WH3.10 Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visa instructions (09/06/2021)

People holding work visas granted under the Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) instructions may undertake seasonal work in the horticulture and viticulture industries (which is planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops) for an eligible employer (see WH3.10.15).

WH3.10.1 Who is eligible for an SSE work visa?

1. Applicants for SSE work visa must:
   1. be aged 18 or older; and
   2. meet health and character requirements as set out at A4 and A5; and
   3. meet the requirements for bona fide applicants as set out at E5; and
   4. hold a return ticket to their home country, or provide evidence of sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket, unless their application is submitted before 30 June 2021.
2. To be granted a visa under SSE instructions an applicant must:
   1. be the holder of a current temporary entry class visa in New Zealand; and
   2. not have previously held a TRSE or SSE work visa, unless their application is submitted before 31 March 2022; and
   3. not have held any type of work visa since their most recent entry to New Zealand, unless their application is submitted before 31 March 2022; and
   4. satisfy an immigration officer that they have a genuine intention to work for an eligible employer in the horticulture and viticulture industries (see WH3.10.15).
3. SSE work visas will only be granted where there are available positions of employment, as determined by INZ in consultation with the Ministry of Social Development.
4. Evidence that the applicant meets the requirement in (b)(iv) above may include but is not limited to:
   1. a job offer from an SSE employer;
   2. arrangements for travel to or accommodation in regions where SSE employers are located;
   3. evidence of the horticulture and viticulture work the applicant intends to complete, such as information on SSE employers, crops and regions or a harvest trail plan;
   4. correspondence with the relevant region’ s seasonal coordinator(s) to obtain information on SSE employers; or
   5. evidence of contact with SSE employer(s) whose details are available on the Immigration New Zealand website.
5. Despite (d) above, applications submitted before 31 March 2022 must include an offer of employment from an eligible employer (see WH3.10.15).

WH3.10.5 Currency and conditions of SSE work visas

1. SSE work visas will be granted for a period of six months.
2. Work visas granted under SSE instructions will be subject to the condition that the holder may undertake work planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops in the horticulture or viticulture industry only, for an eligible employer (see WH3.10.15).
3. SSE Work visas will not include travel conditions.
4. Despite (a) above, applicants may not be granted a visa with an expiry date after 30 June 2021 if they have not submitted required medical or x-ray certificates in accordance with A4.25(a), or required police certificates in accordance with A5.5(a)(ii) and A5.5(c).

WH3.10.10 Applying for a work visa under SSE instructions

Applications for an SSE work visa must:

1. be made on the form SSE Work Application (INZ 1153); and
2. meet all the requirements under Generic Temporary Entry instructions for lodging an application for a temporary entry class visa as set out at E4; and
3. meet all the requirements for eligibility under WH3.10.1.

WH3.10.15 Eligible employers

1. An eligible employer in the horticulture and viticulture industry is:
   1. an employer who holds an SSE Approval in Principle; or
   2. until 30 June 2021, a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) with an approved Agreement to Recruit where places have been unable to be filled by RSE workers; or
   3. until 30 June 2021, any employer for the specified role for a specified region for the specified period, as published by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) on the Work and Income website.

Note: The list of specified roles, regions and periods published by MSD can be found on the Work and Income website at https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2020/supplementary-seasonal-employer-visa.html

Effective 09/06/2021