26 Mar 2026
Engineering continues to sit at the centre of New Zealand’s infrastructure pipeline and economic development, and immigration remains a critical lever for addressing any urgent or persistent skills shortages across the profession.
Recent immigration data provides useful insight into how engineering roles are being supported through the immigration system – and where key trends are emerging that employers should be aware of.
Work visa volumes remain high, but have stabilised
In the 2025 calendar year, 1,578 work visas were issued to people employed in engineering roles, compared with 1,707 in the previous year. While this represents a modest year‑on‑year decrease, overall volumes remain historically strong, reflecting sustained demand for engineers across multiple disciplines.
Importantly for employers, the visa decline rate remained low, with just 45 work visa applications declined in 2025, compared with 60 the year before. This suggests that well‑prepared visa applications, particularly where roles align with Green List occupations, continue to experience a very high level of success.
Accredited Employer pathway dominates
The majority of engineering work visas were issued under three categories:
- Specific Purpose or Event visas (825)
- Accredited Employer Work Visas (609)
- Variations of Conditions (129)
Specific Purpose or Event visas are an ideal visa for time-bound projects requiring specialist engineers and can be processed quickly while Accredited Employer Work Visas remain the primary long‑term hiring pathway for engineers. The significant number of VOC applications is indicative of engineers changing employers or job roles.
Which engineering roles are driving visa approvals?
Visa outcomes continue to cluster around a relatively small number of engineering occupations. The top roles supported by work visas in 2025 were:
|
Engineering Professionals |
312 |
|---|---|
|
Mechanical Engineering Technicians |
267 |
|
Mechanical Engineers |
261 |
|
Electrical Engineers |
105 |
|
Production or Plant Engineers |
78 |
This reflects ongoing demand in manufacturing, infrastructure delivery, energy, and industrial operations, as well as the continued use of broader ANZSCO categories (such as Engineering Professionals nec) where roles are highly specialised or multidisciplinary. These numbers are likely to grow as the Government continues to focus on large-scale infrastructure projects. The success of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, which has attracted investment commitment of $3.5+ billion over the last 12 months, will also contribute directly and indirectly to the demand for engineers required for approved investment projects.
Where are migrant engineers coming from?
Engineering employers continue to draw talent from a diverse range of countries, with the top five source countries for engineering work visas in 2025 being:
- India
- Philippines
- China
- United States
- Germany
While these countries dominate overall numbers, there has also been notable activity from Japan and South Korea, particularly for highly technical or specialist engineering roles – an emerging trend worth monitoring for employers seeking niche expertise.
What this means for employers
For engineering employers, the data tells a clear story:
- Immigration remains reliable and responsive for genuine engineering roles
- Accreditation and role alignment are key to successful visa outcomes
- Demand remains strongest for mechanical, electrical, and broadly defined engineering professionals
- Competition for global engineering talent is intensifying, making early workforce planning essential
As New Zealand’s infrastructure and energy programmes continue to expand, immigration will remain a critical part of the engineering workforce solution. Employers who understand these trends, and align their hiring strategies accordingly, are best placed to secure and retain the skills they need.
The team at Pathways to New Zealand® is ready to guide you and your migrant employees on your New Zealand immigration journey. Do not hesitate to call 0508PATHWAYS for a free no-obligation immigration consultation.
Disclaimer
This article was supplied by Pathways to New Zealand®, one of our partners. While we are pleased to share insights from our partners, Engineering New Zealand does not verify all claims and does not endorse specific products or services.
