New Zealand has announced two new seasonal work visa categories under its Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework, marking one of the most significant reforms to its labour mobility system in recent years. The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) will open for applications from December 8, 2025.
The new visa routes are aimed at helping key sectors such as horticulture, agriculture, forestry, tourism, seafood, and hospitality meet peak labour demand more efficiently, while ensuring worker protections, employment standards, and safety regulations remain intact.
According to the New Zealand government, the new system is designed to balance faster access to overseas seasonal workers with firm regulatory oversight.
Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)
The GWSV is targeted at employers who require experienced, longer-term seasonal workers. Key features include:
No labour market test required: Employers are not required to advertise vacancies locally.
Work experience: Applicants must show at least three seasons of relevant work experience in the past six years.
Travel condition: Visa holders must spend a minimum of three months outside New Zealand each year.
Visa validity: Up to three years.
Mandatory health and character checks apply.
No English language test is required.
This category is expected to benefit industries that rely on repeat seasonal workers with specialized skills.
Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)
The PSV is designed for short-term hiring during peak operational periods and comes with stricter controls:
Labour market test required: Employers must first attempt to recruit New Zealand workers.
Work experience: At least one season of relevant experience within the past three years.
Visa duration: Up to seven months.
Health insurance mandatory for roles exceeding three months.
No English language requirement.
This visa aims to address short-term labour shortages without encouraging long-term dependency on overseas workers.
Eligible Job Categories
Workers in the following roles are eligible to apply under both new visa pathways:
Mussel and oyster farmworkers
Calf rearers and relief milkers
Forestry workers
Meat boners, slicers, and processing staff
Seafood processing workers
Winery cellar hands
Wool handlers
Application Requirements
All applicants must first secure a valid job offer from an AEWV-accredited employer, along with a detailed employment agreement specifying:
Pay rate
Working hours
Job location
Contract duration
Additional documents required include:
Proof of seasonal work experience (three seasons for GWSV; one season for PSV)
Supporting evidence such as payslips, employer reference letters, tax statements, or training certificates
Proof of time spent outside New Zealand (mandatory for GWSV applicants)
Comprehensive health insurance for PSV roles exceeding three months
Standard AEWV documents including a passport, photograph, health certificates, and police clearance
Since the GWSV allows stays of up to three years, full medical and character checks are compulsory, even for applicants who may have submitted them previously.
A Major Shift in Seasonal Hiring Strategy
Officials say the new system is expected to significantly improve workforce planning for employers during peak seasons, while continuing to uphold New Zealand’s strong commitment to protecting migrant workers from exploitation and unsafe work conditions.
The rollout of the GWSV and PSV reflects New Zealand’s evolving approach to managing labour shortages in essential industries through structured and regulated migration pathways.
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