Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa (LTSSL)
This visa is closed unless you have already held this visa, you are reapplying and you are waiting for a residence from work visa or you have been able to return to NZ due to the closed border.
You can only apply for this visa if you have already held a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and you either are waiting for a decision on your Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa application, or you worked in the role the visa was issued for, were overseas when the border closed on 19 March 2020, and only returned after 31 October 2021.
This visa offers a pathway to New Zealand residence. To apply, you’ll need to have the specified work experience, qualifications and occupational registration to work in an occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, and an offer for work in that occupation. If you continue working in that occupation in New Zealand for 2 years, you can apply for residence.
30 months | |
55 and under |
- Start your pathway to residence in New Zealand by working for up to 30 months in an occupation for which there is a shortage of New Zealanders available.
- Apply for residence after 2 years of working in an occupation on our Long Term Skill Shortage List.
- You can’t include a partner or dependent children in your work visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
- MUST HAVE A NEW ZEALAND JOB OFFER
- OCCUPATION MUST BE ON THE LONG TERM SKILL SHORTAGE LIST
- MUST HAVE THE RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS
- MUST HAVE THE RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
You must have a job offer for work on our Long Term Skill Shortage List
You must be qualified to do the work you’ve been offered
You must have the qualifications required by the LTSSL to do work the work you’ve been offered in New Zealand.
You must provide:
- original or certified copies of your qualifications
- evidence the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) recognises your qualification.
You must check if your qualification is on the New Zealand Qualifications Agency (NZQA) list of recognised or exempt qualifications. If it’s not on the list, you must provide a report from the NZQA confirming your qualification.
You must have the necessary experience to do the work you’ve been offered
You must have the work experience required by the LTSSL to do the work you’ve been offered in New Zealand.
You must provide documents that show:
- the work that you did
- the dates you did the work
- how many hours a week you worked (on average)
- the contact details for your employer or employers
- how your work experience relates to the work you’ve been offered in New Zealand
Application cost
NZD $635
This is the fee for Immigration New Zealand to process your application. An immigration levy is payable and is included in the total amount above.
Processing
within 5 months
90% of applications are currently completed within this time
