W3.55 Sports players and professional sports coaches (26/07/1999)

Sports players and sports coaches who wish to play or coach in New Zealand must obtain work visas authorising a permit before they arrive, if they are to receive any form of payment or assistance with accommodation, fares, maintenance or salary.

W3.55.1 Players taking up paid positions for a season

1. Players taking up a paid position for a season as a player in or coach of a New Zealand sports club may be issued with work visas authorising a permit for the length of the contract, up to a maximum of 12 months.
2. Applicants must produce a guarantee of employment in writing from the New Zealand sports club, including the following details:
   1. the nature of the contract (player or player/coach), and
   2. the length of the contract, and
   3. details of payment, and
   4. whether accommodation, maintenance and repatriation are guaranteed.

W3.55.5 Professional coaches

1. Coaches taking up a full-time coaching position at a regional or national level may be issued with work visas authorising a permit current for the length of the contract, up to a maximum of 3 years.
2. If the initial length of the contract was for less than 3 years, a further work permit may be granted allowing a maximum stay of 3 years from the date of arrival.
3. Visa and immigration officers must sight a job offer and confirmation of support in writing from the sport's national body.

W3.55.10 Players or coaches in secondary employment

1. Players or coaches who wish to undertake additional employment may apply for a variation of the conditions of their work permit once they arrive in New Zealand.
2. A variation may be granted if:
   1. the applicant provides evidence that the sponsor or company involved in the sport is offering the job solely to this particular player or coach; or
   2. a labour market test (see W2.15.10) on any other job offered shows that there are no New Zealand citizens or residents available to do the job.

Effective 26/07/1999