New Zealand to Launch Two Seasonal Work Visas in December

• Written by Gungun Bhatia

  Reviewed by Rashmi Rai

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Two new seasonal work visa options will be available for applications in New Zealand starting 8 December 2025 under the Employer Accredited Work Visa (EAWV) scheme. These changes will make it easier for overseas workers to access these opportunities and give employers more flexibility when hiring for real seasonal jobs.

New Visa Options Unveiled for Seasonal Roles

Immigration New Zealand has announced that starting on 8 December 2025, two new seasonal work visa categories will be available under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework.

These new visas, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), are designed to make it easier to hire real seasonal workers while still ensuring safeguards against abuse.

What Does the New Visas Offer?

To tackle workforce shortages during busy and seasonal periods, New Zealand has introduced two new visa categories:  GWSV and PSV. Let's discuss what these visas offer:

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)

Designed for long-term seasonal roles under the AEWV framework.

• No labour market test or job advertisement is needed before hiring foreign workers.
• The visa is granted for up to 3 years.
• Applicants must have at least 3 seasons of relevant experience in the last 6 years.
• Workers must spend 3 months outside New Zealand each year and commit to doing so.
• English language testing is not required.

Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)

This visa is for short-term, high-demand jobs during busy production or harvest seasons.

• Employers must advertise locally and conduct a labour market test to show that no New Zealanders are available for the position.
• Visa duration is up to 7 months.
• Applicants must have at least 1 season of experience in the past 3 years.
• For jobs lasting longer than 3 months, comprehensive global health insurance shall be required.

Why the Move & What Does It Mean?

The launch of GWSV and PSV demonstrates New Zealand's goal of better aligning seasonal labour needs with foreign workers, while protecting the local labour supply and workers' rights. 

These new visas make it easier for employers to recruit in some situations, particularly for genuine seasonal jobs in the GWSV stream. They also aim to establish more precise criteria for applicants.

What do Applicants Need to Prepare?

Applicants must have:

• A job offer and a signed employment agreement from an AEWV-accredited employer that specifies start and end dates, pay rate, guaranteed hours, and location.
• Evidence of seasonal work experience: for GWSV, at least 3 seasons in the last 6 years; for PSV, at least 1 season in the previous 3 years.
• Proof of the seasonal pattern, including stand-down periods or time spent outside New Zealand.
• Standard health and character checks, such as a police certificate, are required under AEWV.

How Indian Job-Seekers Can Benefit from these Visas?

For Indian nationals looking for seasonal jobs abroad, this creates a new opportunity:

• No English-language test is required, making it easier to get started.
• For GWSV, the three-year visa offers a longer window than many short-term seasonal programs.
• For PSV, the shorter duration may be ideal for those who want a defined time abroad and plan to return home after the season.
• Indian workers with previous seasonal experience, such as in agriculture or horticulture, may qualify and use their background.
• Since the GWSV eliminates the local advertising requirement for employers, hiring may be quicker for overseas applicants.

However, Indian job-seekers must ensure they receive a job offer from an accredited employer, provide proof of past seasonal work, pass health and character checks, and, for longer PSV roles, arrange health insurance.

Verdict

Overall, the launch of these two seasonal visa categories by New Zealand is an essential move in creating new job opportunities for international workers, including those from India. By simplifying some requirements and offering different options for short- and long-term seasonal work, the program may attract Indian applicants interested in working abroad.

Potential candidates should start preparing by securing a job offer, documenting their experience, and arranging supporting evidence, so they are ready to apply when applications open on 8 December 2025.