Republic of Korea Special Work Visa

Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity:

• 2 acceptable photos of your head and shoulders
• your passport or

Visa and NZeTA photos

You may provide your original passport, or a certified copy when you submit your application. If you provide a certified copy we may request your original passport to complete your application.

Health

You must be in good health.

You must have a chest X-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.

How to get an X-ray or medical examination

Character

You must be of good character.

If you have a criminal conviction or are a security risk to New Zealand we may not be able to grant you a visa.

Character requirements for New Zealand visas

You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then.

You also must provide police certificates if we ask for them.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. They must be from any country you are a citizen of, or have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

If you are 16 years old or younger you do not need to provide police certificates.

Police certificates

How to get a police certificate

If you have already sent us police certificates with a previous visa application and they are less than 24 months old, you do not need to send them again.

If you provide a police certificate that is not in English, you must provide an . This includes police certificates that record no convictions.

Providing English translations of supporting documents

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa.

When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:

• you provide to support your application
• we have about your personal circumstances
• you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand

Citizenship

You must be a citizen of the Republic of Korea.

You must provide a valid Republic of Korea passport.

Location

You must be living in your country of citizenship when you apply.

Any documents that prove where you are living now. Examples include:

• current utility bills
• recent pay slips.

Ordinarily resident

You must live in your country of citizenship permanently.

Any documents that prove you live in your country of citizenship permanently. Examples include:

• letters sent to your home address
• references from your employer.

New Zealand job offer

You must have been offered a job in a 'special work' occupation.

You must provide a copy of your employment agreement, which must detail:

• the occupation that you will be working in that is considered special work under the Republic of Korea Special Work Instructions
• your employer’s name and contact details
• details of your pay and other conditions of your employment
• your working hours, which must be full time
• the length of your contract
• details of any qualifications or experience you will need to do the work.

Republic of Korea special work qualifications

Employment agreements and rights — Employment New Zealand

Qualifications

You must have the necessary qualifications and/or experience to do the work you have been offered.

The evidence you must provide depends on the occupation you will be working in, in New Zealand.

Republic of Korea Special Work qualifications

Occupational registration

If you want to work as a veterinarian, you must have New Zealand registration.

If you have been offered work as a veterinarian, you must provide us with a certified copy of your registration with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. 

Check if you need occupational registration for your job

You have to come to New Zealand within 6 months of the date your visa is granted.

Entry permission

You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.

You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.

A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.

New Zealand Traveller Declaration

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.

Arriving in New Zealand

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa. Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.

Travel

You have to come to New Zealand within 6 months of the date your visa is granted.

After you arrive in New Zealand, you can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.

Work

You may work only in the specific occupation, for the employer and in the location specified on your visa.

Study

You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.