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Jobs in New Zealand for Indians: how to find an accredited employer from India

Find a full-time job of at least 30 hours a week with an employer that Immigration New Zealand has accredited, and make sure the employer has an approved job check for your role. Most people then use the Accredited Employer Work Visa, and six listed sectors can use the India Skilled Work Visa. INZ says employers and agents cannot charge you fees for a job.

How can an Indian get a job in New Zealand from India?

The short answer: the employer has to be approved first

In New Zealand, the hard part is not the visa form. It is finding an employer that is allowed to hire from overseas. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) says the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) needs a full-time job offer of at least 30 hours a week from an accredited employer with an approved job check, and the same accredited-employer rule applies to the new India Skilled Work Visa and India Iconic Work Visa. So your job search should start with employers that hold, or will get, INZ accreditation.

INZ's AEWV statistics page, last updated 13 October 2026, says that as at 30 September 2026 there were more than 30,000 accredited employers and more than 94,000 AEWV holders. That page gives no breakdown by nationality or occupation, so we cannot tell you how many Indians are hired or in which jobs. This page covers finding work. For fees, documents and visa conditions, read our New Zealand work visa guide.

Which route fits your job: what INZ shows in October 2026

Figures are as shown by INZ when we read the pages on 28 October 2026. Fees and processing times change, so confirm them on the official pages linked below before you pay anything.

Route	Who it suits	What INZ shows (October 2026)
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)	Most skilled jobs with an accredited employer	From NZD $1540; 80% decided within 5 weeks; 2 years' relevant experience or a level 4+ qualification; up to 5 years depending on the job
India Skilled Work Visa	Indian citizens in six listed sectors	From NZD $1,355; up to 4,400 places at any one time; up to 3 years; must apply from outside New Zealand
India Iconic Work Visa	Yoga instructors, Indian chefs, music teachers, AYUSH practitioners	From NZD $1355; up to 600 places; qualification and experience rules per occupation
Green List roles	Occupations INZ lists as needed	Tier 1 may lead to Straight to Residence; Tier 2 to Work to Residence after 2 years working in New Zealand

The India Skilled Work Visa: six sectors and a cap

INZ's India Skilled Work Visa page says it is for citizens of India with a job offer in an India Skilled Work Visa job. Places are capped at up to 4,400 at any one time, split by sector, and the page stated that as of 20 October 2026 all places were available. If no places are left, INZ says it will not accept the application and will refund the fee. The page does not say when the visa opened. News reports link it to the India-New Zealand trade agreement, and at least one gave a headline figure of 5,000 places. INZ's own page says 4,400, so rely on that.

Two limits matter. INZ says time on this visa does not count as skilled work experience for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa or the Work to Residence visas. And after 3 years you must leave and spend at least 3 years outside New Zealand before applying for another India Skilled or India Iconic Work Visa. Partners and dependent children cannot be included in the application.

Sector (INZ list)	Places at any one time
Software and ICT	1,000
Civil, mechanical, structural and environmental engineers	1,000
Registered nurses	900
Construction and building project managers	700
Primary and secondary school teachers	500
Physiotherapists	300

Step by step: from job search to a genuine offer

Shortlist the occupations you can prove. Check whether your role is on INZ's Green List or the India Skilled or India Iconic lists, and what qualification or registration it needs. If your job is a registered profession, start registration early: Tahatū lists Nursing Council of New Zealand registration as a requirement for registered nurses, and INZ's AEWV page lists occupational registration where the job needs it.
Search for jobs on employer career pages and New Zealand job boards. Look for adverts that say the employer can support a visa, and ask early if the advert is silent.
Check the employer on INZ's accredited employer list. INZ says you can search by the 13-digit NZBN or by at least the first 3 characters of the company or trading name, and that the list is updated daily. Some employers opt out of being published, so if you cannot find one, ask the employer directly for proof of accreditation.
Ask whether a job check has been approved for your role. INZ's employer guide says each job needs its own job check, and that the employer must usually advertise to New Zealanders first: at least 14 days for skill level 1 to 3 roles and 21 days for skill level 4 or 5 roles, unless an exemption applies.
Interview directly with the employer, by video if needed. INZ's scam guidance says to speak to the employer directly, such as in an interview, before you accept.
Get the offer and employment agreement in writing. Employment New Zealand says employers must give a written employment agreement. Compare the pay with the job check and with the minimum wage before you sign.
Wait for the employer to send you the visa application link, then follow our New Zealand work visa guide. Do not resign or book travel until INZ issues the visa.

Pay rules: minimum wage, market rate and no fees for a job

Minimum wage: Employment New Zealand shows the adult minimum wage as NZD $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026, and the starting-out and training rate as NZD $19.16 an hour. Its rights page says employees aged 16 or older must be paid at least the minimum wage for each hour worked, including overtime.
Market rate: an INZ announcement published 20 February 2025 says employers are no longer required to pay the median wage from 10 March 2025, but are still expected to pay migrant workers on par with New Zealand workers (the New Zealand market rate).
Pay stays fixed to the offer: INZ's AEWV page says the employer must keep paying the amount in the original offer, which will be listed in your visa conditions.
No premiums: Employment New Zealand says an employer cannot make you pay to get or keep your job. INZ says employers or agents cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay their recruitment costs.
Leave: Employment New Zealand lists 4 weeks of annual holidays after 12 months of continuous employment, 10 days of sick leave after 6 months, and 12 public holidays a year. INZ says migrants have the same minimum rights as New Zealanders.

Which sectors are in demand, per official sources

No official page we read ranks the best jobs for Indians, and we do not invent one. The clearest official signals are the sectors New Zealand chose for the India Skilled Work Visa (ICT, engineering, nursing, construction project management, teaching and physiotherapy) and the Green List, which INZ calls a list of jobs it needs people for. The Green List page asks you to search for your role to see its tier and requirements, and does not publish a sector summary, so check your exact occupation.

Careers New Zealand (careers.govt.nz) now redirects to Tahatū, the Tertiary Education Commission's careers site. Tahatū's registered nurse page shows pay from $76K to $107K a year, with the most common range $83K to $99K, about 32K people employed (2023 Census) and employment change described as steady. It lists a nursing degree, an Annual Practising Certificate and registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand as requirements. Use Tahatū's occupation pages to check pay and entry rules for your own job before you negotiate.

Scam red flags in New Zealand job offers

Any fee for the job itself, often called a processing or placement fee. INZ says employers or agents cannot charge you this, and that an application can be declined if you or your agent offered money to the employer for a job offer.
A promise of residence. INZ says temporary visas do not guarantee residence, and India Skilled Work Visa time does not count towards the Skilled Migrant or Work to Residence visas.
An employer you cannot verify on the accredited employer list and who will not confirm accreditation in writing.
Requests to pay visa fees into a bank account. INZ says it will never ask for this, and that official emails end in immigration.govt.nz or mbie.govt.nz.
Pressure to use an adviser, or claims of fewer rights for migrants. INZ says you are not required to use an adviser and that it does not prioritise applications because of one.
INZ warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia. Read our overseas job scam guide, and if an Indian agency is involved, check its registration.

Do Indians need emigration clearance for New Zealand?

New Zealand is not on the Ministry of External Affairs list of 17 countries that need emigration clearance for ECR passport holders. That MEA page shows a last-updated date of 16 May 2016, so confirm on the official site. You will still need any police certificates INZ asks for. INZ says they are required if you are 17 or older and will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand; our police clearance certificate guide explains how Indian PCCs are issued.

What the official pages do not say

How many Indians get New Zealand jobs, or which employers hire most from India. INZ's statistics page has no nationality breakdown.
A list of the Green List occupations on the overview page. You must search your role.
The date the India Skilled Work Visa opened, or any processing time for it.
Average salaries by job for migrants. Tahatū gives general pay ranges, but its page did not state the date of its pay data.
The job check fee amount, which INZ's process page links to separately.

Where Job Spectra fits

Job Spectra is operated by Spectravault Group LLP, with offices in Deira Dubai, Bengaluru and Sugauli, Bihar. We do not currently hold an eMigrate recruiting-agent registration, and we cannot issue a job check, accreditation or visa. Our Trust Center explains our no-upfront-job-fees policy. You can browse current openings or submit your CV, but always verify any New Zealand employer on INZ's list yourself. To compare countries, see visa sponsorship jobs by country and our step-by-step guide to getting a job abroad.

Official sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-28. Information only, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for jobs in New Zealand directly from India?

Yes, you can apply from India, and the India Skilled Work Visa must be applied for from outside New Zealand. The job must be full-time, at least 30 hours a week, with an accredited employer. Check the employer on INZ's accredited employer list before you accept.

What is the India Skilled Work Visa?

An INZ visa for Indian citizens with a job offer in six sectors: software and ICT, engineering, registered nursing, construction project management, school teaching and physiotherapy. INZ shows up to 4,400 places at any one time, a cost from NZD $1,355 and a stay of up to 3 years.

How do I know if a New Zealand employer is accredited?

Search INZ's accredited employer list by the 13-digit NZBN or the company or trading name. INZ says the list is updated daily, but some employers choose not to be published, so ask the employer directly if you cannot find them.

What is the minimum wage in New Zealand?

Employment New Zealand shows NZD $23.95 an hour for adults from 1 April 2026, and NZD $19.16 for starting-out and training rates. For AEWV jobs, INZ also expects pay on par with New Zealand workers. Confirm the current rate on employment.govt.nz.

Is IELTS needed for a job in New Zealand?

It depends on the visa and job. INZ says AEWV jobs at skill levels 3 to 5 need English evidence, and the India Skilled Work Visa needs an acceptable test taken in person, no more than 2 years old. Check the English rule for your exact visa and job.

Which jobs are in demand in New Zealand for Indians?

No official page ranks jobs for Indians. The clearest signals are the six India Skilled Work Visa sectors and INZ's Green List, which you search by occupation. Check your exact role and its registration needs rather than relying on a blog list.

Does a New Zealand job lead to permanent residence?

Not automatically. INZ says temporary visas do not guarantee residence. Green List Tier 1 roles may lead to Straight to Residence and Tier 2 roles to Work to Residence after 2 years, but India Skilled Work Visa time does not count towards those residence visas.

Can an agent charge me for a New Zealand job?

No. INZ says New Zealand employers or agents cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay their recruitment costs, and Employment New Zealand says an employer cannot make you pay to get or keep a job. Report anyone who asks.