Work and careers in New Zealand
Who can work in New Zealand, where to look for jobs, when you need your degree recognised or a professional registration, and how to work as self-employed.
✓ Checked against the sources: October 2026⚠️ This isn't legal advice. Visa requirements change, so always check the official source, a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer.
First: are you allowed to work
Israelis need a visa that allows work, and an EU passport doesn't give you the right to work in New Zealand. Some common options:
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): if you have a job offer from an accredited employer.
- The Israel Working Holiday Visa: for ages 18 to 30, for a stay of up to 12 months. There are 200 places a year.
- Resident visas, for example the Skilled Migrant Category.
The requirements for each visa are on Immigration New Zealand's site.
Source: Immigration NZ: Visas for working in New Zealand · Immigration NZ: Israel Working Holiday Visa
Where to look
Most people look for jobs on job websites (for example Seek and Trade Me Jobs), through recruitment companies, or by contacting employers directly. There are also sector sites, such as Kiwi Health Jobs for healthcare and the Education Gazette for education. Note that many job ads expect applicants who are already in New Zealand.
🔒 2 more sections in this guide
- 🎓 Degree recognition and professional registration
- 🧑💻 Working as self-employed
The rest of this guide is for signed-in users. Signing up is free, with just your email.