New Zealand immigration announces new seasonal visa categories under AEWV framework | Education News

The GWSV and PSV are expected to simplify the hiring process for roles that, while temporary in nature, are vital to New Zealand’s economic cycles. By streamlining recruitment procedures, the government aims to provide employers with quicker access to qualified seasonal workers, thereby supporting industries during peak demand periods.

The step is taken to balance New Zealand’s economic needs with regulatory oversight, ensuring that seasonal employment opportunities are filled fairly and transparently.

Key Details of the New Visas

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)

The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) has been introduced to support industries that require long-term seasonal labour. It comes with several distinctive features and requirements:

—Streamlined hiring process: Employers are not required to advertise locally or conduct a labour market test before hiring under this visa.

—Experience criteria: Applicants must demonstrate at least three seasons of relevant work experience within the last six years.

—Residency condition: Holders of the visa must spend a minimum of three months outside New Zealand each year.

—Validity period: The visa will be issued for three years, offering stability for both employers and workers.

—Safeguards: Applicants must meet health and character requirements, ensuring compliance with immigration standards.

—Language requirement: Unlike many other visa categories, English language testing is not required for GWSV applicants.

Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)

The Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) has been introduced to address short-term labour needs during peak demand periods. It comes with stricter requirements compared to the GWSV

— Labour market test required: Employers must advertise the role and demonstrate that they have attempted to hire locally before recruiting overseas workers.

—Experience criteria: Applicants must have completed at least one season of relevant work within the last three years.

—Validity period: The visa is valid for up to seven months, making it suitable for short-term seasonal roles.

—Health insurance requirement: For roles lasting longer than three months, applicants must hold comprehensive health insurance during their stay.

—Language requirement: Similar to the GWSV, English language testing is not required for PSV applicants.

Which roles are covered?

The new visa categories under the AEWV framework will apply to a range of seasonal roles across key industries. Eligible occupations include:

–Mussel or oyster farm workers

–Calf rearers and relief milkers

–Forestry workers

–Meat boners, slicers, and other meat process workers

–Seafood process workers

–Winery cellar hands and wool handlers

What Applicants Need to Prepare

Prospective applicants must ensure they provide clear and complete documentation to demonstrate eligibility for their chosen visa category.

The process begins with securing a job offer and a signed employment agreement from an AEWV-accredited employer, specifying start and end dates, pay rate, guaranteed hours, and work location.

Applicants must also present proof of seasonal work experience—for the GWSV, at least three seasons in a similar role within the past six years, and for the PSV, at least one season within the past three years—supported by employer reference letters, payslips, tax records, rosters, or certifications.

In addition, evidence of seasonality is required. GWSV applicants must show they spend three months outside New Zealand annually, while PSV applicants must demonstrate a four-month stand-down period between applications, with supporting documents such as travel itineraries or employer confirmations.

For PSV roles longer than three months, comprehensive health insurance is mandatory, covering general and emergency healthcare, hospitalisation, specialist services, prescription medicines, follow-up care, and emergency evacuation or repatriation. Applicants must submit the insurance certificate, benefit summary, and translations if needed, ensuring coverage remains valid throughout employment.

Finally, all applicants must provide standard AEWV documentation, including a valid passport, a recent photo, health and character records such as medical and police certificates, and any additional forms requested by Immigration New Zealand. Given the GWSV’s three-year validity, full medical and character checks are compulsory for all applicants, even if previously submitted.