IT and tech jobs
in New Zealand

For workers

Software and IT work has no licence to sort out before you arrive, which makes the job offer and the way INZ classifies your role the two things to get right. The Green List is where the sector stands out, because several software roles sit in its fastest tier.

Visas that can fit

• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). You need a full-time offer from an accredited employer with an approved Job Check for your role. Unless the job is on the Green List and you meet its conditions, INZ looks for at least 2 years of relevant experience, shown through payslips or tax records, or a New Zealand level 4 or higher qualification (INZ AEWV page, checked 7 November 2026).
• Green List, Tier 1 (Straight to Residence). In the Appendix 13 version dated 9 March 2026, Tier 1 included Analyst Programmer, Developer Programmer, Software Engineer, Software Tester, ICT Security Specialist, Database Administrator and Systems Administrator, plus ICT Project Manager and some ICT managers. The pay condition shown for that group was $70.00 an hour or $145,600 a year, equal to twice the $35.00 median. Roles outside that group, such as Multimedia Specialist, carried a lower pay figure. INZ says you must be aged 55 or younger when you apply (Straight to Residence Visa).
• Telecommunications. The same version listed Telecommunications Engineer and Telecommunications Network Engineer in Tier 1, with engineering-degree conditions for the engineer role, and Telecommunications Technician in Tier 2. INZ says Work to Residence applicants must be aged 55 or younger when they apply (Work to Residence Visa).
• Other routes. Partner, student and residence options are in our work visa guide and residence guide.

Registration, licences and English

• Registration. The sources behind this page show no registration body for software or IT work, so there is no board to apply to first. Employers may ask for certificates such as vendor or security qualifications, but INZ lists none as a general condition.
• Evidence. A Green List application is read against the exact occupation title and its pay line. Gather payslips, your contract and a letter describing the duties you perform, so the role title matches the work.
• English. For an AEWV, English must be shown for jobs at skill level 4 or 5, and, since 1 June 2026, skill level 3 as well (INZ, 25 May 2026). Exempt from the level 3 rule: an AEWV expiring on or before 1 December 2026 when you apply for a further level 3 AEWV, people who already gave English evidence in an earlier AEWV application, Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa applications, and Job Change applications (same INZ news item). Check how the job is graded for your own case.
• One employer at a time. An AEWV is tied to the job on the Job Check, so ask before taking side projects or contract work for other clients.

How to find jobs

• Start with INZ's accredited employer list. An employer that is not on it cannot support an AEWV.
• Say in your first message that you would need an accredited employer, and ask whether the firm can lodge a Job Check for the role.
• Look up the employer on the stand-down lists before you sign.
• Ask for the role title, pay, location and start date in the offer letter. The Job Check is built on those four details.

Common mistakes

• Paying a recruiter or an employer to secure a job. Job offer scams are common — check with INZ before paying anyone.
• Treating the Green List as automatic. Each role has a pay line and conditions, and the list is revised.
• Accepting a job title that is broader or vaguer than your real duties. Green List roles are matched on occupation, so the title matters.
• Working remotely for an overseas employer and assuming that counts as New Zealand work. Ask an adviser how your situation is treated.

For employers

Tech businesses hire from overseas on the same three steps as anyone else: accreditation, a Job Check for the role, and then the worker's visa. What differs is that salaries are higher and roles change fast, so each Job Check needs a precise description.

• Accreditation. Standard accreditation covers up to 5 migrants, and high-volume accreditation covers 6 or more. It is valid for 12 months, and you need your NZ Business Number, industry code and IRD number (INZ process page).
• Job Check. Apply within 90 days of advertising if you advertised. One Job Check can cover several identical positions with the same duties, pay, location and minimum requirements. It lasts 6 months or until your accreditation ends.
• Pay. Since 10 March 2025 no median wage threshold applies to the AEWV. The floor is the minimum wage, $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026, and you must pay the market rate for the role. Green List roles carry their own pay lines, so a candidate you hope to put on a residence path needs a salary that meets the line for that occupation.
• Job descriptions. Use the title and tasks that match the actual work. A Green List role is matched on occupation, so a loose title can make the later residence step harder.
• Obligations. Do not pass recruitment costs to the worker, and give them information about living and working in New Zealand.

If you are hiring your first overseas developer, we can walk you through the filings. See our employer accreditation service.