Find aged care support worker jobs in New Zealand for foreign applicants in 2026. Explore employer-sponsored AEWV visas, salaries, accredited employers, recruitment agencies and the Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway. Aged care support worker jobs in New Zealand offer opportunities for foreign applicants in nursing homes, retirement villages, residential care facilities and home care services. Employers recruit caregivers and support workers to assist elderly residents with personal hygiene, mobility, meals and everyday activities. Typical advertised salaries range from NZD $24 to $31 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
Foreign applicants can secure employment through New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) if they receive a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer. Eligible aged care workers can also pursue permanent residence through the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa after completing 24 months of qualifying employment and meeting the NZD $28.25 hourly wage requirement. Employers such as Bupa, Ryman Healthcare, Oceania Healthcare, Summerset and Heritage Lifecare are worth investigating for vacancies.
Aged Care Support Worker Jobs in New Zealand for Foreigners
New Zealand has an established aged care sector that provides residential and community-based support to older people. Nursing homes, retirement villages and home care organisations employ support workers to help residents maintain their independence and receive appropriate daily care.
Typical responsibilities include assisting residents with bathing, dressing, eating, walking and personal hygiene. Workers also monitor residents’ wellbeing, report health changes to nurses, maintain clean environments and provide companionship.
Foreign applicants can investigate opportunities in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin and smaller regional communities.
Aged Care Support Worker Salary in New Zealand
Salary depends on qualifications, experience, employer and the level of care provided.
New Zealand career information and current job advertisements provide the following general guide:
Experience or position
Hourly salary
Entry-level support worker
NZD $24 to $25
Experienced caregiver
NZD $25 to $28
Qualified aged care worker
NZD $28 to $31
Senior support worker
NZD $29 to $35
For example, a worker earning NZD $28.25 per hour for 40 hours weekly would earn approximately NZD $58,760 annually before tax.
Night shifts, weekends and public holidays may attract additional payments.
Important immigration distinction: The NZD $28.25 hourly rate is particularly important for the Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway. A worker may qualify for an AEWV at a lower lawful salary, depending on the job and applicable requirements, but that lower-paid experience will not satisfy the care workforce residence wage requirement.
Sources: New Zealand career information and current job advertisements.
Qualifications and Requirements for Aged Care Support Workers
Employers generally prefer candidates who have completed relevant healthcare or caregiving training.
Common requirements include:
A certificate or diploma in aged care, healthcare assistance or community support.
Relevant experience in a nursing home, hospital or residential care facility.
Knowledge of personal care and elderly support.
Basic understanding of infection prevention and patient safety.
Good spoken and written English.
Ability to work shifts, weekends and public holidays.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing qualifications, particularly Levels 2, 3 and 4, can improve employment prospects.
However, not every employer requires a New Zealand qualification before recruitment. Some provide workplace training.
Foreign applicants should provide their existing healthcare certificates, employment references and evidence of practical experience.
New Zealand Work Visa Sponsorship for Aged Care Workers
The main employer-supported work visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
Under this arrangement, an eligible New Zealand employer recruits a foreign worker for a genuine position and completes the required accreditation and job-check processes.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
To qualify, applicants generally need:
A genuine full-time job offer from an accredited employer.
At least 30 hours of work per week.
Relevant work experience or an acceptable qualification.
Evidence of meeting the employer’s job requirements.
English proficiency where required for the occupation’s skill level.
Good health and character.
The general AEWV skill requirement can be met through at least two years of relevant work experience or a qualification at NZQCF Level 4 or higher, subject to the applicable rules.
The visa can allow a stay of up to five years, depending on the occupation and other conditions.
New Zealand does not have a separate visa officially called an aged care sponsorship visa.
Instead, the employer must be accredited to hire migrants, complete the required job-check process and provide the job offer needed for an AEWV application.
The employer should send the successful candidate an application link through Immigration New Zealand’s system.
A job offer alone does not give permission to work in New Zealand.
Companies Offering Aged Care Jobs in New Zealand
The following organisations operate aged care facilities, retirement villages or home support services. They are potential employers to investigate.
Their inclusion does not mean every vacancy offers visa sponsorship. Applicants must confirm whether the specific employer is accredited and willing to recruit overseas workers.
1. Bupa New Zealand
Bupa operates retirement villages, nursing homes and aged care facilities across New Zealand.
Potential positions:
Caregiver.
Healthcare Assistant.
Aged Care Support Worker.
Activities Assistant.
Corporate address: 109 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
Geneva Healthcare recruits support workers, healthcare assistants and caregivers. It also provides international recruitment and relocation support for selected healthcare positions.
Medcall provides healthcare staffing services to aged care facilities, hospitals and community care providers.
When contacting either agency, explain that you are applying from overseas and need an employer willing to support an AEWV application.
Permanent Residence Pathways for Aged Care Workers
New Zealand has a specific residence pathway for eligible care workforce employees.
This is one of the most important immigration options for foreign aged care support workers.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa allows eligible workers to apply for New Zealand residence after completing 24 months of qualifying employment.
Eligible occupations include:
Aged or Disabled Carer.
Nursing Support Worker.
Personal Care Assistant.
Residential Care Officer.
Disabilities Services Officer.
Therapy Aide.
Diversional Therapist.
Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant.
Māori Health Assistant.
To qualify, applicants generally must:
Be aged 55 or younger when applying.
Have worked in an eligible care workforce occupation for at least 24 months within the previous 30 months.
Have been paid at least NZD $28.25 per hour during the qualifying work experience.
Have worked full-time.
Hold a qualifying work visa during the relevant employment period.
Have a current job or job offer from an accredited employer.
Meet English language, health and character requirements.
The current job must be full-time and permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
The residence visa allows successful applicants to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Eligible partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger may also be included.
After holding the resident visa for two consecutive years, eligible applicants can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
The Skilled Migrant Category is another residence route, but it has separate requirements.
Applicants generally need a skilled job or job offer from an accredited employer and must meet the applicable points, qualification, income or occupational requirements.
An ordinary aged care support worker position does not automatically qualify under this category.
Applicants should check the occupation’s classification and the current Skilled Migrant Category rules before relying on this option.
Important: New Zealand does not use Canada’s Express Entry or Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). Those are Canadian immigration programmes and do not apply to New Zealand employment or residence applications.
Visa Requirements and Documents for Foreign Applicants
Applicants should prepare the following documents before starting their immigration application:
Valid international passport.
Genuine employment offer.
Employment agreement.
Accredited employer and job-check details.
Healthcare or caregiving qualifications.
Previous employment reference letters.
Payslips or other employment evidence.
Detailed CV.
English language evidence, where required.
Police clearance certificates.
Medical examination and chest X-ray results, where requested.
Passport photographs.
Certified English translations of documents that are not in English.
The immigration officer may request additional documents depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Steps to Get Employer-Sponsored Aged Care Jobs
Step 1: Prepare your CV.
Include your healthcare qualifications, employment history, practical care experience and professional references.
Step 2: Search for accredited employers.
Investigate Bupa, Ryman Healthcare, Oceania, Summerset, Heritage Lifecare and Arvida.
Step 3: Apply for relevant vacancies.
Use employer career portals and established recruitment agencies.
Step 4: Attend interviews.
Expect questions about elderly care, personal hygiene, dementia support, patient safety and communication.
Step 5: Receive a genuine job offer.
Check the salary, working hours, job duties and employment conditions.
Step 6: Confirm employer accreditation.
Check that the employer is accredited and has completed the required job-check process.
Step 7: Apply for the AEWV.
The employer sends the application link. Complete the online form and upload the requested documents.
Step 8: Complete health and character checks.
Provide medical examinations, police certificates and other evidence requested by Immigration New Zealand.
Step 9: Travel and begin employment.
Once the visa is approved, follow its conditions and maintain accurate employment and salary records.
Step 10: Prepare for residence.
If pursuing the care workforce pathway, monitor your qualifying employment period and ensure that your salary remains at or above NZD $28.25 per hour.
Where to Apply for Aged Care Jobs in New Zealand
The following websites provide useful job listings and employer application portals.
New Zealand uses Visa Application Centres in selected countries for certain application services. Nigeria does not appear on Immigration New Zealand’s published list of New Zealand Visa Application Centres.
Therefore, Nigerian applicants should follow the online application instructions and any passport or document submission directions issued by Immigration New Zealand. Do not assume that an ordinary VFS centre in Lagos or Abuja accepts New Zealand visa applications.
New Zealand Embassy Responsible for Nigeria
New Zealand’s diplomatic representation for Nigeria is handled through its Embassy to Ethiopia, which is accredited to Nigeria.
Address: Bole Sub City, Woreda 09, House No. 111, behind Atlas Hotel, near Shala Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The embassy is not a recruitment agency. Employment permits and visa decisions are handled by Immigration New Zealand.
Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for New Zealand Aged Care Jobs
Foreign applicants should avoid these common immigration and recruitment mistakes:
Paying someone who promises guaranteed New Zealand visa approval.
Accepting an offer from an employer without checking its accreditation.
Assuming every caregiver vacancy offers immigration sponsorship.
Accepting a salary below the residence pathway threshold and assuming the employment will count towards residence.
Submitting false employment references or qualifications.
Confusing the AEWV with the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa.
Assuming that two years of overseas care experience automatically qualifies someone for New Zealand residence.
Paying an unauthorised person for an employment offer.
Ignoring visa expiry dates and employment conditions.
Failing to retain payslips, employment contracts and tax records needed for a future residence application.
Always use official Immigration New Zealand websites and verify employers before making financial commitments.
Conclusion:
Aged care support worker jobs in New Zealand are worth considering for foreign applicants with experience in elderly care, personal assistance, residential support and healthcare services. The sector offers employment opportunities across nursing homes, retirement villages, hospitals and home care organisations. However, applicants outside New Zealand must understand how employer accreditation and work visas operate before accepting an employment offer.
The main route for overseas applicants is the Accredited Employer Work Visa. This visa allows an eligible foreign worker to take up a genuine job with a New Zealand employer that has the required accreditation and job approval. For aged care workers, this means finding an organisation that is prepared to recruit internationally and complete the necessary immigration process.
Companies such as Bupa, Ryman Healthcare, Oceania Healthcare, Summerset, Heritage Lifecare and Arvida are useful places to start. They operate aged care facilities and regularly recruit caregivers, healthcare assistants and other support staff. Their careers pages provide details of available vacancies and application requirements. Geneva Healthcare and Medcall are also worth contacting because they recruit workers for community care, residential care and healthcare support positions.
Before applying, prepare a CV that clearly explains your experience. Employers want to know whether you have worked with elderly people, supported individuals with limited mobility, assisted with personal hygiene or helped patients with dementia and other age-related conditions. If you have a healthcare certificate or diploma, include it with your application. Employment reference letters and payslips can also help demonstrate that your experience is genuine.
One of the most important things to understand is the difference between obtaining a work visa and qualifying for residence. An AEWV allows you to work in New Zealand under the conditions of your visa, but it does not automatically give you permanent residence. The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa provides a separate route for eligible aged care workers who complete the required employment period.
Under this pathway, applicants generally need 24 months of qualifying full-time employment within a 30-month period. They must work in an eligible care workforce occupation, be paid at least NZD $28.25 per hour and have a qualifying job with an accredited employer when applying for residence. They must also meet the age, English language, health and character requirements.
This makes salary an important consideration when choosing an employer. A job paying NZD $24 or NZD $25 per hour may still be a legitimate employment opportunity and could qualify for an AEWV if all applicable requirements are satisfied. However, it will not meet the NZD $28.25 hourly requirement for counting work towards the Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway. Applicants who intend to pursue residence should discuss salary progression and employment conditions before signing their contracts.
There is also an important difference between the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa and the Permanent Resident Visa. The first is a residence visa that allows successful applicants to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely, subject to its travel conditions. After holding that residence visa for two consecutive years, an eligible person can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which provides unrestricted travel in and out of the country.
Applicants should not confuse New Zealand’s immigration system with Canada’s. New Zealand does not use Express Entry, the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Rural Community Immigration Pilot. Its relevant options include the Accredited Employer Work Visa, Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa and, where the individual meets the separate requirements, the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
For Nigerian applicants, the safest approach is to secure a genuine job offer before starting the work visa application. Check the employer’s accreditation, review the employment agreement and ensure that the job duties match the position being offered. The immigration process is completed through Immigration New Zealand’s official online systems. Do not pay anyone who claims to have special access to embassy jobs or guaranteed visa approvals.
You should also plan for the cost of settling in New Zealand. Rent, food, transportation and other expenses vary considerably between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and smaller towns. Ask whether the employer provides relocation assistance, temporary accommodation, transport support or help finding permanent housing. Calculate your expected income after tax and compare it with the cost of living in the area where you will work.
Another practical point is to keep records from your first day of employment. Retain your employment agreements, payslips, tax records, work visa approvals and evidence of the hours you have worked. These documents may be required when you eventually apply for residence. If you change employers, check whether your new job and employer meet your visa conditions and whether the employment will continue to count towards your residence pathway.
Aged care work is not always easy. It involves physical duties, patience and the ability to support people who may have dementia, disabilities or long-term medical conditions. Employers value workers who communicate clearly, respect residents’ privacy and treat older people with dignity. Relevant experience and recognised training can make a difference when competing for international vacancies.
The best way to approach this opportunity is to combine relevant care experience, a recognised qualification, a genuine employer-supported job offer and a clear understanding of the residence requirements. Start with the official careers websites of New Zealand’s aged care providers, verify the employer’s immigration status and ensure that the salary meets your employment and future residence objectives.
For qualified foreign applicants, New Zealand’s aged care sector offers a route to legal employment and a possible longer-term future in the country. The Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway makes this particularly relevant for workers who can secure eligible employment and maintain the required wage conditions throughout their qualifying period.
