WK4.1 Currency of Essential Skills work visas (10/07/2020)

1. An Essential Skills work visa may be granted for the period for which the employment is offered, up to a maximum of:
   1. 5 years for employment assessed as higher-skilled; or
   2. 3 years for employment assessed as mid-skilled; or
   3. 6 months for employment assessed as lower-skilled, where the application is made between 10 July 2020 and 10 January 2022 inclusive, unless a 6 month visa would result in the holder exceeding the 3 year maximum period holding Essential Skills visas for lower-skilled employment (WK3.20.5); or
   4. 1 year for employment assessed as lower-skilled, where the application is made from 11 January 2022, unless a 1 year visa would result in the holder exceeding the 3 year maximum period allowed under (WK3.20.5); or
   5. 3 years for employment for an accredited labour hire company; or
   6. 1 year or 6 months if the applicant meets the requirements at WK3.20.10 for people also applying under the Skilled Migrant Category for a resident visa.
2. Where the grant of a 6 month or 1 year visa, for employment assessed as lower-skilled, would result in the holder exceeding the maximum period allowed under WK3.20.5, the visa may be granted for the remainder of the 3 year period.
3. Despite (a) above, if an application for a work visa is approved on the basis of approval in principle issued prior to 10 July 2020, the duration of that work visa may be consistent with the duration stated in that approval in principle.

Note: The maximum periods allowed under WK3.20.5 are based on the total period that the applicant held Essential Skills work visas to work in lower-skilled employment, regardless of whether the holder was inside or outside New Zealand while holding the visa.

Effective 10/07/2020