Entertainment industry employers can apply for accreditation to allow them to bring overseas entertainment industry workers to New Zealand without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement.
2 years
The process for Entertainment Industry Accreditation.
Consider applying for Entertainment Industry Accreditation if you have a need to recruit multiple entertainment industry workers from overseas.
Once accredited, you can employ entertainment industry workers from overseas without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand entertainment union, guild or professional association for their agreement. You’ll need to support each workers Entertainers Work Visa application.
If you have an ongoing need to hire entertainment industry workers from overseas, you may wish to apply to renew your entertainment industry accreditation. If you do this, you’ll be able to continue to support work visa applications, without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand union or professional association for their agreement.
You must meet the criteria and provide all of the supporting evidence to become accredited. Once you’ve collected your evidence, see the process steps below to find out how to apply.
If available, you must provide the following business records covering at least two financial years:
If your business is a Single Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that is owned and operated by an overseas production company, you should also include information about any previous SPVs you’ve operated in New Zealand.
Examples of evidence may include:
We’ll work with relevant unions to assess if you meet this requirement.
You can include any evidence you believe shows your knowledge of the New Zealand Entertainment industry.
We’ll work with relevant unions to assess if you meet this requirement.
Evidence of your commitment can include:
We’ll work with relevant unions to assess if you meet this requirement.
When you complete your application, we’ll ask you:
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for the accreditation, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
To apply for Entertainment Industry Accreditation, you will need to complete an ‘Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application’ and send it to us with your evidence and application fee.
Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application (INZ 1197) PDF 511KB
You will also need to send copies of parts of your application to a relevant New Zealand entertainment industry body.
Application cost – You must be a New Zealand employer in New Zealand to apply.
When we assess your application, we may consult with entertainment industry unions, guilds or professional associations, and other government agencies.
We may ask you for extra information if It is needed to make a decision about your application.
If we approve your application, your accreditation will be valid for 12 months.
Due to this product being closed we are no longer providing processing timeframes.
Before they can start working for you, your potential workers will need to apply for a work visa. They can do this by completing a ‘Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Personnel Work Visa Application’. The application includes a ‘Supplementary Form’, which You will need to complete before your potential worker sends their application to us.
We let you know if we grant your workers work visas.
If you have a continuing need for overseas entertainment workers, you can apply to renew your accreditation.
It is a good idea to apply 3 months before your current accreditation expires, otherwise your application will be treated like you are applying for the first time.
If we renew your accreditation, it’ll be valid for another 2 years.
Payment methods
Credit Card
You can pay with Visa or MasterCard. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Debit Card
You can pay by debit card. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Postal address
Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 22111
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Courier address
Immigration New Zealand
DX Box: WX10075
20 Syd Bradley Road
Dakota Park - Avonhead
Christchurch 8042
New Zealand
Hours
Phone enquiries
Monday to Friday
06:00 to 22:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Telephone
Other notes
Applications made in New Zealand
For applications made in New Zealand, there is no courier fee to be paid for applications or documents to be returned.
Once you’re accredited, you can go ahead and recruit overseas workers – you don’t have to check if there are any New Zealanders available to do the work first. Before your new recruits can start working for you, they must obtain a Entertainers Work Visa, which you’ll need to support.
For each person you hire, you must provide a written offer of employment, or contract for services that:
You must provide evidence to support your reason for employing an overseas entertainment industry worker, which may include documents that show that:
Employing overseas entertainers
You'll need to answer some questions about your production:
Give your completed form to your candidate and tell them to include it with their work visa application together with their employment agreement.
Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113) PDF 487KB
We may update this form often. Check you are using the latest version downloaded from this page.
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for accreditation, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
To bring someone to New Zealand under this visa, you will first have to provide a job offer along with a completed 'Employer Supplementary Form'. Your candidate will need to provide both to support their resident visa application.
Your candidate's application will include a Supplementary Form, which you must complete.
You and your candidate will need to provide documents to support their application.
We make a decision about your candidate’s application as soon as we can. Find out how long these visas usually take to decide, in our Fees & decision times tool.
80% of applications are currently completed within this time.
As soon as your candidate has been granted a visa, they can come to New Zealand and start working for you.
If you have an ongoing need to hire entertainment industry workers from overseas, you may wish to apply to renew your entertainment industry accreditation. If you do this, you’ll be able to continue to support work visa applications, without first having to ask the relevant New Zealand union or professional association for their agreement.
You must apply to renew before your current accreditation expires
Entertainment Industry Accreditation application (INZ 1197) PDF 511KB
To ensure your accreditation does not lapse we recommend applying approximately 3 months before its expiry.
It's cheaper to renew your accreditation than it is to apply for the first time. If you don’t apply for renewal before it accreditation expires, your application will be treated like you’re applying for the first time.
Follow these steps to reapply for Entertainment Industry Accreditation.
To reapply for Entertainment Industry Accreditation, you will need to complete an ‘Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application’ and send it to us with your evidence and application fee.
Entertainment Industry Accreditation Application (INZ 1197) PDF 511KB
You will also need to send copies of parts of your application to a relevant New Zealand entertainment industry body.
Application cost – You must be a New Zealand employer in New Zealand to apply. If you fail to apply for renewal before it accreditation expires, your application will be treated like you are applying for the first time and you may be charged the full fee.
When we assess your renewal application, we may consult with entertainment industry unions, guilds or professional associations, and other government agencies.
We may ask you for extra information if It is needed to make a decision about your application.
If we approve your application, your accreditation will be valid for 2 years.
Due to this product being closed we are no longer providing processing timeframes.
Before they can start working for you, your potential workers will need to apply for a work visa. They can do this by completing a ‘Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Personnel Work Visa Application’. The application includes a ‘Supplementary Form’, which You will need to complete before your potential worker sends their application to us.
We let you know if we grant your workers work visas.
Payment methods
Credit Card
You can pay with Visa or MasterCard. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Debit Card
You can pay by debit card. We take payment when we receive your application. You must have enough funds available on the day we receive your application or it may be returned to you.
Postal address
Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 22111
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Courier address
Immigration New Zealand
DX Box: WX10075
20 Syd Bradley Road
Dakota Park - Avonhead
Christchurch 8042
New Zealand
Hours
Phone enquiries
Monday to Friday
06:00 to 22:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Telephone
Other notes
Applications made in New Zealand
For applications made in New Zealand, there is no courier fee to be paid for applications or documents to be returned.