Cyclone Gabrielle and other extreme weather events have devastated many communities and businesses in the North Island. The Recovery Visa (a Specific Purpose Work Visa) is for migrant workers who are assisting with the recovery.
Migrants can apply now through the Specific Purpose Work visa.
Roles covered by this visa
The visa is for migrant workers coming to New Zealand for a short time (up to 6 months) to do a job that supports the North Island recovery from extreme weather events in January and February 2023.
This support can include:
- providing emergency response
- immediate clean-up
- assessing risk or loss
- infrastructure, building and housing stabilisation and/or repair (including planning functions)
- work that directly supports the recovery (e.g. producing relevant materials for road rebuild, transport drivers etc).
Employers must confirm that the role supports the North Island recovery from extreme weather events by completing a Recovery Visa Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1377). Migrants must include the completed form with their application.
This visa is not available to industries providing indirect support (e.g. businesses in the affected areas facing an increased demand for services) or to backfill vacancies of people leaving roles to work on the recovery.
These employers will be able to access labour through other visas such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Changes are being considered to the AEWV to support faster processing for identified roles that will support the recovery and rebuild. These roles will be exempt from the labour market test.
The Recovery Visa is not limited to roles in the North Island only, recognising that some direct support industries will be South Island-based. Employers do not have to be accredited.
Applying for the Recovery Visa
Employer finds migrant workers
Employer finds migrant workers who meet the requirements in assisting with the recovery.
Employer completes Employer Supplementary Form
Employer downloads and completes the Recovery Visa – Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1377) and provides it to the migrant.
Migrant applies for the visa
Migrant worker completes a Specific Purpose Work visa application.
If applying online they must:
- select ‘Specific Purpose or Event’ as the type of work visa they are applying for.
- select ‘Recovery Visa’ as the type of specific purpose or event they are coming to New Zealand for.
- select ‘6 months or less’ as the length of stay in New Zealand.
- upload the Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1377) as the ‘Evidence required for your Special Purpose or Event work visa’ in the ‘Upload Documents’ section.
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE USING THE LINK BELOW:
