The Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa is a 6-month visa that allows you to work for any employer in New Zealand, for any wage above the minimum wage.
To apply for the visa, you need:
- two recent passport photos
- a certified copy of the identification page of your passport (Community Law or a Justice of the Peace can do this for free available through most Citizens Advice Bureau centres)
- a copy of the Report of Exploitation from MBIE
Once you get your Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa, be sure to keep copies or take a screenshot of job ads and job applications, showing the role and the hourly wage. You will need this evidence if you want to extend your visa.
You can extend the visa for a further 6 months. You will need to complete another application form with evidence that you have looked for work similar to your previous role for at least four months. You don’t have to apply for the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa if you don’t want to. If you get offered another job by an accredited employer, you can apply for a variation to your visa instead of the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa. If you stay on your existing visa, you may be able to stay in New Zealand for the amount of time remaining on your visa.
