Moving In

How to get started

You'll need a confirmed offer of employment before you move to New Zealand.
To find out what jobs are available, check the following websites for vacancies.

Seek

Trade me

Canz job portal

What Visa do I need?

There are currently two work visas available for skilled crane operators who require a visa to work in New Zealand.*

As of 2023, there is also an option to apply for residency if you meet the criteria.

*People from Australia do not require a visa to work in New Zealand.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) allows employers to hire migrants for
up to 3 years
Employers must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand to be able to hire migrants on this visa
After working on this visa for 2 years, there are options to apply for New Zealand residency*.

*This was approved for Skilled Crane Operators in December 2022. Details on how to apply for residency will be released in the first half of 2023.

Specific Purposes Work Visa

The Specific Purposes Work Visa allows migrants to come into New Zealand for a specific purpose or event
This includes migrants who are travelling to New Zealand to assist with working in the recovery from extreme weather events in January and February 2023.
This visa usually lasts around 6 months and is for temporary work in New Zealand

What About Qualifications?

Only crane operators with qualifications and experience can apply to work in New Zealand. Your local qualifications can't be converted to New Zealand ones, but they do count towards your eligibility to work here.

If you do secure a job here, your employer will provide any additional training you need to work in New Zealand.