2011-Jun 03: Experience - not gain or reward, and not a lawful primary purpose

Visa Pak 19- Information regards when Experience is not considered to be gain or reward, and not a lawful primary purpose.

Visa Paks

3 June 2011

Experience - not gain or reward, and not a lawful primary purpose

This is a reminder that ‘Gain or reward’ only includes things that can be valued in terms of money (W2.2.1(b)); such as travel, accommodation and/or maintenance. It has come to our attention that some Immigration Officers have been requesting that people who receive only work experience apply for a work visa, stating that they receive ‘gain’ in the form of work experience. Experience, such as work experience, is not a form of gain or reward as envisioned in the definition of employment in W2.2.1(a).

Other than WE1, there are no immigration instructions that allow someone to come to New Zealand for the primary purpose of gaining work experience. A person may come to New Zealand to study, visit or work and may gain work experience in addition to that primary purpose, but they may not come to New Zealand for the primary purpose of gaining work experience.