Immigration New Zealand has warned that charging people for New Zealand jobs is unlawful even when payments are arranged overseas. Its October 20 announcement follows an Employment Court ruling dated October 8, 2026.

The court said section 12A of the Wages Protection Act 1983 applies to such payments, including those involving intermediaries acting for employers. It answered a preliminary legal question in two proceedings. Whether the law was breached in those individual cases was left for the substantive proceedings.

INZ also says the prohibition covers payments made for prospective workers by relatives or others. The agency says it cannot recover premiums paid in job scams, although it has options to hold New Zealand employers to account for charging migrants for jobs.

New India routes still require a genuine job

The warning lands as two Indian work-visa categories opened on October 20. INZ's separate announcement on the trade agreement's visa commitments says the Temporary Employment Entry routes allow up to 5,000 holders in New Zealand at one time. Applicants still need qualifying offers from accredited employers and must meet the relevant qualifications, English, health and character requirements. These temporary visas, valid for up to three years, do not provide a pathway to residence.

The India Skilled Work Visa guidance contains a specific warning about job-offer scams in India and South Asia. It says an application will be declined if the applicant or agent has offered or promised money to an employer, or the employer's agent, for an offer. The job must provide at least 30 hours a week. A first application must be made from outside New Zealand, and the eventual visa restricts work to the stated employer, job and location. A signed job offer, employment agreement and job description are required with the application, with details of pay, hours and responsibilities.

INZ's existing scam guidance distinguishes buying a job from paying for legitimate services. Employers cannot pass their recruitment costs to workers, including through a third party. An immigration adviser may charge a fair price for advice, and applicants may face costs for application evidence such as a medical examination. Recruitment-agency charges should reflect the service provided. A demand described as a processing or placement fee can therefore still be a warning sign.

The guidance also rejects claims that an adviser can secure priority through personal connections. Using an adviser does not earn an application faster treatment. Applicants are not required to appoint one; those who do should use someone legally authorised to give immigration advice. INZ recommends checking employer accreditation and speaking directly to the prospective employer. It also cautions against promises that temporary work will guarantee residence, or packages that combine a visa, employment and overpriced accommodation. Its guidance warns that fraudulent website addresses can closely resemble the official address.

What can be reported, and where

Employment New Zealand's migrant-exploitation guidance identifies demands to pay for a job, return wages or surrender a passport among warning signs. Other examples include unpaid hours, threats against a worker's family and threats to have a visa ended. Migrants have the same minimum employment rights as New Zealand workers, even when working unlawfully. The agency distinguishes migrant exploitation from some minor or one-off employment breaches, but says it can still help with those problems.

For workers already in New Zealand, the official reporting number is 0800 200 088, with interpreters available in more than 180 languages. Reports can also be made online. Employment New Zealand evaluates them with INZ to determine the response, which may involve employer education or enforcement. Its guidance recommends retaining wage and hours records, messages requesting money for a job, and evidence of payments. These records can help explain what happened without relying only on a verbal account. The guidance also says workers should keep their own passports and copies of their visas, rather than leave those documents with an employer.

The government reporting portal asks who was involved, when the problem began, how it affected the worker and what outcome is sought. It allows reports on another person's behalf and requests employer details. People can ask for an interpreter. The portal cautions that insufficient information, or inability to contact the reporter, may prevent officials from progressing a request for help.

Related Dalimss News coverage examines the EU's proposed business coalition against human trafficking and Canada's changes to Express Entry job-offer points. Those are separate policies, not New Zealand requirements.