Highlights: New Zealand announces the Salary Threshold work visa applicants
- New Zealand has introduced new wage rules for foreign workers applying for work visas.
- Work visas in New Zealand will be approved for applicants who meet the minimum salary threshold for specific work permit categories.
- The new salary threshold is associated with the national median wage and job market rates in New Zealand.
- Immigration New Zealand will also check the hourly wages criteria while approving work permits for foreign nationals.
- Several visa categories, including Accredited Employer work visas, work-to-residence permits, and skilled migrant programs, will be affected by the revised wages criteria.
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New Zealand to approve work visas for applicants meeting salary thresholds in 2026
Immigration New Zealand has recently announced a new wage threshold for foreign workers seeking to work in the country. Foreign nationals applying for a New Zealand work visa must secure a job that meets the minimum salary requirement. The country updated its salary threshold for foreign workers to determine whether a job offer qualifies for certain work visas.
New Zealand’s revised wages rule assesses eligibility for immigration pathways, including Accredited Employer work visas, work-to-residence permits, and skilled migrant programs.
Immigration authorities have also decided to verify the hourly wages of foreign workers to confirm that the job meets the threshold for the visa category.
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Factors affecting the wage threshold
Wages for international workers in New Zealand are determined by the national median wage and are updated frequently based on labour market data.
National median wages
The minimum salary thresholds for different work visas in New Zealand are linked to the national median wage in the country. New Zealand’s median wages are updated regularly based on labour market statistics. Upon an increase in median wages, the associated immigration threshold will also rise.
The wage rates in immigration assessments are estimated on an hourly basis and expressed in New Zealand dollars.
Note: Existing foreign workers in New Zealand do not have to meet the revised threshold until their current work permit expires.
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Labour market rates
Work visa salary thresholds are set based on market pay rates in New Zealand. This refers to the average salary that residents of the country earn for a similar job. Depending on industry standards and work experience, these factors affect the average salary requirements for foreign nationals in the country.
New Zealand has also set other wage-related standards, which include the national minimum wage and occupation-specific pay levels.
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Types of New Zealand work visas affected by the Minimum Wages Rule
The following New Zealand work visa categories fall under the newly announced salary threshold requirement:
- Accredited Employer work visas.
- Visas connected to residence pathways(work-to-residence and skilled migrant programs).
- Visas for seasonal workers, fishing crew members, and partners of workers.
Note: Immigration authorities in New Zealand have advised foreign nationals to check the salary criteria for their work visa category before submitting an application.
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