New Zealand employers continue to recruit experienced professionals in healthcare, technology, engineering, infrastructure, aerospace, manuflaries of NZ$110,000 or more are realistic in senior software engineering, project management, specialist healthcare, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, technical leadership and other advanced professional roles.
However, a company advertising high-paying jobs does not necessarily offer immigration support for every vacancy.
The employer must normally be accredited before it can employ a worker through the Accredited Employer Work Visa system. The particular position must also meet New Zealand immigration and employment requirements, and the candidate must possess the qualifications, experience, registration and language ability needed for the role.
This guide identifies New Zealand employers worth monitoring in 2026, the positions that may pay NZ$110,000 or more, the main employer-supported visa routes and the steps foreign professionals can take when applying from abroad.
What Does Visa Sponsorship Mean in New Zealand?
“Visa sponsorship” is an informal phrase used by international job seekers.
Under New Zealand’s system, an employer does not issue a visa or determine the immigration outcome.
The employer may:
- Obtain or maintain employer accreditation
- Complete a job check where required
- Offer a genuine position
- Provide an employment agreement
- Send the worker the necessary application link
- Confirm the salary, working hours and job location
- Support professional registration
- Provide immigration assistance
- Offer relocation benefits
- Help the employee settle in New Zealand
The foreign worker then applies for the relevant work visa or residence visa.
For the Accredited Employer Work Visa, the employment agreement must be with an accredited employer that complies with New Zealand immigration and employment law. The visa is employer-specific, meaning the worker is generally limited to the employer, occupation and location stated in the visa conditions. he Minimum Salary for Sponsorship?
No.
NZ$110,000 is not the general minimum salary for an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
New Zealand removed the broad median-wage requirement from the AEWV system in March 2025. Employers must still pay at least the legal minimum wage and the market rate for the particular occupation.
A market-rate salary means compensation within the normal range paid to New Zealand citizens and residents performing comparable work. hways and family-visa settings continue to use salary thresholds.
From 9 March 2026, New Zealand’s immigration median wage became NZ$35 per hour. This rate affects selected Green List, residence and family-support settings. f NZ$110,000 is equivalent to approximately:
- NZ$9,167 gross per month
- NZ$2,115 gross per week
- NZ$52.88 per hour based on a 40-hour week
This salary is above the 2026 immigration median wage, but the applicant must still satisfy every condition attached to the visa or residence pathway.
Is an NZ$110,000 Salary Realistic?
Yes, particularly for experienced professionals.
Current New Zealand salary information indicates that:
- Technical leads may earn approximately NZ$135,000 to NZ$155,000
- Technical specialists may earn approximately NZ$120,000 to NZ$140,000
- Software engineers commonly reach around NZ$110,000
- Civil engineers commonly earn around NZ$105,000, with senior professionals earning more
- Quality engineers may earn approximately NZ$100,000 to NZ$110,000
- Senior project-management vacancies can exceed NZ$140,000
- Specialist healthcare and medical roles may substantially exceed NZ$110,000
These are market indications rather than promised salaries. oyers to Monitor in 2026
1. Health New Zealand — Te Whatu Ora
Health New Zealand is one of the clearest employers for international recruitment.
It publicly states that it actively recruits overseas health professionals from comparable healthcare systems. It also provides international candidates with support through its Health Immigration Service.
The support may include:
- Immigration information
- Access to licensed immigration advisers
- Candidate guidance
- Support for immediate family members
- Relocation information
- Assistance transitioning into the New Zealand health system
Health New Zealand maintains vacancies across hospitals, community services and specialist healthcare facilities throughout the country. onitor
- Specialist physician
- Consultant doctor
- Psychiatrist
- Anaesthetist
- Radiologist
- Emergency medicine specialist
- General practitioner
- Senior registered nurse
- Nurse practitioner
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Sonographer
- Occupational therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Healthcare manager
Positions that may exceed NZ$110,000
Senior medical, specialist, clinical-leadership and healthcare-management roles may pay above NZ$110,000.
Some allied-health and nursing positions may fall below that figure unless they involve advanced practice, management, overtime or senior responsibilities.
Important requirement
International health professionals normally need registration with the relevant New Zealand professional authority.
An employment offer does not replace:
- Medical registration
- Nursing registration
- Competence assessment
- English-language requirements
- Police checks
- Health requirements
- Professional indemnity obligations
2. Transpower New Zealand
Transpower owns and operates New Zealand’s national electricity transmission network.
It recruits professionals in:
- Electrical engineering
- Power systems
- Grid planning
- Asset management
- Information technology
- Cybersecurity
- Data
- Environmental planning
- Project management
- Infrastructure delivery
Transpower explicitly states that it is an accredited employer and welcomes applications from international candidates who meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirements.
For roles involving clear skill shortages, the company may also provide a financial contribution towards relocation, subject to management approval and its relocation policy. onitor
- Senior electrical engineer
- Power-systems engineer
- Protection engineer
- Project manager
- Programme manager
- Asset-management specialist
- Enterprise architect
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Data engineer
- Environmental planning manager
- Grid-development engineer
Possible salary range
NZ$110,000–NZ$190,000 or more
The strongest salaries are more likely in senior engineering, technical architecture, programme leadership and specialist grid positions.
Why Transpower is important
It is one of the strongest examples of a major New Zealand employer publicly confirming both:
- Accredited-employer status
- Willingness to consider qualifying international applicants
Candidates must still meet the specific requirements of the vacancy.
3. Xero
Xero is a New Zealand-founded global software company with major operations in Auckland and Wellington.
Its careers portal lists vacancies across:
- Software engineering
- Security engineering
- Data science
- Product management
- Customer technology
- Cloud platforms
- Technical leadership
- Compliance technology
- Business systems
Xero continued to advertise senior engineering and other professional opportunities during 2026. may pay over NZ$110,000
- Senior software engineer
- Technical lead
- Engineering manager
- Site-reliability engineer
- Security engineer
- Data engineer
- Product manager
- Solutions architect
- Platform engineer
Possible salary range
NZ$110,000–NZ$180,000 or more
New Zealand technical-lead salaries currently average approximately NZ$135,000 to NZ$155,000. nsideration
Xero’s status as a global technology employer does not mean that every vacancy includes immigration support.
Applicants should check whether the job advertisement:
- Accepts candidates outside New Zealand
- Requires existing work rights
- Provides relocation support
- Provides immigration assistance
- Is available to Accredited Employer Work Visa applicants
4. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare designs, manufactures and markets medical devices and healthcare products internationally.
Its New Zealand operations recruit professionals in:
- Product development
- Manufacturing engineering
- Process engineering
- Quality systems
- Operations engineering
- Software
- Regulatory affairs
- Research and development
- Supply chain
- Finance
Its 2026 careers portal included permanent positions for operations engineers, senior product-development engineers, systems specialists, quality engineers and other technical professionals. onitor
- Senior product-development engineer
- Operations engineering manager
- Quality systems manager
- Regulatory-affairs manager
- Senior systems specialist
- Process-development engineer
- Software engineering lead
- Manufacturing engineering manager
- Research and development manager
Possible salary range
NZ$100,000–NZ$160,000 or more
Senior technical, management and highly specialised medical-device positions are the most likely to exceed NZ$110,000.
Competitive skills
Applicants may benefit from experience in:
- Medical devices
- Regulated manufacturing
- Quality-management systems
- Automation
- Electronics
- Software
- Product development
- Six Sigma
- Lean manufacturing
- Process validation
Recent engineering vacancies requested relevant engineering qualifications and experience in regulated manufacturing, automation, quality and advanced manufacturing systems. nterra is one of New Zealand’s largest organisations and a major international dairy and food company.
It recruits professionals across:
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Automation
- Research and development
- Food technology
- Supply chain
- Sustainability
- Information technology
- Data
- Finance
- Asset management
Fonterra advertised engineering positions during 2026, including research engineering, control-systems deployment and senior technical roles. may reach NZ$110,000
- Senior process engineer
- Control-systems engineer
- Engineering manager
- Research engineer
- Senior food technologist
- Asset manager
- Automation engineer
- Supply-chain manager
- IT manager
- Data-platform specialist
- Senior project manager
Possible salary range
NZ$105,000–NZ$180,000 or more
Senior leadership, plant engineering, automation and major capital-project positions may offer the strongest compensation.
Sponsorship consideration
Fonterra operates internationally, but applicants should not assume every vacancy is open to people outside New Zealand.
Check the posting for:
- Work-authorisation requirements
- Relocation assistance
- Accredited-employer support
- Occupational registration
- Location-specific requirements
6. Datacom
Datacom is a major technology-services company with operations across New Zealand and Australia.
It provides services in:
- Cloud computing
- Cybersecurity
- Software development
- Data centres
- Managed services
- Digital applications
- Consulting
- Artificial intelligence
- Enterprise systems
Datacom’s New Zealand job portal showed a substantial number of vacancies during 2026, covering several cities and technology specialisations. sitions to monitor
- Cloud architect
- Solutions architect
- Cybersecurity consultant
- Technical lead
- Software engineering manager
- Data architect
- Enterprise architect
- Programme manager
- Infrastructure specialist
- SAP consultant
- Service-delivery manager
Possible salary range
NZ$110,000–NZ$190,000 or more
Technical-specialist salaries in New Zealand average approximately NZ$120,000 to NZ$140,000, while senior architects and programme leaders may earn more. nt profiles
Competitive international applicants may have:
- Extensive cloud experience
- Cybersecurity certifications
- Enterprise architecture experience
- Major transformation projects
- Vendor qualifications
- Government or regulated-sector experience
- Strong stakeholder-management skills
7. Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand recruits professionals across aviation, engineering, digital technology, data and commercial operations.
Its current careers portal included 2026 positions such as:
- Senior software engineer
- Data engineer for artificial intelligence
- Enterprise architect
- Resilience specialist
- Senior workforce specialist
- Commercial and sustainability professionals
The airline advertised permanent senior software and data positions in Auckland during August 2026. may exceed NZ$110,000
- Senior software engineer
- Senior data engineer
- Enterprise architect
- Digital programme manager
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Aviation engineer
- Senior commercial manager
- Technical operations manager
- Jet-fleet pilot
- Engineering leadership roles
Possible salary range
NZ$110,000–NZ$220,000 or more
SEEK’s 2026 industry estimate places software-engineer salaries at Air New Zealand between approximately NZ$104,000 and NZ$140,000. efits
Depending on the position, benefits may include:
- Discounted staff travel
- Partner-airline travel benefits
- Flexible leave
- Professional development
- Hybrid work for selected office positions
Immigration support remains role-specific.
8. Fulton Hogan
Fulton Hogan is a major infrastructure, construction and civil-engineering company operating in New Zealand and Australia.
Its work includes:
- Roads
- Water infrastructure
- Civil construction
- Transport
- Utilities
- Asphalt
- Maintenance
- Major public works
The company was actively recruiting across New Zealand in 2026, including engineering and infrastructure positions. may pay NZ$110,000 or more
- Civil project manager
- Construction manager
- Senior project engineer
- Three-waters engineer
- Commercial manager
- Quantity surveyor
- Contract manager
- Senior estimator
- Infrastructure programme manager
- Health and safety manager
Possible salary range
NZ$110,000–NZ$180,000 or more
Project-management vacancies in New Zealand can exceed NZ$145,000, particularly in commercial construction, infrastructure and major project delivery. applicant considerations
Applicants should confirm:
- Whether the role accepts overseas candidates
- Whether professional registration is required
- Whether New Zealand construction experience is essential
- Whether the employer will support an AEWV
- Whether relocation assistance is provided
9. Downer New Zealand
Downer delivers infrastructure, transport, utilities, water and engineering services throughout New Zealand.
Its recruitment activity in 2026 included positions in:
- Project management
- Water infrastructure
- Electrical engineering
- Transport
- Construction
- Asset maintenance
- Utilities
- Civil engineering
Current listings included project-management and project-engineering opportunities within New Zealand. may exceed NZ$110,000
- Project manager
- Senior project engineer
- Electrical project engineer
- Construction manager
- Contract manager
- Operations manager
- Commercial manager
- Water-infrastructure manager
- Asset manager
Possible salary range
NZ$105,000–NZ$180,000 or more
Salaries depend heavily on the project, seniority, location and whether the package includes a vehicle, allowances or performance benefits.
Sponsorship consideration
Downer operates across New Zealand and Australia, but work-authorisation support should be confirmed in the specific vacancy.
Do not rely solely on a general careers advertisement.
10. Aurecon and Other Major Engineering Consultancies
Aurecon is an international engineering, design and advisory company with offices throughout New Zealand.
It recruits professionals in:
- Civil engineering
- Transport
- Water
- Structural engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Digital engineering
- Environmental science
- Project management
- Infrastructure advisory
- Energy
Its 2026 New Zealand careers pages continued to advertise engineering pathways and professional opportunities across the country. tancies worth monitoring include:
- Stantec New Zealand
- Tonkin + Taylor
- WSP New Zealand
- Beca
- GHD
- AECOM
Stantec maintains engineering, planning, environmental and project-management operations across New Zealand. may pay over NZ$110,000
- Principal civil engineer
- Senior structural engineer
- Technical director
- Principal geotechnical engineer
- Transport-planning lead
- Water-infrastructure manager
- Senior project manager
- Engineering team leader
- Environmental planning manager
Possible salary range
NZ$110,000–NZ$200,000 or more
The highest salaries are normally associated with chartered status, technical leadership, major-project responsibility and people management.
Salary Comparison
| Occupation | Indicative annual salary |
|---|---|
| Technical lead | NZ$135,000–NZ$155,000 |
| Technical specialist | NZ$120,000–NZ$140,000 |
| Senior software engineer | NZ$110,000–NZ$160,000+ |
| Solutions architect | NZ$140,000–NZ$200,000+ |
| Data engineer | NZ$110,000–NZ$160,000+ |
| Cybersecurity specialist | NZ$110,000–NZ$170,000+ |
| Engineering manager | NZ$130,000–NZ$200,000+ |
| Civil project manager | NZ$120,000–NZ$180,000+ |
| Senior civil engineer | NZ$110,000–NZ$160,000+ |
| Electrical engineer | NZ$105,000–NZ$160,000+ |
| Quality or regulatory manager | NZ$110,000–NZ$160,000+ |
| Specialist medical practitioner | NZ$170,000–NZ$300,000+ |
| Senior healthcare manager | NZ$120,000–NZ$190,000+ |
| Commercial manager | NZ$130,000–NZ$190,000+ |
These are indicative gross salary ranges. They are not guaranteed earnings or universal rates for every company.
Main Visa Route: Accredited Employer Work Visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is the main temporary route used by New Zealand employers recruiting foreign workers.
The visa requires a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer.
General requirements
An applicant normally needs:
- A genuine offer from an accredited employer
- An approved position
- An employment agreement
- Market-rate pay
- At least 30 hours of work per week
- Relevant qualifications or experience
- Occupational registration where required
- English-language ability where applicable
- Acceptable health
- Acceptable character
The visa application fee currently starts from approximately NZ$1,540. The maximum period can be up to five years for many higher-skilled occupations, although some roles have a shorter maximum stay. equirement
AEWV applicants must generally show either:
- At least two years of relevant employment experience, or
- A qualification at Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework
The qualification or experience should normally relate to the position.
A bachelor’s degree or higher may satisfy the basic qualification criterion even where it is in another field, although the employer can still demand job-specific qualifications.
A CV alone is not sufficient evidence of experience. Immigration New Zealand may expect supporting documents such as payslips, tax records, certificates of employment and independently verifiable reference letters. e requirement
Applicants in some skill-level-three, four and five occupations must provide evidence that they can speak and understand English.
Senior professional jobs at skill levels one and two may not have the same AEWV examination requirement, although employers will still assess communication ability.
Green List Residence Pathways
The Green List identifies occupations New Zealand needs.
It is divided into two main tiers.
Tier 1: Straight to Residence
A qualifying applicant may apply for residence when they have an eligible Tier 1 job or job offer from an accredited employer.
Applicants normally must:
- Be 55 or younger
- Hold or have an offer for a qualifying Tier 1 occupation
- Meet the specified salary, qualification or registration requirement
- Meet English-language requirements
- Satisfy health and character requirements
The Straight to Residence Visa allows the holder to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Eligible partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger may be included. Residence
Tier 2 occupations generally require the worker to complete 24 months of qualifying employment in New Zealand before applying for residence.
The worker must normally:
- Work for an accredited employer
- Hold a qualifying Tier 2 position
- Meet the applicable pay requirement
- Accumulate the required New Zealand employment
- Meet the age, English, health and character conditions
The required work period remains 24 months within the relevant 30-month period. y rule
Where a Green List job does not have its own occupation-specific pay threshold, the required rate is generally at least NZ$35 per hour from 9 March 2026. Category
The Skilled Migrant Category is another potential residence pathway.
Applicants generally need:
- A skilled New Zealand job or job offer
- An accredited employer
- The required points
- English-language ability
- Acceptable health and character
- To be 55 or younger
Points may come from:
- Occupational registration
- Academic qualifications
- Income
- Skilled New Zealand work experience
A sufficiently high salary may contribute towards the points requirement, but NZ$110,000 does not automatically produce residence eligibility.
The applicant must satisfy the complete Skilled Migrant Category framework. Accredited Employer
New Zealand maintains an official accredited-employer search tool.
Before accepting a job, verify:
- Employer’s legal name
- New Zealand Business Number where available
- Accreditation status
- Accreditation expiry
- Trading name
- Employment location
- Contact information
The accredited-employer list helps applicants confirm whether a business is currently approved to hire workers through the AEWV system. not prove that:
- Every vacancy provides sponsorship
- The particular job has passed a job check
- The company selected you
- Your visa will be approved
- The salary is genuine
You must still verify the vacancy independently.
Documents Foreign Applicants Should Prepare
Personal documents
Prepare:
- Valid international passport
- Passport photographs
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate where applicable
- Police certificates
- Medical information where required
- Current contact information
Academic documents
Prepare:
- Degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- HND or OND certificate
- Trade qualification
- Apprenticeship records
- Professional certifications
- Course descriptions
- Qualification assessment where required
Foreign qualifications below bachelor’s level may need an International Qualification Assessment from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
Employment evidence
Prepare:
- Detailed employment reference letters
- Employment contracts
- Payslips
- Tax records
- Pension records
- Promotion letters
- Staff identity cards
- Project records
- Professional portfolio
Reference letters should ideally include:
- Job title
- Employment period
- Main responsibilities
- Working hours
- Salary
- Employer’s address
- Employer’s telephone number
- Name and position of the person signing
Professional registration documents
Depending on the occupation, prepare:
- Medical registration
- Nursing registration
- Engineering membership
- Teaching registration
- Electrical registration
- Occupational-therapy registration
- Physiotherapy registration
- Trade licence
- Chartered-professional status
How to Apply From Outside New Zealand
Step 1: Target the right occupation
Apply for positions that match your verifiable background.
Do not apply for unrelated technology, construction and healthcare jobs with the same CV.
Identify:
- Your strongest occupation
- Your seniority
- Your relevant qualifications
- Your professional registration
- Your measurable achievements
- Your realistic salary range
Step 2: Check whether the role can reach NZ$110,000
NZ$110,000 is most realistic for:
- Senior professionals
- Technical leads
- Chartered engineers
- Project managers
- Medical specialists
- Experienced architects
- Technology managers
- Commercial managers
- Senior cybersecurity professionals
Entry-level and junior positions generally pay less.
Step 3: Check the employer’s accreditation
Use the official accredited-employer register.
Search using the organisation’s legal name rather than relying only on the brand shown in the job advertisement.
Step 4: Read the work-authorization wording
Look for statements such as:
- International applicants are welcome
- Accredited Employer Work Visa support available
- Immigration assistance available
- Relocation support provided
- Overseas candidates considered
- Employer accreditation available
- Visa assistance for the successful candidate
Be cautious when the vacancy says:
- Must already have unrestricted New Zealand work rights
- Sponsorship is not available
- Applicants must currently live in New Zealand
- Citizens and residents only
Step 5: Prepare a New Zealand-style CV
A suitable CV should include:
- Professional summary
- Core skills
- Employment history
- Measurable achievements
- Qualifications
- Professional registration
- Certifications
- Technical tools
- Referees where appropriate
Avoid adding unnecessary information such as:
- Religion
- State of origin
- Bank details
- Passport number
- Political affiliation
Step 6: Use achievement-focused statements
Weak statement:
Responsible for software development.
Stronger statement:
Led the development of a cloud-based payments platform that processed more than 500,000 monthly transactions and reduced service interruptions by 27%.
Weak statement:
Worked as an electrical engineer.
Stronger statement:
Designed and commissioned power-distribution systems across four industrial facilities with a combined project value of NZ$18 million.
Weak statement:
Managed construction projects.
Stronger statement:
Delivered three commercial construction projects valued at NZ$42 million within approved safety, cost and programme targets.
Use only truthful and verifiable figures.
Step 7: Apply through official channels
Use:
- Company careers pages
- New Zealand job platforms
- Government health recruitment portals
- Engineering associations
- Professional bodies
- Reputable recruitment agencies
Where possible, apply through the company’s official website.
Step 8: Discuss immigration professionally
A suitable statement is:
I am currently based outside New Zealand and would require employer support under the appropriate accredited-employer work route. I have nine years of experience in cloud engineering and have led major infrastructure migrations in regulated organisations.
Explain the value you bring before focusing on the visa.
Step 9: Review the employment offer
Confirm:
- Legal employer name
- Job title
- Job description
- Salary
- Working hours
- Employment location
- Contract duration
- Probation terms
- Annual leave
- Relocation assistance
- Immigration responsibilities
- Professional-registration requirements
- Notice period
- Repayment clauses
The agreement must comply with New Zealand employment law.
Unacceptable bonding clauses that unlawfully require workers to repay money for leaving a job can cause problems for an AEWV application. rt
Some New Zealand employers provide relocation assistance for senior and difficult-to-fill positions.
Possible benefits include:
- Immigration assistance
- Licensed immigration adviser
- Visa-fee reimbursement
- Flights
- Temporary accommodation
- Airport pickup
- Household-goods shipment
- Rental assistance
- Family relocation
- Professional-registration fees
- Qualification-assessment fees
- Settlement support
- School information
Relocation support is not automatic.
Ask the employer whether the package:
- Covers the employee only
- Covers a spouse and children
- Is paid before travel
- Is reimbursed after arrival
- Has a maximum amount
- Must be repaid after early resignation
- Includes professional registration
- Includes temporary accommodation
Can Your Family Accompany You?
AEWV holders may be able to support visa applications for eligible partners and dependent children.
The available family visas depend on:
- The principal worker’s occupation
- Skill level
- Hourly wage
- Visa duration
- Green List status
- Current immigration rules
From 9 March 2026, an AEWV holder in a skill-level-one-to-three occupation generally needs to earn at least NZ$28 per hour to support a partner for a work visa.
Higher thresholds may apply to lower-skilled occupations, while qualifying Green List workers may use the NZ$35 hourly threshold. ry would normally exceed these wage figures, but the family applications must still meet their separate requirements.
Who Pays Recruitment Costs?
A New Zealand employer or recruiter cannot charge a foreign worker for a job or make the worker pay the employer’s recruitment costs.
Accredited employers are required to pay recruitment costs incurred inside and outside New Zealand.
The worker may still be responsible for personal expenses such as:
- Visa application fee
- Medical examination
- Police certificate
- Passport
- Personal immigration adviser
- Airfare where the employer does not cover it
- Qualification assessment
- Professional registration
Paying your personal visa expense is different from buying a job.
New Zealand immigration guidance states clearly that employers and agents cannot charge workers fees for employment or recover their recruitment costs from them. a New Zealand Job Scam
Be cautious when someone:
- Offers employment without an interview
- Asks you to pay for a job
- Sells an AEWV sponsorship slot
- Refuses to identify the employer
- Promises visa approval
- Uses a personal email address unrelated to the company
- Requests cryptocurrency
- Demands banking passwords
- Sends an inconsistent employment agreement
- Claims accreditation cannot be verified publicly
- Offers an unrealistic salary for basic work
- Requests payment to accelerate immigration processing
- Tells you to submit false experience
- Claims permanent residence is automatic
- Pressures you to transfer money immediately
New Zealand authorities continue to prosecute cases involving migrants who paid large sums for jobs that did not exist. r accreditation
- Official company website
- Recruiter identity
- Job advertisement
- Salary
- Physical address
- Employment agreement
- Company contact details
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all the companies in this article sponsor foreign workers?
No.
The companies are actively recruiting in New Zealand, recruit internationally in selected areas or are significant employers in occupations that may qualify for employer-supported visas.
Immigration support depends on the particular role.
Which company openly accepts international candidates?
Health New Zealand has a formal international-recruitment programme.
Transpower also confirms that it is an accredited employer and welcomes qualifying international applicants.
Other companies should be assessed vacancy by vacancy.
Can Nigerians apply?
Yes.
Qualified Nigerians may apply to New Zealand employers that accept international candidates.
They must satisfy the job, visa, registration, health and character requirements.
Do all New Zealand jobs pay NZ$110,000?
No.
NZ$110,000 salaries are more common in senior technology, engineering, healthcare, construction, energy and management positions.
Is NZ$110,000 enough for an AEWV?
There is no universal NZ$110,000 AEWV threshold.
The job must pay the legal minimum and the appropriate market rate.
Other residence and family settings may use separate salary requirements.
Do I need two years of work experience?
An AEWV applicant normally needs either two years of relevant experience or a qualifying Level 4 or higher qualification.
The employer may demand more experience for a senior NZ$110,000 position.
Can I apply without an agent?
Yes.
You can search for jobs, apply to companies and complete a visa application without hiring an agent.
Can a recruiter charge me for a job?
No.
Employers and recruiters acting for them must not charge workers for jobs or pass recruitment costs to them.
Can my spouse work?
Possibly.
The answer depends on the principal worker’s occupation, skill level, wage and visa conditions.
Can an AEWV lead to permanent residence?
Possibly.
Relevant pathways may include:
- Straight to Residence
- Work to Residence
- Skilled Migrant Category
- Other qualifying residence routes
Residence is a separate application.
Is professional registration required?
It is compulsory for several regulated occupations, including many healthcare, teaching, electrical and professional roles.
Can I change employers?
An AEWV is generally tied to a specific employer, occupation and location.
A worker may need a Job Change approval or another visa before beginning new employment.
Does the employer pay for relocation?
Some employers do, particularly for senior or shortage positions.
The relocation package must be confirmed in writing.
Final Thoughts
New Zealand companies continue to recruit experienced foreign professionals in 2026, and NZ$110,000 salaries are achievable in several specialist occupations.
Employers worth monitoring include:
- Health New Zealand
- Transpower
- Xero
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
- Fonterra
- Datacom
- Air New Zealand
- Fulton Hogan
- Downer
- Aurecon and other major engineering consultancies
The strongest opportunities are likely to be found in:
- Software engineering
- Technical leadership
- Cybersecurity
- Data engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Civil infrastructure
- Project management
- Healthcare
- Medical technology
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Commercial management
A competitive foreign applicant normally has:
- Relevant qualifications
- Verifiable work experience
- Measurable achievements
- Strong professional references
- Required occupational registration
- Clear English communication
- A New Zealand-style CV
- A genuine offer from an accredited employer
- A salary matching the market rate
Apply through official employer channels, verify accreditation independently and never pay someone to sell you an employment offer or visa sponsorship position.