New Zealand is adding two new visa categories to its Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system, designed specifically for seasonal labour demands in industries like agriculture, tourism, and food processing. The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) will both be available starting 8 December 2025.

Here’s what these new options mean for skilled and entry-level workers, and what employers need to know.

Why New Zealand Is Creating New Seasonal Visas

New Zealand relies heavily on foreign workers during peak production and tourism seasons. Whether it’s harvesting grapes, guiding glacier tours, or processing seafood, demand spikes at predictable times, and the existing visa system hasn’t been flexible enough to keep up.

The new seasonal visas aim to solve that. They’re built to address real, time-limited labour shortages without opening long-term migration pathways.

Think of it as New Zealand fine-tuning its system to be more precise: helping when it’s genuinely needed, while keeping the larger immigration framework stable.

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV): For Skilled Seasonal Workers

This visa is targeted at experienced seasonal professionals, people who’ve done this kind of work before and are ready to step in with minimal training.

Key Details:

• Valid up to 3 years
• Must have worked 3 seasons in the past 6 years
• Requires at least 3 months outside New Zealand every year
• No Labour Market Test or English requirement
• You can switch to another visa if eligible later

Who’s this for?
People in skilled seasonal roles, such as:

• Agricultural mobile plant operators
• Sheep and animal pregnancy scanners
• Snow makers, snow groomers, chairlift operators
• Mountain guides and whitewater rafting guides
• Winemakers and senior cellar hands
• Meat inspectors, shearers, slaughterers
• Snowsport instructors and equipment technicians

This visa allows employers to bring in workers with the right experience, quickly and efficiently, without the delays that come with testing the local labour market.

Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV): For Entry-Level Roles

This one’s tailored for lower-skilled roles that still need to be filled during seasonal peaks. It’s shorter, more restrictive, and designed for people who already have some experience in similar jobs.

Key Details:

• Valid up to 7 months
• Requires 1 season of experience in the past 3 years
• Must have comprehensive health insurance
• After 7 months, a 4-month stand-down is mandatory before reapplying
• No English requirement
• Employers must engage with or be endorsed by Work and Income

Who’s this for?
Workers in seasonal jobs like:

• Mussel or oyster farming
• Calf rearing and relief milking
• Forestry
• Meat processing (boners, slicers)
• Wool handling and winery cellar work
• Seafood processing

What Both Visas Have in Common

Whether you’re on a Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) or Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), here’s what applies across the board:

• You can’t sponsor family to join you
• You can only switch employers within the same visa type
• If you’re already on a student or work visa, interim work rights continue while your seasonal visa application is being processed

The government is also making it clear: these visas are not a backdoor to permanent residence. They’re for short-term, genuine seasonal needs. Immigration officers will check contract lengths, seasonal cycles, and job duties closely to ensure the system isn’t gamed.

Final Thoughts

These new visas mark a clear shift in how New Zealand manages seasonal labour. The rules are tight, but they’re also practical, removing unnecessary bureaucracy for employers while giving experienced workers new ways in.

For travellers with the right skills or experience, especially those who’ve done this kind of work before in New Zealand or elsewhere, this could be a solid short-term opportunity. Just don’t expect it to lead to a long-term stay.

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