25 Feb 2026
As engineering companies begin to see projects restart and infrastructure investment accelerate, one challenge remains constant – access to the right skills at the right time. This is where overseas expertise remains critical, particularly for specialist, project-based, or timebound work.
An often underused, but highly effective visa option for engineering firms, can be the Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV).
The SPWV allows overseas professionals to come to New Zealand for a clearly defined role, project, or outcome, and for a fixed time. Unlike standard employer led work visas, the SPWV is not intended for ongoing or permanent employment, although this is still a possible outcome, and is ideal where an employer needs specialist expertise to deliver a particular project or piece of work. This could involve:
- Leading or supporting a major infrastructure project
- Specialist design, commissioning, or remediation work
- Temporary project leadership or technical oversight
- Secondments from overseas parent or partner companies
From an employer’s perspective, the SPWV offers several clear advantages:
- Employers do not need to be accredited with Immigration New Zealand, avoiding an additional compliance layer.
- There is no requirement to advertise the role, making this visa particularly useful where the expertise is genuinely specialist or urgently required.
- The visa duration is matched to the life of the project or assignment, which can range from a few weeks up to several years, allowing costs and workforce planning to align directly with project parameters.
- Because the role and purpose are clearly defined, these visas are often processed more quickly than standard work visas (can be 1-3 weeks), which can be critical to meet any urgent requirements.
- The engineer may be directly employed in New Zealand or remain employed offshore and be seconded to a New Zealand project and both arrangements are acceptable under the SPWV.
In the 2025 calendar year, 825 Specific Purpose Work Visas were issued for engineering-related roles, with the main source countries being India, Philippines, China, the USA and Germany.
The SPWV can also be a useful first step, allowing both the employer and engineer to assess if there is a suitable “fit” before considering longer-term options such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa or a Resident Visa.
For engineering employers navigating increasing demand and skills shortages, the Specific Purpose Work Visa is a practical, flexible, and often underappreciated tool, and one worth considering as part of a broader workforce strategy.
Engineering New Zealand members have access to no cost, no obligation preliminary immigration guidance through the organisations’ partnership with Pathways to New Zealand, a specialist immigration advisory firm working with engineering employers across the country. The partnership is designed to help employers understand visa options early and to avoid any unnecessary delay, cost and risk.
Early, informed advice can make a material difference to outcomes for both employers and engineers!
This article was supplied by Pathways to New Zealand®, Engineering New Zealand’s immigration partner. While we’re pleased to share insights from our partners, Engineering New Zealand does not verify all claims and does not endorse specific products or services.
