New Zealand continues to recruit qualified teachers from overseas—especially in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and secondary schools—because many regions and subject areas face persistent staffing pressure. For international candidates, the opportunity is real, but the pathway is structured: you typically need (1) a genuine job offer, (2) the right work visa/residence pathway, and (3) teacher registration and a practising certificate before you can be employed as a teacher in most settings. (Teaching Council)
This guide explains the two most common “visa sponsorship” routes—ECE and Secondary—and what “sponsorship” actually means in New Zealand’s system, with step-by-step clarity on how to move from overseas application to classroom.
1) What “visa sponsorship” means in New Zealand (in plain terms)
In New Zealand, “visa sponsorship” for teachers usually refers to an employer supporting your work visa by giving you a formal job offer and meeting immigration requirements that apply to the role and the employer.
For most overseas teachers, the central work visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Under AEWV, you must have full-time work and an offer from an accredited employer (for example, a school or ECE organisation that holds accreditation). (Immigration New Zealand)
Separately, New Zealand also operates a fast-track residence framework called the Green List. Teaching roles sit within this system, but the residence “speed” differs by sector:
- Secondary school teachers moved onto the Straight to Residence pathway (Tier 1) from May 2024, meaning eligible candidates may apply for residence if they meet the Green List requirements (including teacher registration/practising certificate expectations). (Immigration New Zealand)
- ECE and primary have been positioned as a work-to-residence pathway in official education sector messaging (typically requiring time working in NZ before residence eligibility). (Ministry of Education)
Bottom line: your “sponsor” is usually the employer providing the role needed for AEWV, while residence may be available through Green List pathways depending on whether you are ECE or Secondary. (Immigration New Zealand)
2) The non-negotiable requirement: registration with the Teaching Council
Regardless of whether you aim for ECE or secondary, the core professional gatekeeper is the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. To teach, overseas-trained teachers generally must:
- Register with the Teaching Council, and
- Hold a practising certificate (often starting with a provisional certificate), and
- Meet language competency and other fitness-to-teach expectations. (Teaching Council)
New Zealand’s system is explicit that you must be competent in English (and/or te reo Māori as relevant) using accepted evidence types, and you must declare commitment to developing te reo me ngā tikanga Māori in your professional practice. (Teaching Council)
A key 2025 change for overseas qualifications (NZQA assessment)
If your teaching qualification was gained outside New Zealand, you may need an NZQA Teaching International Qualification Assessment (Teaching IQA). NZQA states that, as of 2025, you cannot rely on a pre-approved list and must pursue the teacher-specific international qualification assessment pathway. (NZQA)
This matters because many employers will not progress your hiring (or your immigration process) until they can see you are realistically able to become registered and certificated.
3) The two main routes: ECE vs Secondary (how they differ)
A) ECE route (Early Childhood Education)
ECE includes kindergartens and licensed early learning services. The typical sequence is:
- Confirm your ECE teaching qualification can be recognised (often via NZQA Teaching IQA). (NZQA)
- Apply for Teaching Council registration and a practising certificate pathway. (Teaching Council)
- Secure an offer from an accredited ECE employer and apply for AEWV. (Immigration New Zealand)
- If you are using the Green List pathway, plan for the “work then residence” structure that has been signalled for ECE roles. (Ministry of Education)
Reality check: ECE employers vary widely (community-based, private centres, kindergarten associations). This affects pay settings and how “sponsorship” is handled in practice.
B) Secondary route (Years 9–13 and similar)
The secondary pathway is usually more straightforward because the role is explicitly tied into the Straight to Residence settings on the Green List, provided you meet the Green List role requirements (including registration and any wage/role conditions). (Immigration New Zealand)
A common sequence looks like:
- Align your subject specialty and teaching qualification to NZ requirements (NZQA Teaching IQA may apply). (NZQA)
- Apply for Teaching Council registration and practising certification steps. (Teaching Council)
- Secure a job offer from an accredited school/employer; apply for AEWV to start work if needed. (Immigration New Zealand)
- If eligible under Green List Tier 1, apply for Straight to Residence. (Immigration New Zealand)
4) Visa options that most often apply to teachers
4.1 Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): the main “sponsored job” work visa
AEWV is the dominant work-visa pathway where the employer’s accreditation and your job offer are central. Core expectations include:
- A full-time job offer from an accredited employer
- Meeting qualification and/or work experience requirements relevant to the role
- Meeting any other requirements tied to the role’s skill level and immigration settings (Immigration New Zealand)
In practice, schools and ECE organisations that recruit internationally will often guide you on what they need from you (e.g., evidence you can become certificated, police checks, references, and sometimes proof you’ve started the registration process).
4.2 Green List residence pathways (Tier 1 vs Tier 2)
Immigration New Zealand’s Green List is the reference point for fast-track residence.
- Straight to Residence (Tier 1): If your role is Tier 1 and you meet role requirements (including registration requirements), you can apply for residence with a job offer/role alignment. (Immigration New Zealand)
- Work to Residence (Tier 2): Requires you to have worked at least 24 months in NZ in a Tier 2 Green List role before applying. (Immigration New Zealand)
For teachers, official government messaging has specifically highlighted:
- Secondary teachers: moved to Straight to Residence from May 2024 (Immigration New Zealand)
- ECE (and primary): described as a work-to-residence pathway in the same messaging (Ministry of Education)
5) Pay expectations: what you should realistically budget for (ECE vs Secondary)
Secondary teacher salary indicators (collective agreement settlement terms)
Recent settlement terms for secondary teachers show trained teacher base salary steps (examples):
- Step 1: NZD $61,329 (until 27 Jan 2026), $62,862 (from 28 Jan 2026), $64,119 (from 28 Jan 2027)
- Step 10: NZD $103,086 (until 27 Jan 2026), $105,686 (from 28 Jan 2026), $107,886 (from 28 Jan 2027)
This gives a practical headline range for trained secondary teachers: low $60k to low $100k+, depending on step placement, qualifications, and recognised service.
ECE pay: understand “pay parity” and service-type differences
ECE pay can be more variable than secondary because ECE employers operate under different frameworks. New Zealand’s Ministry of Education maintains guidance on the pay parity opt-in scheme and how salary steps are calculated (qualification group, recognised service, and previous relevant experience). (Ministry of Education)
The key practical insight is that not all ECE settings pay the same way, and parity settings can differ between kindergarten associations and other ECE services. (Ministry of Education)
If you are comparing offers, treat pay and conditions as a core due-diligence item—especially in ECE.
6) Government support you may be able to access: relocation grant
New Zealand’s Education Workforce site indicates an Overseas Relocation Grant may be available to teachers relocating to work in a state or state-integrated school or a licensed early learning centre. (Education Workforce)
There are eligibility rules and conditions, so treat it as a potential support mechanism—not an automatic entitlement.
7) Step-by-step: how to secure an ECE or Secondary role with visa support
Step 1: Confirm you can meet Teaching Council requirements
Start by mapping your profile against the Teaching Council’s overseas-trained teacher requirements:
- Identity and fit-to-teach expectations
- Language competency evidence
- Commitment to te reo me ngā tikanga Māori professional development (Teaching Council)
Step 2: Get your qualification assessed (if needed)
If you trained overseas, prepare for NZQA’s teacher-specific assessment process (Teaching IQA). This is often a gating step for registration progress and employer confidence. (NZQA)
Step 3: Target the right employers (who can actually hire internationally)
“Visa sponsorship” is easier when the organisation already has processes for it. In practice, look for:
- Schools or school networks accustomed to overseas-trained teacher hiring
- Larger ECE groups or kindergarten associations with HR capability
- Employers familiar with AEWV recruitment and compliance (Immigration New Zealand)
Step 4: Build an NZ-aligned application package
For both ECE and secondary, employers typically respond best when you provide:
- A results-based CV (student outcomes, classroom management, curriculum familiarity)
- Clear statement of your registration status (e.g., “Teaching Council application submitted,” “NZQA Teaching IQA in progress”)
- Referees who can confirm role/subjects/age groups taught
- Evidence you understand NZ classroom practice and safeguarding expectations (without overclaiming) (Education Workforce)
Step 5: Secure the offer, then move to AEWV and/or residence pathway
Once you have a formal offer:
- Use AEWV as the common work-visa mechanism tied to accredited employers. (Immigration New Zealand)
- If you are a secondary teacher, assess eligibility for Straight to Residence under Green List settings. (Immigration New Zealand)
- If you are in ECE, plan on the Work to Residence timeline (where applicable) and make sure you understand what evidence you’ll need after 24 months. (Immigration New Zealand)
8) Common mistakes that slow people down (and how to avoid them)
- Applying for jobs without addressing registration
Employers want confidence you can be certificated. Start the Teaching Council/NZQA steps early. (Teaching Council) - Treating ECE and secondary as the same immigration pathway
Secondary has a clearer Straight to Residence position; ECE is often framed as work-to-residence. Build your plan accordingly. (Immigration New Zealand) - Ignoring pay structure differences in ECE
ECE offers can vary; review pay parity settings and conditions carefully. (Ministry of Education) - Not budgeting for timing and documentation
Police checks, qualification assessments, and registration evidence can take time. Start early and keep everything organised.
Conclusion
Teaching in New Zealand through “visa sponsorship” is achievable, but it is not a single-step process. The most reliable approach is to treat it as a three-lane pipeline running in parallel:
- Professional eligibility (Teaching Council registration + practising certificate), (Teaching Council)
- Qualification recognition (NZQA Teaching IQA where required), (NZQA)
- Immigration pathway (AEWV for work, plus Green List residence pathway depending on ECE vs secondary). (Immigration New Zealand)
If you are pursuing secondary, the policy settings are particularly favourable due to the shift into Straight to Residence from May 2024 (subject to meeting role requirements like registration). (Immigration New Zealand) If you are pursuing ECE, the opportunity is still strong, but you should plan for a more staged pathway and pay-setting variability across employer types. (Ministry of Education)
FAQs
1) Do I need teacher registration before I can get a job offer?
Not always, but many employers prefer that you have started the Teaching Council process or can show you meet requirements (including language evidence) and can realistically gain a practising certificate. (Teaching Council)
2) What is the main work visa used when a school or ECE centre “sponsors” me?
Most commonly, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which requires a full-time job offer from an accredited employer and that you meet role requirements. (Immigration New Zealand)
3) Is secondary teaching really a faster residence pathway than ECE?
Secondary teaching has been explicitly moved to Straight to Residence settings on the Green List from May 2024, while ECE has been described in official education sector messaging as a work-to-residence pathway. (Immigration New Zealand)
4) What salary range should I expect as a trained secondary teacher?
Recent settlement terms show trained secondary teacher base salary steps moving roughly from the low NZD $60k range to the low NZD $100k+ range depending on step placement and recognised service.
5) Is there any relocation support for overseas teachers?
There is an Overseas Relocation Grant described by New Zealand’s Education Workforce for eligible teachers moving to work in state/state-integrated schools or licensed early learning centres, subject to conditions. (Education Workforce)