How to work in New Zealand: Jobs for Filipinos, requirements and more

Many Filipinos are choosing overseas employment for more international exposure and a higher salary, and New Zealand is a much sought-after destination. With a strong demand for skilled professionals, a high quality of life, and beautiful nature, New Zealand offers competitive wages, excellent healthcare, and a nice balance of work and play.

Relatively safe and welcoming for foreign workers, New Zealand continues to rank high on the list of top destinations for overseas Filipinos. In this blog post, we’ll look at what you need to pursue a job opportunity in the Land of the Long White Cloud, visa requirements, and how to go about your job hunt. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

Can Filipinos Work in New Zealand?

As of 2025, there are approximately 100,000 Filipinos living and working in New Zealand.¹ This number has been steadily rising since the 1990’s, as cultural exchanges and tourism further enhance the mutual understanding between Filipinos and New Zealanders.

Types of New Zealand Work Visas for Filipinos

To work in New Zealand as a Filipino, there are several visa options available, and some are specific to the Philippines.

Working Holiday Visa

Under a bilateral agreement, young Filipinos can apply for a one-year working holiday visa, allowing them to work temporary jobs in order to pay for their travel. You’ll need to be aged 18 to 30 and have a tertiary qualification with at least three years of full-time study.

You’ll also need to show a bank statement with NZ$4,200 (approx. PHP 140,000) in available funds to support yourself during your stay. In addition, you need comprehensive medical insurance, proof of English proficiency like an IELTS, health checks, and a police certificate showing a clean criminal record.²

The Working Holiday Visa allows you to stay up to 12 months, and the processing time is approximately two weeks. The bad news is that there are only 100 slots allocated each year to Filipinos who want this type of visa, so depending on when applications start, you might need to keep a sharp eye out for the specific date.

Skilled Worker Visa

New Zealand also issues a limited number of visas to Filipinos who are qualified farm managers, engineering professionals, or registered nurses. Again, these are extremely limited, and the government gives visas for only 20 farm managers, 20 engineering professionals, and 100 registered nurses.

Entrepreneur Work Visa

This visa is for experienced business professionals who want to establish or buy a business in New Zealand. You’ll get a 12-month startup visa that’s renewable for up to three years as your business develops.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

If you’ve gotten a job offer for full-time work of at least 30 hours a week, you can apply for this visa. You’ll need to demonstrate English proficiency and meet other requirements, but this visa is highly sought after, as you can stay up to five years depending on your job, experience, and skill level.

Specific Purpose Work Visa

If you are a Filipino nurse who wants to get occupational registration in New Zealand, you can work in New Zealand for up to three months to achieve that.

Student or Trainee Work Visa

If you are a student or trainee who wants to get practical work experience in your field, this visa might be for you. Some examples of trainees are dental, medical, and jockey apprentices.

Seasonal Work Visas

If you are in the horticulture and viticulture industries, you can apply for a seasonal visa. You’ll need a job offer from a Recognised Seasonal Employer before you apply.

Come December 2025, the government will also launch two new visas to ease labor shortages in the agriculture and tourism industries. The Global Workforce Season Visa (GWSV) is valid up to three years, and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) is valid for up to seven months.³

Requirements to Work in New Zealand for Filipinos

In addition to the appropriate visa that you need to apply for, there are also several documents that you’ll need to show. Here’s a checklist of what to expect:

• Your Philippine passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay duration
• Job offer from a New Zealand employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand
• Education qualifications, trade certificates, or relevant work experience that match the role you’re applying for
• English language proficiency test, like the IELTS
• Health certificate
• Police clearance
• Certain visas will require you to show a bank account statement to prove you have enough funds to support yourself throughout your stay.

New Zealand Jobs for Filipinos

If you were wondering about New Zealand job hiring for Filipino workers, here’s a list of the most popular sectors for Filipinos and some average salaries that you can expect.

1. Healthcare Jobs

New Zealand’s healthcare industry is flourishing, and there is a strong demand for Filipinos, especially in areas such as nursing and elder care. Nurses earn an average of NZD 65,000 to $85,000 per year (around PHP 2.1M to 2.8M), depending on experience and specialization.

Caregivers can expect about NZD 51,000 to $58,000 annually (approximately PHP 1.6M to 1.9M).

2. Agricultural Jobs

New Zealand has a large agricultural industry, and farm workers are highly sought after, especially if you have experience. Filipinos often take on agricultural roles like dairy farm help and crop pickers, especially if you are on the Working Holiday Visa and want a quick, temporary way to fund your travels.

A farm worker typically earns around NZD 43,500 per year (PHP 1.7M) and up to NZD 55,000 (PHP 2.1M) for more experienced or managerial roles. Crop workers may earn NZD 23 to 24 per hour, which translates to roughly PHP 900 to 940 per hour.⁴

3. Entertainer Jobs

Musicians, performers, or other entertainers enjoy a vibrant arts scene in New Zealand. The average base salary is about NZD 75,000 per year, which is roughly PHP 2.8M. Some entertainers can earn close to 100,000 (PHP 3.7m) depending on the types of gigs, experience, and popularity.

4. Tourism and Hospitality Jobs

Tourism in New Zealand continues to thrive, and Filipinos are in high demand for the hospitality sector, like hotels, cafes, tour agencies, and events. On average, hospitality roles can pay between NZD 52,000 and 62,000 per year (around PHP 2.0M to 2.4M), and managers can earn close to NZD 100,000 (PHP 3.7 M).⁵

How to Apply for Jobs in New Zealand from the Philippines

Unless you are one of the 100 lucky Filipinos who get to have a Working Holiday Visa, you’ll need a job offer from an accredited employer. Once you’ve got the job offer in hand, you can prepare the necessary documents to apply for the visa.

There is an extensive list of documents required for a successful visa application, like a clean police certificate, health checks, a CV, educational qualifications, and an English language proficiency test like the IELTS.

You can choose to navigate the visa application process by yourself, or you can use a reputable visa agent. Once your visa is approved, you can then arrange travel to New Zealand and your new life!

Where to Apply for Jobs in New Zealand?

If you’re ready to start looking for New Zealand jobs for Filipinos, here’s a quick list to help you get started.

Seek - This is one of New Zealand’s largest job boards, where you can find positions from entry-level to executive.

POEA - This job board has listings for many overseas destinations, and you can filter them by specific countries.

Indeed - Indeed compiles jobs from numerous sources such as company websites and recruitment agencies.

Working in New Zealand - Not only does this board have listings across all industries, but it also has loads of helpful advice on how to smoothly relocate to New Zealand.

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1. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade
2. New Zealand Immigration - Working Holiday Visa
3. New Zealand Immigration - Types of Work Visas
4. Careers Govt NZ
5. Careers Govt NZ - Hospitality Sector