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South Africans Moving to New Zealand: What INZ Publishes and How the Visa Rules Work

INZ publishes counts of residence and work visa applications by nationality, including South Africa. The main skilled routes (Straight to Residence, Work to Residence, the Skilled Migrant Category and the AEWV) use the same published criteria and fees for every passport. This page reports INZ's figures and rules and does not say which visa suits anyone.

Searches such as "NZ visa for South Africans" are usually a request to understand the options in one place. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) does not run a separate scheme for South African citizens, so the useful things to read are INZ's own counts of applications by nationality, how the main skilled routes work for any passport, and the rules on English, police certificates and licensed advisers that a South African applicant will meet like anyone else.

Two limits apply. The numbers below are counts of applications and applicants, not success rates, and nothing here says how likely any person is to be granted a visa. And this page does not say which visa a reader could apply for or whether a qualification, job or salary meets a test. That is immigration advice, and in New Zealand only a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer may give it.

All figures were read from INZ on 10 October 2026, and several change during the year.

Residence applications: what INZ's statistics report shows

INZ publishes a report titled "Resident Visa applications accepted for processing, by nationality and financial year of decision". The version read here was prepared on 8 October 2026. It defines "Applicants" as "Those individuals included in an application" and notes that many applications have more than one applicant. The tables counting applicants are labelled "People".

For South Africa the report shows these counts, by financial year (1 July to 30 June):

  • People: 3,242 in 2016/17; 3,119 in 2017/18; 5,013 in 2018/19; 6,961 in 2019/20; 4,162 in 2020/21; 19,925 in 2021/22; 3,366 in 2022/23; 3,551 in 2023/24; 2,961 in 2024/25; 3,334 in 2025/26; and 1,289 in 2026/27 so far, with INZ's period running to 30 September 2026. The total is 56,923.
  • Applications: 1,229; 1,115; 1,726; 2,301; 1,490; 6,612; 1,261; 1,413; 1,172; 1,279; and 459, for a total of 20,057.

The 2021/22 column is much larger than the years around it. The same report lists the 2021 Resident Visa among its application criteria, and the report is where any breakdown by criterion is found. A figure of "3,334" and one of "1,279" can both describe 2025/26, because one counts people and the other counts applications.

Across the whole period covered (decisions dated 31 July 2016 to 30 September 2026), INZ's table by criteria gives these application counts for South Africa: Business and Skilled stream 16,885; International and Humanitarian 280; Parent, Sibling and Adult Child stream 469; Uncapped Family Sponsored stream 2,423; total 20,057. For people it shows 52,855; 443; 668; and 2,957, total 56,923.

These are applications accepted for processing. They are not approvals.

Work visa applications: the AEWV data report

INZ's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) data report covers 1 July 2022 to 3 October 2026 and states: "These statistics are at a point in time. They are likely to change between reporting updates." Across all nationalities it shows 232,307 applications submitted.

For South Africa its table by nationality shows:

  • 8,463 applications submitted, of which 5,438 were submitted from offshore;
  • 8,150 approved, of which 5,300 were offshore;
  • 8,417 decided, of which 5,423 were offshore; and
  • 5,596 recorded as arrived, of which 4,942 were offshore.

This guide does not turn the columns into a rate, because INZ does not present them as one and applications submitted in a period are not the same set as those decided in it. INZ's workbook is the place to read what each column counts.

How the main skilled routes work for any passport

INZ's fee finder returned the same figures for South African, Indian and Philippine passports on 10 October 2026: the Straight to Residence Visa from NZD 6,450 (80% of applications completed within 3 months) and the AEWV from NZD 1,540 (80% within 5 weeks). The routes themselves are described in INZ's pages by criteria, not nationality.

Straight to Residence Visa. INZ says an applicant must be 55 or younger, be working in or offered a Green List Tier 1 job with an accredited employer, be in good health and of good character, and speak and understand English. The job must pay at least the rate for the role or, where none is specified, the median wage, which INZ gives as NZD 35.00 an hour (the 2025 median) from 9 March 2026.

Work to Residence Visa. INZ says the applicant must have worked 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job within the 30 months before applying, with an accredited employer, at the wage rate in force when the work started.

Skilled Migrant Category. INZ describes an expression of interest followed by an invitation to apply, a job or job offer with an accredited employer, an age limit of 55, and three pathways: points-based (6 points needed), skilled work experience, and trades and technician. INZ's page gives points for qualifications, occupational registration, income and New Zealand skilled work experience.

Accredited Employer Work Visa. A temporary visa for a full-time job with an accredited employer and an approved job check. INZ says the maximum continuous stay is 5 years for most jobs or 3 years for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 jobs.

The tier for a role, and the registration, pay or experience it requires, is shown only on INZ's Green List page. This guide does not say whether any occupation is Tier 1 or Tier 2. The guides to each route set out the published rules in more detail.

English language: how INZ lets it be shown

For skilled residence visas INZ says English can be shown through citizenship, work and study, or a test. Its citizenship rule lists specific countries: a citizen of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States who has spent at least 5 years working or studying in one of those countries, or in Australia or New Zealand. INZ also accepts a bachelor's-level qualification (comparable with a New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree) gained in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States with at least 2 years lived there while studying, and a postgraduate qualification gained in one of those countries with at least 1 year lived there.

Otherwise English is shown by an approved test taken in person at a test centre, with a result no more than 2 years old. For a principal applicant INZ's minimums include IELTS 6.5 overall, TOEFL iBT 79 and PTE Academic 58. A partner or dependent child aged 16 or over has lower minimums, or can pay for English lessons in New Zealand. Principal applicants cannot use the lessons option.

How a particular person meets the rule depends on their citizenship, study and work history, and is a question for a licensed adviser.

Police certificates, qualifications and professions

Police certificates. For a resident visa INZ requires certificates from any country of citizenship and from any other country where 12 months or more were spent in the last 10 years, and they must be less than 6 months old when the application is submitted. For a work visa they are required where total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, from any country of citizenship and any country lived in for more than 5 years since turning 17. INZ publishes a tool that shows how to get a police certificate from a specific country, and says it may ask for a new certificate during processing.

Qualifications. INZ may require an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA for qualifications gained outside New Zealand, and says that not all need one: "Not all international qualifications need to be assessed, such as the Washington or Sydney Accord qualifications."

Registered professions. Registration is separate from the visa. The Teaching Council lists South Africa among the countries whose schooling can show English competence, with a condition: "Candidates from South Africa must include a Matriculation or Senior Certificate with a minimum pass in English (Higher Grade D or Standard Level 5)." The Council also names the South African Council of Educators as an example of a professional body whose letter of standing can be submitted, and gives QMS as an example of a South African appraisal document. The Nursing Council's rules, including which countries' education can avoid a competence assessment, are covered in the guide to registered nurses, and the teaching rules in the guide to teachers.

Visiting, and the scam rules that apply to everyone

INZ has an online tool for checking whether a visitor needs a visa or an NZeTA. The Visitor Visa is from NZD 441, allows a stay of up to 6 or 9 months, and does not allow work other than remotely for a business overseas. Use INZ's tool for the passport and travel details in question.

INZ's scam guidance applies to every applicant. It states: "New Zealand employers or agents cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs." It lists as signs of a scam being promised residence, being told an adviser's connections can guarantee an outcome or a faster decision, being asked to lie, and being told you must use an adviser. INZ states: "You are not required to use an adviser to apply for a visa," and "It is illegal to lie in order to qualify for a job or a visa."

If an adviser is used, the Immigration Advisers Authority says: "Any individual providing New Zealand immigration advice either in New Zealand or offshore must be licensed unless exempt under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act)." That covers an adviser or agent based in South Africa advising on New Zealand visas. The licence is checked on the Authority's public register; the guides to checking an adviser's licence, to unlicensed immigration advice and to advisers based outside New Zealand explain how.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio lists licensed immigration advisers so you can compare them and contact one directly. Every listing shows the adviser's licence number, which you can check on the Immigration Advisers Authority's public register before you book. We don't assess cases and don't tell anyone which visa or pathway fits them; that is the adviser's job.

Questions people ask

How many South African citizens applied for New Zealand residence?

INZ's statistics report, prepared 8 October 2026, shows 3,334 people and 1,279 applications for South Africa in the 2025/26 financial year, and 56,923 people and 20,057 applications across all the years it covers. These are applications accepted for processing, not approvals.

Is there a separate NZ visa for South African citizens?

INZ's visa catalogue includes country-specific work visas and working holiday schemes for some nationalities, but none for South Africa is listed. South African citizens use the same general visas as other applicants, under the same published criteria.

Are visa fees different for a South African passport?

INZ's fee finder returned the same fee for the Straight to Residence Visa (from NZD 6,450) and the AEWV (from NZD 1,540) for South African, Indian and Philippine passports. Some other fees vary, so check the finder.

Can I use my South African English education to show English for a residence visa?

INZ's citizenship route lists Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States, and its qualification route lists Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Otherwise an approved test is used. A licensed adviser can explain how this applies to a particular person.

Do I need a New Zealand licensed adviser if I am in South Africa?

INZ says you are not required to use an adviser. If an adviser gives New Zealand immigration advice, the Immigration Advisers Authority says they must be licensed whether they are in New Zealand or offshore, unless exempt.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-10.

Related guides

  • Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1): How It Works — The Straight to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger with a job or offer from an accredited employer in a Green List Tier 1 role, paid the role's specified rate or the median wage. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 and 80% of applications completed within 3 months on 9 October 2026. The role list is searchable on INZ's site.
  • Work to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 2): How It Works — The Work to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger who have worked 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job in New Zealand within the 30 months before applying, and who hold or are offered a job with an accredited employer. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 on 9 October 2026. The wage rate that counts is the one in force when the work experience started.
  • SMC Points in NZ: How the 6-Point System Works — The Skilled Migrant Category points-based pathway needs 6 skilled resident points. INZ lets points come from one category only (qualification, occupational registration or income), topped up by up to 3 points of New Zealand skilled work experience. This guide sets out INZ's published tables as read on 9 October 2026.
  • Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): The 2026 Rules — The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. The job must be full-time (30+ hours), with an accredited employer holding an approved job check, and paid at least the required rate. INZ showed a fee of NZD 1,540 and 80% of applications within 5 weeks on 9 October 2026. The longest continuous stay is 5 years, or 3 years for skill level 4 or 5 jobs.
  • NZ Immigration Advisers Based Outside New Zealand — Anyone giving New Zealand immigration advice from outside New Zealand needs an IAA licence unless they are exempt; 459 of the 1,681 licensed advisers were offshore at 30 June 2026. The one offshore-specific exemption covers student visa advice only.
  • How to Check an NZ Immigration Adviser's Licence — Search the adviser's name or licence number on the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) public register and confirm the status reads current. The record also shows whether the licence is full, provisional or limited. Lawyers are not on that register; check them on the New Zealand Law Society's register of lawyers.