INDIAN CITIZENS
India Iconic Work Visa New Zealand: Requirements, Fees and Places
The India Iconic Work Visa lets Indian citizens work in New Zealand for up to 3 years as a yoga instructor, Indian chef, music teacher or AYUSH practitioner. You need a full-time job offer from an accredited employer.
600
places at any one time across 4 occupations
3 years
maximum total stay on one or more India visas
No residence
no pathway to residence, no partner or children
WHO CAN APPLY
Who can apply for the India Iconic Work Visa
The India Iconic Work Visa was introduced on 20 October 2026 under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. It covers four professions that INZ describes as iconic to India.
- You are a citizen of the Republic of India with a valid Indian passport.
- You are outside New Zealand when you apply for your first visa.
- You hold an offer of full-time work (at least 30 hours a week) from an employer accredited under the AEWV policy.
- The job is yoga instructor, Indian chef, music teacher or AYUSH practitioner, and you meet the qualification and experience standard for it.
- You have an acceptable English test result sat in person at a test centre.
- You meet INZ health and character requirements and intend to meet the conditions of your visa.
- You have spent the required time outside New Zealand, if you have already used 3 years on an India Iconic or India Skilled Work Visa.
JOBS, CAPS AND REQUIREMENTS
India Iconic Work Visa jobs and what each one requires
Places are capped for each occupation. INZ only accepts an application while places remain, and refunds the application fee if there are none. As at 20 October 2026, all places were available.
| Occupation | Places | Qualification | Work experience | English minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoga instructor | 100 | Bachelor’s degree in yoga from an institution recognised by the Indian Federal Government | None stated by INZ | IELTS 5.0 in listening and speaking |
| Indian chef | 250 | Tertiary qualification in Indian cuisine, with at least 2 years of study at an institution recognised by the Indian Federal Government | At least 2 years after qualifying | IELTS 5.0 in listening and speaking |
| Music teacher | 50 | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent 3-year tertiary qualification in music; NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) if gained outside New Zealand | At least 2 years as a music teacher after qualifying | IELTS 6.5 overall |
| AYUSH practitioner | 200 | Bachelor’s degree in Indian traditional medicine or AYUSH systems, recognised by the Indian Ministry of Ayush, with at least 3 years of study | At least 4 years as a recognised practitioner | IELTS 6.5 overall |
- AYUSH fields: ayurveda, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and homeopathy. You cannot apply as a combined yoga and naturopathy practitioner. You apply as either a yoga instructor or a naturopathy AYUSH practitioner, if you meet that standard and places remain.
- Recognition bodies: university-level qualifications must come from an institution recognised by the University Grants Commission. Technical and diploma qualifications must be recognised by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training. AYUSH qualifications must be recognised by the University Grants Commission or the Ministry of Ayush.
- Work experience: it does not have to be consecutive or full-time, but it must add up to the required number of full-time years.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English language requirements for the India Iconic Work Visa
You must sit an approved test in person at a test centre. At-home tests are not accepted, and your result must be no more than 2 years old when you apply.
| Test | Yoga instructor and Indian chef | Music teacher and AYUSH practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | 5.0 or more in listening and speaking | Overall 6.5 or more |
| TOEFL iBT | 12 or more in listening and 14 or more in speaking | Overall 79 or more |
| PTE Academic | 36 or more in listening and speaking | Overall 58 or more |
| B2 First or B2 First for Schools | 154 or more in listening and speaking | Overall 176 or more |
WHAT YOU CAN DO
What the India Iconic Work Visa allows
The visa is tied to one job, one employer and one location. Any visa conditions are recorded on your eVisa.
Work in your approved job
You can work only in the job, for the employer and in the location stated on your visa. Your employer must keep offering at least 30 hours a week. A change means applying for a Job Change or variation of conditions.
Stay up to 3 years
Your visa length depends on your job offer. If you receive less than 3 years, you can apply for another visa for the remaining time, including from inside New Zealand.
Study and travel
You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. For longer study you need a student visa. You can travel in and out of New Zealand while the visa is valid.
BEFORE YOU DECIDE
What the India work visas do not give you
These limits apply to both the India Iconic Work Visa and the India Skilled Work Visa. They decide whether the visa suits your plans.
No partner or children
You cannot include a partner or dependent children in your application. INZ states they will not be eligible for a visa based on their relationship to you.
No pathway to residence
Time on this visa cannot count as skilled work experience for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, the Work to Residence Visa, the Transport Work to Residence Visa or the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa.
A 3-year stand-down
After 3 years in total on either India visa, you must spend at least 3 years outside New Zealand before you can hold an India Iconic or India Skilled Work Visa again.
Time counts toward other visas. Time on an India Iconic Work Visa counts toward your maximum stay on an AEWV, a Peak Seasonal Visa and an India Skilled Work Visa. Compare the India Skilled Work Visa and talk to an adviser before you choose a sequence.
DOCUMENTS
Documents you need for an India Iconic Work Visa application
Our licensed advisers will guide you on the exact documentation required for each of the key document categories.
- Identity
- Job offer
- Qualifications
- Work experience
- English
- Police certificates
- Health
HOW TO APPLY
How to apply for the India Iconic Work Visa
You must be outside New Zealand when you apply for your first visa. Applications are made on paper form INZ 1402.
1
Secure a job offer
An employer accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) policy must offer you full-time work of at least 30 hours a week in an eligible job.
2
Gather your documents
Collect your qualifications, work experience evidence, English test result, passport, medical and X-ray certificates and police certificates.
3
Lodge application
We prepare, finalise, and submit the application on your behalf, ensuring all requirements are met. Not just for you but also for the New Zealand employer.
4
Wait for a decision
INZ will contact us if they need anything further. Once the visa is issued, you must arrive in New Zealand before the "First entry before" date, within 6 months.
Job offer scams are common in India and South Asia. INZ will decline an application if it considers that you or your agent offered or promised money to an employer for a job offer. Never pay for a job.
HOW NEW ZEALAND SHORES HELPS
How New Zealand Shores supports your India Iconic Work Visa application
Our licensed immigration advisers guide you from eligibility check to approved visa.
Eligibility assessment
We check your qualification, work experience and registration against the INZ requirements for your job before you spend money on tests or fees.
Visa route comparison
We compare this visa with the Accredited Employer Work Visa, so you can weigh family rights, maximum stay and residence options.
Application review
We prepare and review every supporting document before lodgement. Working with a licensed adviser reduces the risk of rejection on technical grounds.
We also help New Zealand employers gain accreditation and structure job offers correctly. Visit our employer portal for more information.
FAQ
India Iconic Work Visa: frequently asked questions
How much does the India Iconic Work Visa cost?
The application fee starts from NZD $1,355. An immigration levy is also payable, so confirm the full total on the INZ fees page before you lodge your application.
How many India Iconic Work Visas are available?
Up to 600 people can hold the visa at any one time: 100 yoga instructors, 250 Indian chefs, 50 music teachers and 200 AYUSH practitioners. A place frees up when a visa holder’s visa ends.
Can I bring my wife, husband or children on an India Iconic Work Visa?
No. You cannot include a partner or dependent children in your application, and INZ states they will not be eligible for a visa based on their relationship to you.
Can the India Iconic Work Visa lead to New Zealand residence?
No. INZ states the visa does not provide a pathway to residence, and time on it cannot be used as skilled work experience for the Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence, Transport Work to Residence or Care Workforce Work to Residence visas.
Do I need an accredited employer?
Yes. Your job offer must be for full-time work of at least 30 hours a week from an employer accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa policy. You can check accreditation on the INZ accredited employer list.
What English score do I need as a yoga instructor or Indian chef?
You need IELTS 5.0 or more in listening and speaking, or an equivalent such as PTE Academic 36 in listening and speaking. Music teachers and AYUSH practitioners need an overall IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Can I apply from inside New Zealand?
Not for your first India Iconic Work Visa. You must be outside New Zealand. You can apply onshore only for another India Iconic Work Visa that uses up the rest of your 3 years.
How long can I stay, and when can I return?
You can stay up to 3 years in total across India Iconic and India Skilled Work Visas. After that you must spend at least 3 years outside New Zealand before you can hold either visa again.