NZ Specific Purpose Work Visa vs AEWV: Which One Fits Your Job
The Specific Purpose Work Visa is for a defined, time-limited assignment — a secondment, a specialist project, an intra-company transfer. It is not a substitute for the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
New Zealand has more than one temporary work visa, and the two people most often confuse are the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV). They are built for different situations, and choosing the wrong one wastes a fee and weeks of processing.
What the Specific Purpose Work Visa is for
The SPWV covers work that is defined, specialised, and time-limited. Typical cases:
- An intra-company transfer — you are being moved to the New Zealand branch of your current employer for a project or a role that needs your specific expertise.
- A specialist assignment — you are coming to install, commission, or maintain equipment; deliver a specific contract; or provide expertise a New Zealand business cannot source locally.
- A seconded professional, a sponsored trainee, or someone coming for a specific business purpose with a clear end date.
The key features: the work has a clear purpose and end point, you usually already have an employment or contractual relationship with the sponsoring business, and the visa is tied tightly to that purpose.
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What the AEWV is for
The AEWV is the standard route for taking up an ongoing job with a New Zealand employer. The employer must be accredited, the job must pass a job check (and usually a labour market test), and it can lead — depending on your occupation — to a residence pathway via the [Green List](/blog/nz-green-list-2026-guide). Read our full [AEWV guide](/blog/accredited-employer-work-visa-aewv-guide-2026).
How to choose
Ask yourself:
- Is this an ongoing local job, or a defined assignment with an end date? Ongoing job → AEWV. Defined assignment → SPWV.
- Do I already work for this company abroad, and am I being transferred? That points to SPWV (intra-company transfer).
- Do I need this to lead to residence? The AEWV, tied to a Green List occupation, has residence pathways. The SPWV generally does not — it is for temporary purposes.
- Does the employer want to sponsor an accredited-employer job? If yes, AEWV.
If you are not sure which visa your situation fits, run our [Visa Fit Check](/tools/visa-checker) — it ranks every visa we hold for New Zealand against your profile as Strong, Possible, or Stretch, using the same engine as a full [Evaluation](/evaluation).
Frequently asked questions
Can a Specific Purpose Work Visa lead to residence?+
Not directly. It is designed for temporary, defined work. If you want a residence pathway, look at the AEWV tied to a Green List occupation, or the [Straight to Residence visa](/blog/nz-straight-to-residence-visa-2026) if your role qualifies.
Do I need an accredited employer for a Specific Purpose Work Visa?+
Not in the same way as the AEWV. The SPWV is assessed on the specific purpose, your expertise, and the sponsoring organisation's genuineness — not employer accreditation.
How long is a Specific Purpose Work Visa granted for?+
For the length of the assignment or purpose, up to defined limits. It is not open-ended.
I am being transferred to my company's New Zealand office. Which visa?+
An intra-company transfer usually fits the Specific Purpose Work Visa, provided the role needs your specific skills and there is a genuine transfer. Confirm with your employer's mobility team and check current Immigration New Zealand criteria.
Can I switch from a Specific Purpose Work Visa to an AEWV later?+
It is possible if a genuine ongoing job with an accredited employer comes up, but you apply fresh for the AEWV and meet its requirements — the switch is not automatic. --- *ImmigraPath is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm everything against the official government page for your visa, or with a licensed adviser, before you apply.*
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