tourism can continue to thrive, particularly during their peak periods. The new visa categories offer flexibility for both employers and workers while maintaining the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration policies.
With these changes, New Zealand is well-positioned to meet the demands of its seasonal industries, supporting both economic growth and the fair treatment of workers. The implementation of these visas also highlights the country’s commitment to managing immigration in a way that balances the needs of the labor market with the broader goals of social equity and sustainable growth. As the country moves forward, these new visa options will play a crucial role in ensuring that New Zealand remains competitive and resilient in an ever-changing global economy.
