WI4 Domestic staff of diplomatic, consular and official staff (29/11/2010)

1. Diplomatic, consular and official staff (see H2) posted to New Zealand may bring with them domestic staff such as cooks, nannies, drivers and gardeners.

   Note: this does not include administrative and technical staff at posts in New Zealand.

2. The following rules govern whether or not domestic staff employed by diplomatic, consular or official staff are eligible for work visas:
   1. the Protocol Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) must support their application for a work visa; and
   2. the applicant must:
      • be single and over 18; or
      • if married, have no children or dependants, and both partners must be offered employment with the same diplomatic, consular or official staff; and
   3. the applicant must not be a person who entered New Zealand by means of a working holiday scheme; and
   4. the applicant must leave New Zealand on termination of their employment or when the employer's tour of duty is complete; and
   5. the applicant must not undertake any other type of work or enrol in any formal study; and
   6. 3 years must pass before a person formerly employed in New Zealand under these provisions is eligible for a further period of domestic employment with another diplomatic, consular or official staff; and
   7. family members are not eligible for visas to join relatives who are domestic staff.
3. Applicants must meet the lodgement, bona fide applicant and health and character requirements as set out at W2.10.1.
4. A work visa (with multiple journey travel conditions if required) and entry permission current for a maximum period of 3 years may be granted to domestic staff of diplomatic, consular and official staff.
5. Any work visa granted must specify the name of the diplomatic, consular or official staff for whom the domestic staff member will be working.
6. Employers must ensure that prospective applicants are advised in writing and in their own language of the conditions relating to their employment in New Zealand.
7. A further visa for up to 12 months beyond the normal 3-year maximum may be granted on an annual basis if the application is supported by the Protocol Division of MFAT.

Effective 29/11/2010