Immigration New Zealand Defines Business and Employment Rules

Immigration New Zealand has officially divided open work visa holders into two distinct categories as of 20 April 2026. This change aims to clarify which migrants are permitted to run their own businesses and which must remain employed.

The first category allows certain open work visa holders to engage in various forms of work, including traditional employment, sole trading, and business ownership. The second category mandates that visa holders work strictly for an employer, either through a formal employment agreement or a contract for services, which is treated as employment under these conditions.

The authority emphasized that employer-specific work visas, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa, are not impacted by these changes, as they already restrict holders to a single employer and defined role. Student Visa holders are also excluded from the new conditions.

Immigration New Zealand acknowledged that many migrants may not fully understand local employment laws and committed to enhancing communication to assist visa holders in navigating the updated rules.