Tips for recruiting from overseas

16 February 2026
If you’re new to recruiting staff from overseas, here is a quick list of things you’ll need to know.

In most cases an offshore candidate will require a job offer from a New Zealand employer to support their visa application
Check that your job vacancy will meet the requirements of one of the visa categories, and find out what you need to do to support a migrant’s visa application (i.e. offering a minimum of 30 hours work per week)
Depending on the visa your candidate chooses to apply for, you may be required to prove that you have made genuine attempts to recruit a New Zealand worker
Set realistic timeframes. Factor in time for:
- Your normal employment processes
- Processing of the visa application (this can vary greatly depending on the visa they're applying for. Check the processing times on the INZ website)
- Your migrant worker's preparations for moving, e.g. selling their home, gathering documents for their visa application (such as medical and police certificates) and getting their DCNZ registration.

You can find out more about hiring staff from overseas on the Immigration NZ website.

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