Moving to New Zealand from India: Visa Routes Explained

The figures here are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Because immigration.govt.nz was returning errors that week, several INZ pages were read from archived captures of the official site taken between August and October 2026; re-check fees on the live INZ page before paying. All applications go to Immigration New Zealand online, and VFS Global runs centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai for passports when INZ asks for them. For visitor visas and the basics, see our New Zealand visa guide for Indians.

Which visas can take you from India to New Zealand?

Can you move to New Zealand with a job offer?

Yes, and the AEWV is the main employer-sponsored route. An INZ-accredited employer with an approved job check offers you a job of at least 30 hours a week at the market rate, then sends you a link to apply online. The visa can last up to 5 years depending on the job and can lead to residence.

You need at least 2 years of relevant work experience or a qualification at NZQCF level 4 or higher in the same field; a bachelor's degree can be in any field. That requirement falls away if the job is on the Green List, you hold the required occupational registration or you are paid at least NZD 67.12 an hour. For jobs at ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5 you also need English evidence; since 1 June 2026 skill level 3 roles need IELTS 4.0 or equivalent.

Two warnings matter for Indian applicants. The AEWV is not available for horticulture or viticulture crop work, fishing crew or self-employment. And employers or agents cannot charge you for a job; INZ declines applications where money was offered for a job offer and says job offer scams are common in India and South Asia.

Does studying in New Zealand lead to staying on?

It can, but only through further visas. The Fee Paying Student Visa needs an offer from an approved provider, tuition for 1 course or 1 year, and living funds of NZD 20,000 for each year of study (NZD 1,667 a month for shorter courses). When applying from South Asia, only immediate family can sponsor you. Students may work up to 25 hours a week during study, depending on visa conditions.

After a degree at level 7 or higher studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks, you can apply once for a Post-Study Work Visa (NZD 1,670), which allows open work for up to 3 years. You need at least NZD 5,000 for living expenses.

Know the odds before you pay fees. INZ data for 2025 show 39% of student visa applications from Indian nationals applying from outside New Zealand were declined (2,838 of 7,235 decided applications), against 15% for all nationalities. In 2024 the Indian decline rate was 50%.

How do you get New Zealand residence?

Residence is points-tested or job-list based, and both main routes require you to be aged 55 or younger, speak English and have a full-time job or job offer with an accredited employer.

• Skilled Migrant Category: you need 6 skilled resident points from a qualification, income or New Zealand occupational registration, plus up to 3 points for skilled work in New Zealand. An international doctorate earns 6 points, a master's 5 and a bachelor's 4. You submit an expression of interest and apply only if invited.
• Straight to Residence: for full-time Tier 1 Green List jobs with an accredited employer.
• Permanent Resident Visa: after holding a resident visa for at least 2 years in a row, for NZD 315.

Partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included in both resident visas.

What does the NZ-India Free Trade Agreement change?

The agreement enters into force on 20 October 2026. New Zealand has committed to the equivalent of 1,667 three-year temporary employment entry visas a year, with no more than 5,000 at any time: 1,467 for 13 skilled Green List occupations and 200 for iconic Indian occupations such as yoga, music, chefs and ayurvedic practitioners. It also commits to a working holiday scheme of up to 1,000 places a year.

Regulations from 20 October 2026 exempt the new India Iconic Work visa and India Skilled Work visa from the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. INZ had not published opening dates or criteria for these visas or the working holiday scheme when we checked.

Which routes will not get you there?

• Working holiday visa: not available to Indian citizens today; India is not on INZ's list of agreement countries.
• Visitor Visa: NZD 441, for visits of up to 9 months in an 18-month period, not for living or working.
• Seasonal visas: employer-led and temporary; partners and children are not eligible for visas based on them.

Checks to clear before you apply

Stays of more than 6 months need a chest X-ray, because India is not a low-TB country. Police certificates are needed if you are 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer. Your passport goes to a VFS centre only if INZ asks; the VFS handling fee for online applications is INR 1,460.

When your plans include a visit before the move, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram can prepare flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full package. Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can my partner and children come with me on an AEWV?

They cannot be included in your AEWV application. Depending on your pay and skill level, they may get visitor, work or student visas; for example, a partner of an AEWV holder in an ANZSCO level 1-3 job can get a work visa if you earn at least NZD 28 an hour.

Is there an age limit for moving to New Zealand?

The Skilled Migrant Category and Straight to Residence visas require you to be aged 55 or younger. Temporary visas such as the AEWV and student visa have their own conditions, so check the INZ page for the visa you plan to use.

Can my parents move to New Zealand with me?

The resident visas include only a partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger. Parents can visit on the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, which costs NZD 3,100, but it is a visitor visa rather than a residence route.

How long can I stay on AEWVs before I must leave?

The maximum continuous stay on AEWVs is 5 years for most jobs and 3 years for skill level 4-5 jobs. After that you normally spend 12 months outside New Zealand, unless you move to residence.