🇳🇿 New Zealand visas for Filipinos
Last verified: September 2, 2026
Filipinos moving to New Zealand have 2 main visa routes: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Skilled Migrant Category Residence. The fastest is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) at 8–20 weeks. Every requirement below links to the official government source.
Compare New Zealand visas
| Visa | Processing | Gov. fee | Job offer | Family | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)work | 8–20 weeks | $450 | Required | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled Migrant Category Residencework | 16–40 weeks | $3,000 | Required | Yes | Yes |
New Zealand visa guides for Filipinos
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
workNew Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa, valid up to five years, widely used for care, construction and trades roles. There are two parallel processes to satisfy: the New Zealand side, where your employer must hold accreditation and pass a job check, and the Philippine side, where the Department of Migrant Workers requires your employer's job offer to be verified through POLO at the Philippine Embassy in Wellington before you can obtain your Overseas Employment Certificate. The OEC is a mandatory exit clearance — required even for direct hires with no agency involved — and without it you will not be allowed to leave. Note the median wage was removed from the AEWV itself in March 2025, so pay must be market rate, but the NZD $35.00 median wage still governs supporting a partner and qualifying for residence.
Skilled Migrant Category Residence
workPermanent residence through the points system, restructured on 24 August 2026 into three pathways: the existing 6-point route, plus new Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways — the last of which matters for Filipino tradespeople and carers, whose experience previously counted for less than academic qualifications. You need six points from qualifications, occupational registration or income. Wage assessment at the residence application stage has been removed, so the median wage need only have been met when your skilled work experience began. Green List Tier 1 roles, including many nursing and health occupations heavily recruited from the Philippines, go Straight to Residence with a qualifying job offer, skipping the work visa stage entirely.
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Check my eligibilityFrequently asked questions
- What is the fastest New Zealand visa for Filipinos?
- The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) typically processes in 8–20 weeks, the shortest of the 2 routes we track. Add time for gathering documents, translations, and apostilles.
- Can Filipinos move to New Zealand without a job offer?
- Every New Zealand route we track for Filipinos currently requires a job offer from an employer in New Zealand.
- What is the cheapest New Zealand visa for Filipinos?
- The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has the lowest government fee at about $450. Translations, apostilles, insurance, and courier costs come on top of every route.
- Which New Zealand visas let Filipinos bring family?
- The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the Skilled Migrant Category Residence allow accompanying family members with additional documentation.
- Which New Zealand visas lead to permanent residency for Filipinos?
- The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the Skilled Migrant Category Residence offer a path to permanent residency after the qualifying period.