New Zealand Work Visa Applications (2014-2024)

  1. The highest number of visas approved was in 2018/19, with 242,391 approvals.
  2. The most visa declines happened in 2017/18, with 19,884 declines, but this dropped in the following years.
  3. During the pandemic in 2020/21, visa approvals fell to their lowest at 152,174.
  4. Visa approvals started recovering, reaching 226,065 in 2022/23 but slightly decreased to 200,579 in 2023/24.

Work Visa Application

Decision Type

  

Financial Year

(Jul-Jun) Decided

Approved

Declined

Total

2014/15

186,018

10,790

196,808

2015/16

209,590

12,057

221,647

2016/17

226,369

16,304

242,673

2017/18

230,254

19,884

250,138

2018/19

242,391

14,720

257,111

2019/20

197,818

12,309

210,127

2020/21

152,174

7,671

159,845

2021/22

173,865

6,484

180,349

2022/23

226,065

8,922

234,987

2023/24

200,579

10,421

211,000

Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

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NZ Work Visa Trends by Nationality (2021/22 – 2023/24)

  1. India saw the most approvals in 2023/24, with 38,455 approvals, up from 31,019 in 2021/22.
  2. China approvals peaked at 26,041 in 2022/23 but dropped to 15,608 in 2023/24.
  3. The Philippines had 19,243 approvals in 2023/24, down from 23,311 the previous year.
  4. Germany approvals decreased from 8,664 in 2022/23 to 7,267 in 2023/24.
  5. France remained stable, with 7,838 approvals in 2023/24, down slightly from 9,194 in 2022/23.
  6. United States saw a decline in approvals, from 8,256 in 2022/23 to 6,022 in 2023/24.
  7. Vanuatu slightly increased approvals, from 7,610 in 2022/23 to 7,794 in 2023/24.
  8. South Korea had a sharp drop in approvals, from 4,251 in 2022/23 to 2,338 in 2023/24.
  9. Japan saw an increase in approvals, rising from 4,167 in 2022/23 to 4,908 in 2023/24.
  10. Vietnam approvals decreased slightly, from 4,541 in 2022/23 to 4,376 in 2023/24.
 

2022/23

2022/23

2023/24

 

Decision Type

 

Decision Type

 

Decision Type

 
 

Approved

Declined

Approved

Declined

Approved

Declined

Nationality

      

India

29,665

1,588

29,665

1,588

38,455

2,980

China

26,041

1,398

26,041

1,398

15,608

1,061

Great Britain

14,658

547

14,658

547

13,920

586

Philippines

23,311

830

23,311

830

19,243

951

Germany

8,664

98

8,664

98

7,267

76

France

9,194

79

9,194

79

7,838

76

United States of America

8,256

294

8,256

294

6,022

286

Vanuatu

7,610

81

7,610

81

7,794

61

Fiji

9,356

504

9,356

504

6,607

534

South Africa

7,001

197

7,001

197

4,510

134

South Korea

4,251

165

4,251

165

2,338

91

Samoa

5,769

169

5,769

169

5,264

186

Japan

4,167

96

4,167

96

4,908

96

Malaysia

5,591

122

5,591

122

4,406

87

Canada

3,408

226

3,408

226

2,887

162

Tonga

3,257

129

3,257

129

3,002

131

Sri Lanka

3,984

161

3,984

161

4,309

222

Brazil

2,620

81

2,620

81

1,816

74

Ireland

2,420

36

2,420

36

1,998

44

Italy

2,834

84

2,834

84

2,142

64

Argentina

3,087

66

3,087

66

2,990

102

Chile

2,822

67

2,822

67

2,409

55

Thailand

2,519

106

2,519

106

2,120

109

Vietnam

4,541

376

4,541

376

3,657

719

Czech Republic

2,497

30

2,497

30

1,439

21

Netherlands

1,776

31

1,776

31

1,377

39

Nepal

1,549

75

1,549

75

1,926

111

Indonesia

1,577

106

1,577

106

1,462

69

Russia

1,175

190

1,175

190

1,558

135

Taiwan

1,456

43

1,456

43

1,860

20

Ukraine

723

68

723

68

803

36

Solomon Islands

1,198

10

1,198

10

1,336

5

Bangladesh

1,145

44

1,145

44

1,066

159

Belgium

882

32

882

32

604

27

Hong Kong

672

45

672

45

468

40

Sweden

546

16

546

16

462

21

Spain

976

11

976

11

1,136

19

Uruguay

1,061

19

1,061

19

736

20

Pakistan

717

73

717

73

1,163

143

Mexico

873

29

873

29

564

22

Singapore

757

54

757

54

612

45

Colombia

529

18

529

18

490

21

Denmark

487

15

487

15

479

13

Kiribati

801

18

801

18

750

23

Finland

378

20

378

20

243

18

Iran

430

41

430

41

495

49

Cambodia

610

20

610

20

916

50

Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

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Key Trends in NZ Work Visa Categories (2020/21 – 2023/24)

Accredited Employer Visas:

  • In 2022/23, 71,311 visas were approved. This dropped to 50,962 approved in 2023/24.
  • There were more declined visas in 2023/24 (4,729) compared to 2022/23 (1,878).

Essential Skills Visas:

  • In 2020/21, 39,062 visas were approved, but by 2023/24, only 6 were approved.
  • This shows a significant drop in the use of this visa.

Working Holiday Visas:

  • Canada: Approvals increased from 438 in 2020/21 to 2,076 in 2023/24.
  • France: Visas grew from 84 approved in 2020/21 to 6,812 in 2023/24.
  • Germany: Similarly, approvals rose from 70 in 2020/21 to 6,262 in 2023/24.

Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Visas:

  • In 2020/21, 15,135 visas were approved.
  • This number increased to 18,986 in 2023/24.

Asylum Seeker Visas:

  • The number of approved visas increased from 753 in 2020/21 to 1,895 in 2023/24.

Entertainers and Associated Workers Visas:

  • In 2020/21, 386 visas were approved.
  • By 2023/24, this grew to 2,481 visas.

Variation of Conditions (VOC) Visas:

  • There were 21,019 approvals in 2020/21, but by 2023/24, approvals had dropped, leaving only 639 visas declined.

Chile and Argentina Working Holiday Visas:

  • These programs saw steady activity, with Argentina approving around 914 visas in 2023/24 and Chile approving 917 visas.

Asylum Seeker Visas:

  • Visa approvals went from 753 in 2020/21 to 1,895 in 2023/24, showing a steady increase.

United Kingdom Working Holiday Visas:

  • Approvals rose from 1,712 in 2020/21 to 6,954 in 2023/24, but declines also increased to 10,210 in 2023/24.

Application Criteria

Financial Year (Jul-Jun) Decided

 

2020/21

2020/21

2021/22

 

2022/23

 

2023/24

 
 

Decision Type

Decision Type

 

Decision Type

 

Decision Type

 
 

Approved

Declined

Approved

Declined

Approved

Declined

Approved

Declined

Application Criteria

        

AEWV transitional

.

.

.

.

13

88

3

4

ASEAN Special Work

1

2

.

.

2

2

.

2

Accredited Employer

.

.

.

.

71,311

1,878

50,962

4,729

Approved In Principle

346

23

341

20

738

143

1,380

111

Argentina Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

916

2

1,078

16

914

35

Asylum Seeker

753

50

627

33

638

11

1,895

41

Austria Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

100

.

198

1

98

.

Belgium Working Holiday Scheme

10

.

144

7

577

27

467

24

Brazil Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

598

8

299

3

Canada Working Holiday Scheme

438

18

466

27

1,833

181

2,076

146

Chef from Thailand

1

1

1

.

47

2

12

5

Chile Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

908

1

968

5

917

2

China Skilled Workers

.

2

4

.

1

.

1

.

China Special Work

16

.

1

1

180

10

91

5

China Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

425

38

1,573

166

925

96

Crew of foreign fishing vessel

521

14

60

6

60

6

104

1

Crew of foreign fishing vessel – further work visa

7

.

.

.

2

.

.

.

Croatia Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

84

2

65

5

Czech Working Holiday Scheme

2

.

686

.

1,171

15

841

7

Denmark Working Holiday Scheme

14

.

67

.

288

14

301

9

Domestic staff for consular personnel

8

.

2

1

16

.

5

1

Domestic staff for seconded business personnel

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Entertainers and Associated Workers

386

14

187

2

1,738

37

2,481

43

Entrepreneur Work Visa (Balance of 3 years)

6

4

10

.

4

.

13

1

Entrepreneur Work Visa (Change of plan)

1

2

2

3

.

.

2

.

Entrepreneur Work Visa (Interim)

5

14

3

15

8

12

17

7

Entrepreneur Work Visa (Reconsideration)

.

2

1

.

1

.

.

.

Entrepreneur Work Visa (Renewal)

6

4

1

2

8

3

2

.

Essential Skills

39,062

2,689

27,561

1,051

1,392

126

6

2

Essential Skills – Skill Level 1

.

.

1

.

.

.

.

.

Essential Skills – current employment

.

.

14,488

297

2,314

143

2

.

Estonia Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

55

7

86

6

86

2

Exchange Work

53

8

.

1

86

4

172

.

Finland Working Holiday Scheme

3

3

51

3

216

12

172

13

France Working Holiday Scheme

84

4

1,351

12

6,246

35

6,812

44

General

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Germany Working Holiday Scheme

70

12

993

13

6,453

48

6,262

38

Global Impact Visa

12

.

27

.

167

6

4

11

Hong Kong Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

106

13

208

20

187

23

Hungary Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

100

.

197

3

99

1

IPT Order

69

.

87

.

104

.

77

.

Ireland Working Holiday Scheme

35

4

501

5

1,501

17

1,225

14

Israel Working Holiday Scheme

9

.

17

.

151

8

154

10

Italy Working Holiday Scheme

62

3

325

15

1,440

47

1,362

41

Japan Working Holiday Scheme

100

4

371

23

2,404

49

3,844

58

Japanese interpreter

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

3

Korea Working Holiday scheme

.

.

566

5

1,880

121

1,240

52

Latvia Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

51

.

104

6

58

3

Lithuania Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

201

.

100

.

Long Term Business (Balance of 3 years)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Long Term Business (Change of plan)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Long Term Business (Interim)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Long Term Business (Reconsideration)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Long Term Business (Renewal)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Long Term Skill Shortage List Occupation

1,670

486

1,335

360

36

53

7

37

Luxembourg Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

6

2

18

7

22

11

Malaysia Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

1,151

3

2,280

10

1,147

5

Malta Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

7

2

6

5

Medical & dental trainee

.

.

.

.

80

2

138

.

Mexico Working Holiday Scheme

2

     

197

 

Migrant exploitation protection

.

     

2,070

 

NZ racing conference apprentice

8

     

7

 

Netherlands Working Holiday Scheme

32

     

987

 

Norway Working Holiday Scheme

4

     

63

 

Partner of AEWV (conditional)

.

     

9,262

 

Partner of AEWV (open)

.

     

3,366

 

Partner of Entrepreneur

11

     

26

 

Partner of Military Personnel

12

     

8

 

Partner of NZAID Student

38

     

52

 

Partner of Student

1,598

     

3,936

 

Partner of a worker

16,458

     

7,458

 

Partnership

12,859

     

16,438

 

Partnership deferral

.

     

.

 

Peru Working Holiday Scheme

.

     

89

 

Philippines Working Holiday Scheme

.

     

102

 

Poland Working Holiday Scheme

.

     

52

 

Portugal Working Holiday Scheme

1

     

50

 

Post-study – Employer Assisted

.

     

.

 

Post-study – Open

15,228

     

5,319

 

RSE Variation of Conditions

2,810

     

.

 

RSE VoC Critical Purpose

2,260

     

.

 

Recognised Antarctic Programme

.

     

.

 

Recognised Seasonal Employer

15,135

     

18,986

 

Reconsideration

305

     

62

 

Religious Trainees

19

     

77

 

Religious Worker

318

     

847

 

Replacement Working Holiday Visa-Covid 19

.

     

.

 

Section 61

981

     

1,103

 

Silver Fern Job Search

.

     

.

 

Silver Fern Practical Experience

36

     

.

 

Singapore Working Holiday Scheme

.

     

283

 

Skilled Migrant

.

     

702

 

Slovakia Working Holiday Scheme

.

     

101

 

Slovenia Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

55

1

82

58

2

 

South Island Contribution

252

6

252

3

2

.

1

 

Spain Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

194

7

638

864

13

 

Specialist skills

.

.

1

.

.

1

.

 

Specific Purpose or event

1,670

154

1,820

563

8,509

7,717

474

 

Supplementary Seasonal Employment

4,880

81

249

47

1,436

969

128

 

Sweden Working Holiday Scheme

9

2

73

4

316

307

15

 

Taiwan Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

564

3

634

1,111

6

 

Talent (Accredited Employer)

3,773

154

7,780

339

163

39

91

 

Talent – Arts, Culture and Sports

34

38

42

22

22

29

30

 

Thailand Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

195

93

15

 

Turkey Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

201

101

2

 

Ukraine 2022

.

.

721

13

568

578

32

 

United Kingdom Working Holiday Scheme

1,712

116

1,987

113

6,954

10,210

429

 

United States Working Holiday Scheme

133

28

1,012

33

3,569

2,889

149

 

Uruguay Working Holiday Scheme

.

.

.

.

624

195

1

 

VOC Critical Purpose

3,609

162

1,659

37

13

.

.

 

Variation of Conditions

21,019

818

12,489

1,221

11,811

10,840

639

 

Victims of Domestic Violence

114

8

94

1

56

131

15

 

Victims of People Trafficking

1

.

.

.

.

12

14

 

Vietnam Working Holiday Scheme

.

1

.

.

200

100

6

 

WHS Extension

3,091

147

16

8

768

5,308

92

 

Work experience for student

8

3

3

1

320

325

33

 

Total

152,170

7,636

173,863

6,459

226,057

200,573

10,420

 

Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

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About ICL Immigration

ICL Immigration, based in Auckland, is an established licensed immigration adviser and immigration consultant with over 20 years of experience. We’ve helped over 1,000 immigrants realize their New Zealand settlement dreams.

We specialize in various visa services, including student, residency, work visas and business-related services like employer accreditation. We ensure personalised solutions for individuals and businesses aiming to navigate New Zealand’s immigration landscape successfully.

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