New Zealand Introduces Two New Seasonal Visas Under Accredited Employer Work Visa Framework

New Zealand has rolled out two new seasonal visas, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), to provide firms with faster access to skilled and entry-level seasonal workers. These visas are part of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework and aim to maintain fair immigration rules. The new visas will become available on December 8, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) is for skilled seasonal roles and is valid for up to 3 years, with a requirement for applicants to have worked in a relevant seasonal role for at least 3 seasons in the past 6 years.
• The Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) is for entry-level or lower-skilled seasonal roles and is valid for up to 7 months, with a requirement for applicants to have at least 1 season of relevant experience in the past 3 years.
• Visa holders under both pathways cannot support partner or dependent visas and can only change jobs within the same visa type.
• There is no Labour Market Test or English language requirement for the GWSV, whereas the PSV requires comprehensive health insurance.
• Roles covered under the GWSV include Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator, Agricultural Technician, and Tulip Grower, amongst others.

Statistics:

• The new seasonal visas will be available from December 8, 2025.
• The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) is valid for up to 3 years, while the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) is valid for up to 7 months.
• Applicants for the GWSV need to have worked in a relevant seasonal role for at least 3 seasons in the past 6 years.
• Visa holders cannot support partner or dependent visas under both pathways.

Sources:

• "New Zealand Introduces Two New Seasonal Visas Under Accredited Employer Work Visa Framework" - IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com, 2025