In November 2025, New Zealand will introduce two new pathways for experienced seasonal workers, marking a significant shift in how the country addresses the demand for labor in seasonal industries. These new pathways aim to provide greater flexibility and attract skilled workers while maintaining the existing temporary seasonal pathways until the new system takes effect. The updated visa options will offer opportunities for both experienced and lesser-skilled workers, each designed to meet specific labor market needs.
New Zealand’s diverse industries, including horticulture, viticulture, agriculture, and tourism, generate a high demand for seasonal workers, particularly during peak periods.NZ’s reliance on seasonal labor is essential for maintaining productivity in sectors that experience fluctuating workloads throughout the year. For example, horticulture and viticulture businesses, key components of New Zealand’s agricultural economy, often face labor shortages during their busiest times, such as harvest seasons. The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme has become an essential solution, enabling these industries to recruit overseas workers who can fill these gaps and keep operations running smoothly.
The first of these pathways is a 3-year multi-entry visa, which will be available to experienced seasonal workers. This visa will allow workers to enter New Zealand multiple times over the span of three years, granting them the flexibility to return and work seasonally without the need to reapply each time. This change offers experienced migrants a more streamlined and long-term option to work in New Zealand, which could greatly benefit industries that rely on skilled seasonal labor. For many workers, this multi-entry visa represents a promising opportunity to build a more stable career path while contributing their expertise to sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, and tourism, which traditionally face high demand during peak seasons.
For those with less experience, New Zealand will also offer a 7-month single-entry visa. This pathway targets lesser-skilled workers who are required to fill temporary roles for shorter durations. While the single-entry visa may appear less flexible than the multi-entry version, it is designed to address the immediate need for workers in sectors with fluctuating demand. It will also allow businesses to access labor for shorter periods, ensuring that seasonal needs can be met without overextending the workforce. This visa provides an essential option for employers in industries such as farming or hospitality that experience seasonal peaks, helping them stay competitive while managing costs more effectively.
In addition to horticulture and viticulture, industries like tourism also experience seasonal spikes, particularly in the summer months when visitor numbers surge. These fluctuations create temporary but vital labor needs, which are met through seasonal hires. Tourism operators, from hotels and resorts to tour companies and event venues, depend on seasonal workers to provide services during peak seasons, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and business growth.
Both of these new pathways reflect New Zealand’s broader immigration strategy of providing more tailored visa options for industries in need of seasonal labor. These changes not only benefit employers but also provide migrants with greater opportunities to work and potentially extend their stay in New Zealand.Â
Existing temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until November 2025, ensuring there is no disruption in the availability of workers during the transition period. Employers who have become accustomed to these temporary arrangements will continue to have access to the necessary workforce while the new pathways are rolled out. This smooth transition period is needed for businesses that rely on a steady supply of seasonal labor, as it helps them avoid any potential staffing shortages.
Key Seasonal Work Visas in New Zealand
Currently, the main seasonal work visas in New Zealand are the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Limited Visa and the Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) Work Visa.
The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Limited Visa allows individuals to work temporarily in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture sectors. Applicants must have a job offer from a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) and be aged 18 or over. The visa has an annual quota of 20,750. The visa allows workers to plant, maintain, harvest, and pack crops, offering the opportunity to gain horticultural and viticulture skills. The length of stay varies depending on the arrival date. Applicants must leave New Zealand before the visa expires and cannot apply for other visas while holding the RSE Limited Visa. Partners and dependent children cannot be included in the application.
The Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) Work Visa is available to individuals in New Zealand on a student or visitor visa who wish to engage in seasonal work within the horticulture or viticulture industries. This visa is valid for up to six months and is available to applicants aged 18 and over. This visa allows applicants to plant, maintain, harvest, or pack crops for an approved employer on the SSE list. Similar to RSE, partners or dependent children cannot be included in the application.Â
Seasonal work had long been in high demand in New Zealand, especially within industries like horticulture and viticulture. Recognizing the critical role these sectors played, the New Zealand government implemented significant changes to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in September 2024. The RSE cap was increased to 20,750 workers for the 2024/2025 season, allowing more workers to fill essential seasonal roles. Employers were given the flexibility to average the 30-hour minimum work requirement over a 4-week period, which helped accommodate fluctuations in workload. Wage requirements were adjusted, with returning workers earning at least NZD $25.47 per hour. Additionally, the scheme allowed more flexibility for workers to move between employers and regions, and RSE workers became eligible for multi-entry visas, making it easier for them to attend important personal events. These changes reflected the government’s commitment to supporting both employers and workers, ensuring that New Zealand’s industries continued to thrive during peak seasons.
The introduction of these new visa pathways signals a positive shift in New Zealand’s approach to immigration, particularly for seasonal workers. As the details of the new system are finalized in the near future, businesses and workers alike will gain a clearer understanding of how these pathways can enhance their opportunities and contribute towards the industry demand.
