The New Zealand infrastructure and construction worker visa agreement is scheduled to come into effect from 31st October 2022 for an agreement duration of 2 years, ending October 2024.
Number of workers: uncapped
Maximum visa duration: Up to 2 years at below median wage
Stand downs: After 2 years a stand down period will apply and the migrant won’t be able to apply for another Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) paying below median wage for at least 12 months..
Wage threshold: NZD $25.00 (updated each year to reflect changes in the median wage to maintain its relative value, i.e. 90 percent of the median wage)
Occupations included in the New Zealand construction and infrastructure visa agreement:
- Metal fabricator,
- Welder,
- Fitter-Welder,
- Fitter (General),
- Painting Trades Worker,
- Fibrous Plasterer,
- Solid Plasterer,
- Wall and Floor Tiler,
- AC and Refrigeration Mechanic,
- Bricklayer,
- Builder’s Labourers,
- Carpenter,
- Carpenter and Joiner,
- Landscape Gardener,
- Drainage,
- Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer,
- Roof Tiler,
- Glazier,
- Plumber’s Assistant,
- Roof Plumber,
- Painting Trade Workers,
- Floor Finishers, and
- Stonemasons.
Visa sponsored construction and infrastructure worker visa jobs in New Zealand
The first step is finding a visa sponsored construction worker job in New Zealand.
New Zealand construction worker job sites to explore to find visa sponsored jobs in New Zealand
- Job Seeker | New Kiwis – a recruitment services linking NZ employers with skilled migrants, offshore and onshore
- Job search | Seek– NZ’s largest general job website
- Search for jobs | Trade Me – NZ’s most popular website with a large job section
- Job vacancy and recruitment websites | careers.govt.nz
- Seek
- Indeed
- Jora
Advantages of working in New Zealand as a construction worker
- You won’t feel out of place working in New Zealand as a foreign construction worker.
For example, more than 40% of the 17,000 doctors registered with the New Zealand Medical Council in 2019 were international medical graduates while 2% of the practicing nurses were internationally qualified.
2. If you have a Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa and have worked in New Zealand for more than 2 years, you may be able to apply for a resident visa.
Use the sector agreements factsheet below for more information.
