INDIAN CITIZENS
India Skilled Work Visa New Zealand: Jobs, Caps, Requirements and Fees
The India Skilled Work Visa lets Indian citizens work in New Zealand for up to 3 years in 12 skilled occupations across ICT, engineering, construction, teaching and health. You need a full-time job offer from an accredited employer.
4,400
places at any one time, allocated by sector
IELTS 6.5
overall, or an equivalent English test result
No residence
no pathway to residence, no partner or children
WHO CAN APPLY
Who can apply for the India Skilled Work Visa
The India Skilled Work Visa was introduced in October 2026 under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Applicants must meet the standard for their job before they apply.
- 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, in one of the 12 listed jobs.
- You meet the qualification, work experience or registration requirements for your job.
- 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 Skilled or India Iconic Work Visa.
JOBS AND SECTOR CAPS
India Skilled Work Visa jobs and places by sector
Jobs are grouped into sectors, and the cap applies to the whole sector, not to each job. INZ only accepts an application while places remain in your sector, and refunds the application fee if there are none. As at 20 October 2026, all places were available.
| Sector | Jobs | Places |
|---|---|---|
| ICT | Software Engineer, Software and Applications Programmer, ICT Project Manager | 1,000 |
| Engineering | Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer | 1,000 |
| Construction | Construction Project Manager, Building Project Manager | 700 |
| Health | Registered Nurse | 900 |
| Health | Physiotherapist | 300 |
| Education | Primary and Secondary School Teacher | 500 |
REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR JOB
Qualification, experience and registration requirements by job
You must meet the requirements for your job before you apply, and you must provide evidence with your application.
| Job | What INZ requires |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer, Software and Applications Programmer, ICT Project Manager | A bachelor’s degree in software engineering, engineering or an equivalent degree, and at least 5 years of work experience in that field. |
| Civil, Mechanical, Structural or Environmental Engineer | One of: an accredited (initial) engineering degree; a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (NZQCF Level 8); a Level 7 or higher qualification with an Engineering New Zealand benchmark letter towards Chartered Professional Engineer status; or New Zealand registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer. |
| Construction Project Manager | One of the listed engineering, engineering technology, construction or civil qualifications, from a Level 6 diploma (240 credits) to a Level 8 honours degree, a Washington or Sydney Accord civil engineering degree, or Engineering New Zealand registration in civil engineering. |
| Building Project Manager | A Level 7 bachelor’s degree or graduate diploma, or a Level 6 diploma (240 credits), in quantity surveying, construction economics, construction management or building. |
| Primary and Secondary School Teacher | Registration with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and a provisional or full practising certificate. |
| Registered Nurse | Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent, and at least 3 years of work experience. |
| Physiotherapist | Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, a Bachelor of Physiotherapy or Bachelor of Health Sciences (Physiotherapy) or equivalent, and at least 3 years of work experience. |
International qualifications. If your job requires a qualification gained outside New Zealand, you may need an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. You do not need an IQA if you hold a Washington Accord or Sydney Accord accredited engineering degree, or a qualification on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 17 of the Operational Manual). Registration with the Nursing Council, Teaching Council or Physiotherapy Board can take months, so start early.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English language requirements for the India Skilled 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. This differs from the AEWV, where many skilled jobs need no English test.
| Test | Minimum score required |
|---|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic, including One Skill Retake) | Overall 6.5 or more |
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 79 or more |
| PTE Academic | Overall 58 or more |
| B2 First or B2 First for Schools (Cambridge English) | Overall 176 or more |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | Grade C+ or higher in all 4 skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking |
WHAT YOU CAN DO
What the India Skilled 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. 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.
Consider the AEWV first. Many of these jobs also sit on or near the Green List, where time on an Accredited Employer Work Visa can build toward residence. Time on an India Skilled Work Visa counts toward your maximum AEWV stay but earns no residence credit. Our advisers compare both routes with you. See also the India Iconic Work Visa and our India-New Zealand FTA visa overview.
DOCUMENTS
Documents you need for an India Skilled 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 Skilled Work Visa
You must be outside New Zealand when you apply for your first visa.
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 Skilled Work Visa application
New Zealand Shores is a specialist New Zealand immigration services provider. 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 form INZ 1402 and 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 Skilled Work Visa: frequently asked questions
How many India Skilled Work Visas are available?
Up to 4,400 people can hold the visa at any one time, split by sector: 1,000 in ICT, 1,000 in engineering, 700 in construction, 900 registered nurses, 300 physiotherapists and 500 teachers. A place frees up when a visa holder’s visa ends.
Which jobs qualify for the India Skilled Work Visa?
Twelve jobs qualify: Software Engineer, Software and Applications Programmer, ICT Project Manager, Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Construction Project Manager, Building Project Manager, Primary and Secondary School Teacher, Registered Nurse and Physiotherapist.
How much does the India Skilled 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.
What English score do I need for the India Skilled Work Visa?
You need IELTS 6.5 overall or an equivalent: TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 58, B2 First 176, or OET grade C+ in all four skills. The test must be sat in person and the result must be under 2 years old.
Can I get New Zealand residence through the India Skilled Work Visa?
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 or Work to Residence visas. An AEWV in a Green List or Skilled Migrant Category role is usually the stronger route if residence is your goal.
Can my family come with me?
No. You cannot include a partner or dependent children, and INZ states they will not be eligible for a visa based on their relationship to you. They would need to qualify under their own visa category.
How many years of experience do software engineers need?
Software Engineers, Software and Applications Programmers and ICT Project Managers need a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, engineering or an equivalent, plus at least 5 years of work experience in that field.
Can I apply from inside New Zealand?
Not for your first India Skilled Work Visa. You must be outside New Zealand. You can apply onshore only for another India Skilled Work Visa that uses up the rest of your 3 years.