To visit New Zealand and work you probably need a work visa
Everyone working in New Zealand for any period must be a New Zealand or Australian citizen, and Australian permanent resident, hold a New Zealand residency permit, or a valid work visa (Australians have the automatic right to work in New Zealand). This is the law, and the responsible government department, Immigration New Zealand, is required to implement it.
Visiting producers, directors, cast and crew must apply for a Temporary Work Visa before they come and work. Usually the production arranges the work visas on behalf of the crew. These requirements apply equally to ordinary employees, independent contractors and freelance crew. In Immigration New Zealand documentation the word employee also applies to contractors and freelance crew.
The most common screen crew visa is called an Entertainers Work Visa.
To assist Immigration New Zealand interpret the law, they work within rules laid out in the INZ Operational Manual. The part that specifically relates to temporary entry for screen crew Immigration Instructions - Temporary Entry 2. The current version is dated 31 April 2021.
Information on this The Screen Guild website is a highly simplified summary, and you should refer to the full INZ Operational Manual or the Immigration New Zealand website to get the full detailed picture.
Section W3.1 of Immigration Instructions - Temporary Entry 2 requires, among other things, that the producers show that the crew they want to bring in are manifestly essential to the production, or that they do not put at risk engagement of New Zealand professionals, or that the producer has appropriately looked at engaging New Zealand professionals.
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To get a work visa, crew probably need a letter from the Screen Industry Guild
Section W3.10 of Immigration Instructions - Temporary Entry 2 requires, with some exceptions, that the producer obtains the agreement of the relevant New Zealand performers union or professional association. For crew, excluding producers and directors, this professional association is The Screen Guild. For Producers refer SPADA and for directors or editors refer DEGNZ.
The way to obtain agreement is by requesting from The Screen Guild a letter of non-objection (LONO) which can be forwarded with the visa application to Immigration New Zealand. The Screen Guild normally processes a request for a letter of non-objection within two working days. This will greatly facilitate and speed up most crew visa applications with Immigration New Zealand.
_________ IMPORTANT UPDATE__________
Screen Industry Guild - LONO Application Fee Update
The National Executive has approved updates to Letter of No Objection (LONO) application fees, effective 1 September 2026.
_________FEE STRUCTURE__________
1. STANDARD LONO:
- Standard Crew LONO - $150 plus GST
- URGENT Standard Crew LONO - $300 plus GST
Standard Crew LONO:
Applies where the position covered by the LONO application is a crew role that does not have overall responsibility for leading, managing or supervising an entire screen production department.
2. HEAD OF DEPARTMENT LONO:
- HOD LONO - $300 plus GST
- URGENT HOD LONO - $600 plus GST
Head of Department (HOD) LONO:
Applies where the position covered by the LONO application has overall responsibility for leading, managing or supervising a screen production department. The category is based on the position covered by the application - not the applicant’s usual job title, experience or role on another production.
3. RECONSIDERATIONS:
Reconsideration Fee:
A request for reconsideration of a declined LONO application is treated as a further assessment and attracts an additional fee. The reconsideration fee is the same as the fee charged for the original application.
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Key Notes:
URGENT LONO APPLICATIONS:
Where an applicant requests that a LONO be assessed urgently, the urgent application fee applies. The Guild will use its best endeavours to process the application within 24 hours.
Payment of the urgent fee does not guarantee that a LONO will be issued within 24 hours or that the application will be approved. Processing may take longer where additional information, consultation or further investigation is required, or where other circumstances outside the Guild’s control cause delay.
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These changes reflect the National Executive's commitment to ensuring the LONO process remains sustainable and appropriately resourced.
For questions regarding the new fee structure, please contact Kelly Lucas – info@screenguild.co.nz
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