SPWV
The Specific Purpose Work Visa is for time-bounded work in New Zealand that doesn't fit AEWV — intra-company transfers, secondments, performers, religious workers, specialist contractors. Purpose-specific, time-limited, generally not a path to residence.
The SPWV’s “specific purpose” test resolves to a defined taxonomy of recognised use cases. Stepping through them clarifies what does and doesn’t fit the pathway:
A use case that doesn’t fit one of these patterns carries higher decline risk. The pathway-fit conversation should happen before lodgement — if the work is ordinary employment with an accredited employer, AEWV is the right pathway, not SPWV.
The work must be for a defined, identifiable purpose with a clear end point — not ordinary employment relabelled as specific. INZ scrutinises this hard. Common recognised purposes include intra-company transfers, senior secondments, sports or cultural performances, religious work, and specialist or installer contracts. Novel purposes outside INZ's recognised categories carry high decline risk.
Duration must match what the genuine purpose actually requires. Intra-company transferees (multinational) up to 3 years. Senior or specialist business secondments up to 12 months. Performers, religious workers, specialist contractors, and other specific-purpose engagements typically not more than 6 months. Asking for more time than the purpose justifies signals the purpose may not be what's claimed.
If the role is general employment with an accredited employer, AEWV is the right pathway. SPWV is not a faster, easier route around AEWV. Using SPWV where AEWV applies is a recurring INZ concern and exposes both the applicant and the LIA to scrutiny. Pathway fit is decided strategically, not by which visa looks quickest.
The NZ-side sponsor, host, or employer must credibly fit the stated specific purpose. Sponsor's business history, sector, and connection to the applicant all need to support the claim. A weak or implausible sponsor relationship undermines the genuineness of the request.
The applicant's qualifications, employment history, and demonstrated expertise must credibly support the specific purpose. Intra-company transferees need substantial prior employment with the sending entity (typically 12+ months). Specialists need documented specialisation in the relevant field. Performers and religious workers need credentials matching the stated engagement.
Chest X-ray certificate required for stays of 6 months or longer from non-low-TB countries. Medical certificate required for stays of 12 months or longer or where INZ requests one. Police certificates required if you are 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will reach 24 months.
INZ application fee: SPWV application: from NZD $1,455. Family inclusion fees per the INZ Fees Guide. Confirm current fees at immigration.govt.nz before applying.
ProVisas advisory fee: Fixed-fee per case where the use case is standard; time-based for complex matters (including intra-company transferee structures, novel use cases, and cases with applicant or sponsor complications). Specific fees disclosed at consultation and confirmed in your engagement letter.
INZ government fees are passed through at cost. We don't mark up government charges. SPWV pathway fit is decided strategically at intake — if AEWV is the right pathway for the role, we will say so and price the engagement accordingly.
INZ targets 80% of SPWV decisions within 4 weeks. End-to-end engagement timeline depends on use case — intra-company transferees with 3-year requests are materially more complex than 6-month event-based or specialist contracts. Extensions are generally limited and must be tied to the same specific purpose; sequential SPWVs for different 'specific' purposes attract closer scrutiny and can look like a rolling work visa rather than a genuinely specific engagement.
Use SPWV when the work is for a defined, time-bounded purpose that doesn't fit ordinary AEWV employment — intra-company transfer, senior secondment, performer engagement, religious work, or specialist or installer contract for specific NZ project. Use AEWV when the role is general employment with an accredited employer. Choosing SPWV because it looks faster, cheaper, or easier than AEWV is one of the most common reasons SPWV applications get declined.
Usually no. Most contractors fall under AEWV. SPWV applies only where the work meets the genuine specific-purpose test — defined, time-bounded, distinct from general employment. A contract by itself does not make the work specific-purpose. The test is whether the purpose is identifiable and time-bounded in a way ordinary contract employment is not.
Duration depends on the use case. Intra-company transferees from multinational companies can be granted up to 3 years. Senior or specialist business secondments up to 12 months. Performers, religious workers, specialist contractors, and other specific-purpose engagements typically not more than 6 months. Asking for more time than the genuine purpose requires signals duration mismatch and weakens the case.
Generally no. SPWV is purpose-bound temporary work and is not in itself a residence pathway. Some specific use cases may have downstream residence options, but these are exceptions. If residence is the goal, the right conversation is about AEWV, Skilled Migrant Category, or other residence-track pathways from the start.
ICT is for business people transferred from one part of a multinational company to another in New Zealand. The applicant typically remains employed by the sending entity overseas. Evidence required: substantial prior employment with the sending entity (usually 12+ months), role match between sending and NZ entities, and documented corporate ownership or control link between them. ICT is a recognised SPWV use case but not automatic — the multinational structure and the applicant's history both need to be evidenced.
Last reviewed 2026-05-24. Source of truth: Immigration New Zealand →
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