High-Paying Teaching Jobs In New Zealand With Visa Sponsorship

Over the past few years, New Zealand has been facing a great decline in the number of trained educators at almost every level of its schooling system. In response, the government is offering teaching jobs in New Zealand with visa sponsorship. For you, this is a beautiful opportunity to live and work in this wonderful country.

But I will be honest with you, it’s one thing to want to go to New Zealand, it’s another thing to know how to get there. How can you navigate their immigration process, get your qualification recognized, and understand what it takes to adapt to their local school culture?

Hopefully, this detailed guide will shed some light. It doesn’t matter if you are a newly qualified teacher looking to explore your options abroad or maybe you are a mid-career educator looking for a lifestyle change; this guide will detail everything you need.

Why Should You Teach in New Zealand?

There are lots of reasons why you should consider a teaching jobs in New Zealand, especially if you are a teacher. While you might think this is about relocating, it may be more than that. For me, it’s the sense of purpose that comes with teaching in one of the world’s most forward-thinking education systems. More reasons you should consider this include;

World-Class Education System

The education system in New Zealand is a well-respected one, and this is a result of its student-centered approach, learning environments, and critical thinking. The system forces you to level up and be creative, collaborative, and adaptive.

Exceptional Work-Life Balance

In countries like New Zealand, work-life balance is a huge thing. You don’t have to sacrifice your personal life. Schools have reasonable hours for work, and at the end of the day, you often find time to enjoy your time outside work.

Competitive Salaries and Benefits

The salary mark for New Zealand might not be the best when you compare it to other countries, but they do have a great teacher compensation system that is equally competitive. Teachers employed under the public system are protected by strong union representation and clear pay scales that reward experience and qualifications.

Diverse, Welcoming Communities

New Zealand is a welcoming place for many immigrants. Their society is a multicultural and inclusive one. As a teacher, you get to meet people and students from a range of backgrounds. Outside work, you will find time to interact with the local lifestyle thanks to a friendly, laid-back, and supportive culture and network.

Kinds of Teaching Jobs in New Zealand With Visa Sponsorship

Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Primary School Teachers
Secondary School Teachers
Special Education Needs (SEN) Teachers
Relief and Substitute Teaching

How Visa Sponsorship Works for Teaching Jobs

I think what I love most about New Zealand is the fact that they have a well-structured immigration system when it comes to skilled work. As a teacher, here is everything you need to know about their visa sponsorship.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

For you to move to New Zealand through sponsorship, you have to go through the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). This is the type of visa that is designed for mostly skilled workers who have received a job offer from a New Zealand employer. The job offer has to be

Full-time and genuine
Listed as a role the employer is struggling to fill locally
Paid at or above the median wage (unless exempted)
Offered by an accredited employer

Your Employer Must Be Accredited

Not every employer of labour can sponsor foreign workers. So whatever school is offering you employment, they must be officially accredited by immigration new zealand (INZ). Only then can they sponsor you through the AEWV.

Visa Duration and Conditions

The AEWV is valid for up to 3 years, depending on the terms of your employment contract and wage level. It is a renewable visa, and in some cases, they might allow you to bring your partner and dependents with you while coming to New Zealand.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

Teaching jobs in New Zealand with visa sponsorship are one of the fastest routes to permanent residency. There are a few paths you can take to achieve this.

Green list pathway

If your role is on the green list, that is, you’re teaching a subject that is in high demand, you may qualify for a residence visa sooner. This might be after 2 years of working full-time.

Skilled migrant category

The green list isn’t the only way to PR As long as you are working a high-skilled job for a long period, you can build eligibility for PR under the skilled migrant category.

Family residence options

Your family may be able to apply for PR as well, giving you long-term stability and access to public services. But you have to gain your residence first.

Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Teachers

Your qualification as a teacher must be equivalent to tht if New Zealand standards.
For you to legally teach in New Zealand, you must register with the Teaching Council of New Zealand
If you are not from an English-speaking country, then you need to have a high IELTS score, usually 7.0
You must provide police clearance from your home country and any other country you’ve lived in
Some teaching roles require you to have at least 1-3 years of experience.

How to Get Your Teaching Qualifications Recognized

Step 1: Apply for Qualification Assessment

Submit your documents to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority for assessment. This process will confirm if your qualifications are comparable to those of a New Zealand teaching qualification.

Step 2: Apply for Registration with the Teaching Council

Once NZQA approves your qualifications, you need to apply to the Teaching Council of New Zealand, which is to verify that you are qualified, competent, and of good character.

Step 3: Pay your fees

The assessment for the NZQA usually takes around 25-30 business days, and the fee is around $445- $745. The teaching council, on the other hand, takes around 4-6 weeks, and the fee is approximately $300

Where to Find Teaching Jobs with Visa Sponsorship

Finding teaching jobs in New Zealand with visa sponsorship isn’t that much of a hassle because schools in New Zealand advertise teaching positions all year round. You just have to know where to look. Here are a few places to start;

Job Websites

Websites like;

Education Gazette NZ
Seek.co.nz
Workhere.co.nz
TeachNZ

They are wonderful places to start.

Recruitment Agencies

There are a good number of Recruitment Agencies that are willing to help you find jobs and do your visa paperwork. Some of them include;

Education Personnel
Randstad Education
Prospero Teaching NZ
TeachAway (global but includes NZ listings)

These agencies often work with schools that are already accredited to sponsor work visas, which makes your job a liite more easier. Remember, only accredited employers can offer you a visa sponsorship under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

How to Apply for a Teaching Job in New Zealand

Now that you know how to find Teaching jobs in New Zealand with visa sponsorship, the next step is how to apply for them. Keep in mind that schools in New Zealand value professionalism, cultural awareness, and clear communication, and that is exactly what your application should reflect.

Create a CV and Cover Letter

When creating your CV, you should ensure to keep it concise, 2-3 pages, and 1 page for your cover letter should do the trick. Your CV should focus on your experiences, qualifications, and specific skills. Ensure to include your teacher registration status and contact details. Again, your cover letter should show why you want to teach in New Zealand and why you are the perfect fit.

Tailor Your Application to New Zealand’s Curriculum and Culture

You should ensure that you mention how familiar you are with the New Zealand curriculum. Also show awareness of biculturalism and respect for Māori culture and language.

Prepare for Remote Interviews

Keep in mind that most interviews happen over Zoom, so ensure you choose a quiet and well-lit place, dress professionally, and test your tech beforehand. Be ready to discuss your classroom strategies and how you will adapt to the New Zealand education system.

Follow Up After Applying

If everything goes right, you should get a response within 1-2 weeks. But if after that time you don’t get any response, it’s okay for you to politely send a follow-up email expressing your continued interest. If in the end, you get rejected, always ask for feedback, as this will help you gain insights that will help you if ever you decide to pursue another application in the future.