Lost your job on a partner, post-study, working holiday or seasonal visa?

Step 1: Read your visa conditions

Your visa label, approval letter or INZ online account lists your conditions: whether you can work for any employer or only a named one, and your expiry date. Everything else depends on that.

This guide is general information as at October 2026, not immigration or legal advice. Visa rules change often and every situation is different, so check the linked Immigration New Zealand (INZ) pages and talk to a licensed immigration adviser before you act.

Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa

• Open work rights: any legal job, anywhere in New Zealand.
• Lasts up to 3 years (1 year first if you've lived together less than 12 months). The fee starts at NZD $1,630 (INZ).
• You can be self-employed, but if you own a business you can't employ others.
• Can lead to residence, and is based on a genuine, stable relationship. Your NZ citizen or resident partner completes a supporting form.
• Losing a job does not by itself end the visa, but check your conditions, and tell INZ if your relationship changes.

Partner of a Worker Work Visa

• Open work rights while your partner holds an eligible work visa, and normally lasts as long as your partner's. The fee starts at NZD $1,630 (INZ).
• Your own redundancy doesn't end the visa. The risk is your partner's visa: the visa depends on them continuing to qualify.
• If your partner is the one made redundant, their visa tie to their employer matters. INZ's page does not specifically address what happens, so speak to INZ or an adviser straight away.
• AEWV partners must earn at least a set hourly rate for the partner to qualify (INZ lists at least $28 an hour for skill level 1 to 3 jobs, and higher rates for skill level 4 or 5 jobs). Thresholds tied to the median wage updated from 9 March 2026, so check the current figures on INZ's page.

Post-study work visa

• Degree level 7 or higher: effectively open work rights. Any legal job, anywhere. You can look for new work freely.
• Below level 7: employer-assisted. You must work for an employer in a job related to what you studied, listed in your conditions.
• Lasts up to 3 years depending on your qualification. The fee starts at NZD $1,670 (INZ).
• From 16 November 2026 eligibility extends to some graduate diploma holders who also hold a bachelor's degree, and INZ says a 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is available to some others. Check INZ.
• INZ's page doesn't say what happens if you lose your job. You must always remain on a valid visa.

Working holiday visa

Working holiday visas let you work in New Zealand for a limited time, and conditions vary by country scheme. Check your visa for the exact conditions. The usual practical advice is to keep looking for casual or temporary work across employers, and not to count on being able to extend your stay or switch to another visa. Check INZ's pages for your country's scheme.

Seasonal workers (RSE) and Pacific labour mobility

• An RSE Limited Visa lets you work only for the Recognised Seasonal Employer named in your visa. Most holders can stay up to 7 months in any 11-month period.
• You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires and can't apply for another visa while holding it.
• INZ's page doesn't explain what happens if your employment ends early or how to change employers. Contact INZ. INZ says that in exceptional circumstances you may be able to apply for a further RSE Limited Visa if you have not reached the maximum stay.
• Your employer has pastoral care duties under the scheme. If you're being underpaid or mistreated, report it (see our exploitation guide). RSE workers have specific rights set out by INZ.
• Pacific Access residence categories exist for some Pacific citizens. Check INZ's Pacific pages for your country.

If your job ends and you can't work for anyone else

• Don't ignore it. Call INZ (0508 558 855) or a licensed adviser.
• Don't work outside your conditions.
• Check whether you can apply for a different visa before your current one ends.
• Report exploitation if there is any: your visa can't be cancelled just for reporting.