New Zealand has launched New Seasonal Visas to help employers bring in short-term workers when they most need them. The two options are the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV). These New Seasonal Visas open on 8 December 2025 and sit under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework. This change aims to make hiring for busy seasons easier while keeping rules that protect workers. 

What are the two New Seasonal Visas and why they matter

The first visa, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV), is for people who return to seasonal work year after year. The second, the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), is aimed at short, high-demand periods when employers need extra hands right away. Together, these New Seasonal Visas give employers clearer choices and give workers safer, clearer ways to work in New Zealand for seasonal jobs. 

Think of it this way: an orchard might need many pickers for a few weeks, or a seaside town might need extra staff for the summer. The New Seasonal Visas let employers plan and hire legally and quickly so work gets done and workers are treated fairly. 

Simple rules you should know

Here are the main things every worker and employer must understand about the New Seasonal Visas:

• Opening date & framework: Applications open 8 December 2025 under the AEWV rules.

• GWSV length and tests: The GWSV can be granted for up to 36 months. For many GWSV roles there is no need for the employer to advertise the job in New Zealand first. Applicants usually must show at least three seasons’ experience in the last six years and plan to spend time outside New Zealand each year.

• PSV length and checks: The PSV lasts up to seven months. Employers must normally advertise the role in New Zealand first (a labour market test). PSV applicants usually need at least one season’s experience in the last three years, and some PSV jobs longer than three months need health insurance.

• RSE roles excluded: Jobs covered by the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme are not included in the New Seasonal Visas. This keeps the RSE scheme separate and avoids undercutting existing arrangements.

Step-by-step for workers — what to prepare

If you want to apply under the New Seasonal Visas, follow these simple steps:

1. Get a real job offer from an employer who is AEWV-accredited. The offer should show dates, pay, hours and where you will work.

2. Gather proof of seasonal work. For GWSV, collect proof of three seasons in the last six years. For PSV, one season in the last three years will usually do. Good proofs are payslips, letters from employers, rosters, or tax records.

3. Complete health and character checks if required. GWSV, because it can run for up to three years, will normally need fuller checks.

4. Plan your time outside New Zealand if you are on a GWSV — the rules expect some time offshore each year. For PSV, follow the stand-down rules before you reapply.

Tips for employers — simple planning helps

Employers should get AEWV accreditation if not already accredited. For GWSV roles, advertising may not be needed in some cases, but for PSV roles, advertise first and be ready to show why you need overseas workers. Map your peak months, estimate how many workers you need, and have clear seasonal employment agreements ready. This planning makes hiring smoother under the New Seasonal Visas. 

Practical advice and small checks

• Keep clear records of seasonal work — payslips, letters and tax documents really help.

• If a PSV job is longer than three months, arrange good health insurance before travel.

• Check travel steps: some visitors may need to complete an NZeTA Application Form before they fly, and if you have used one, check your NZeTA Status to avoid confusion at the border. These checks make arrival smoother.

Who benefits and the bottom line

The New Seasonal Visas help three groups:

• Employers get clearer, faster ways to fill real seasonal gaps during harvests or peak tourism.

• Experienced seasonal workers get clearer paths to come back to New Zealand across seasons under the GWSV, or short focused work under the PSV.

• Local labour markets stay protected because the RSE scheme and other dedicated visas remain separate.

If you are thinking about seasonal work in New Zealand, read the official guidance, collect your proof of seasons, and check any visitor travel needs like the NZeTA Application Form and your NZeTA Status if you used one before. Start early, be honest in your paperwork, and speak to accredited employers who know the AEWV and the New Seasonal Visas rules.