New Zealand work visa cost from the UAE: AED 3,164 for the AEWV, and what else to budget

Tips · 2026-11-01 · 10 min read

A Gulf-based tradesperson budgets at a kitchen table with a notepad, phone and laptop in warm evening light.

The New Zealand work visa cost from the UAE starts at NZD $1540 for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which is about AED 3,164 at the Central Bank of the UAE rate of 7 October 2026. Add the Ministry of Interior police certificate and attestation (AED 400 for use abroad) and the known fees come to roughly AED 3,564 before medicals, flights and your first weeks in New Zealand. This guide puts each cost in dirhams, shows what you pay in the UAE on the way out, and lists what you should never pay.

What the AEWV costs in dirhams

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) states that the Accredited Employer Work Visa costs from NZD $1540 and lets the holder stay up to 5 years depending on the job. The word "from" matters: check the fee on the INZ page on the day you apply, because the amount shown to you in your application is the one that counts.

The Central Bank of the UAE publishes exchange rates against the dirham for more than 70 currencies, updated daily. On its table last updated on 7 October 2026, the New Zealand dollar was listed at 2.054431 dirhams. Multiplying NZD $1540 by that rate gives roughly AED 3,164. This is a rough comparison at the rate published on that date, and rates change, so redo the sum with the day's rate before you pay.

If you live in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait or Bahrain, the same table lists your currency against the dirham on the same date: the Saudi Riyal at 0.978238, the Qatari Riyal at 1.007932, the Omani Rial at 9.538961, the Kuwaiti Dinar at 11.917897 and the Bahraini Dinar at 9.738021. Your bank will apply its own rate on the day, so treat these as a guide only.

The costs before and around your application

Cost	Amount	What to know
AEWV application	From NZD $1540 (about AED 3,164)	Paid by card to INZ; the employer sends you the application link
Ministry of Interior criminal clearance certificate, for use outside the UAE	AED 100	Valid for 30 days from issue; AED 50 if it is for use inside the UAE
MOFA attestation of that certificate	AED 300	Needed when the certificate is used abroad
Dubai Police clearance certificate, if you choose that route	AED 200 for residents, plus an AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee	Valid for 3 months and takes 5 working days
Medical and chest X-ray	Set by the clinic	Only an INZ panel physician may do it, and only panel or registered doctors can take payment

The Ministry of Interior certificate for use abroad adds up to AED 400 once the attestation is included (AED 100 plus AED 300). Together with the visa fee, that is roughly AED 3,564, using the same 7 October rate. INZ requires AEWV applicants to be of good character and asks them to check whether police certificates are needed, so check the INZ page for your own situation before paying for any certificate. Our guide to UAE police clearance validity explains why the 30-day clock matters for the cheaper route.

The Ministry of Interior lists these fees and says the certificate is issued in Arabic and English only. If you are applying from outside the UAE, read how police clearance works from outside the UAE first.

Medicals: the cost you cannot price in advance

INZ requires AEWV chest X-rays and medical examinations to be done by a doctor or radiologist on its approved panel physician list, if there is one in your country. Applicants staying more than 6 months need a chest X-ray if they are citizens of, or spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in, a country without a low incidence of tuberculosis. INZ lists three panel physicians in the UAE and five in Saudi Arabia. For Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain or Jordan, search the INZ list for your country.

The fee sheet we rely on gives no dirham amount for a panel medical, so we do not quote one. Ask the clinic for a written price before you book, and remember that INZ never asks for medical payments itself.

What it costs to leave your UAE job properly

A New Zealand offer does not end your UAE obligations. A few items carry a cost or a risk of one:

Notice. Under the UAE Labour Law, the notice period must not be less than 30 days or more than 90 days, and the party that fails to serve it must pay a notice period allowance. Read how to fit 30 to 90 days around your start date.
Visa cancellation. The ICP service for cancelling residency permits lists an application fee of AED 50 and a smart services fee of AED 100, so AED 150 in total, processed in 2 days. See the ICP service page for the current figures.
Overstaying. Staying after the grace period costs a fine of AED 50 per day. The grace period is 30 days as standard, 90 days for skilled workers in levels 1 to 3 and 180 days for Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders.
Probation. A worker who ends employment during probation without a breach by the employer cannot get a new UAE work permit for one year.

On the other side of the ledger, your employer must pay outstanding wages, other entitlements and gratuity within 14 days of the end of the contract. Gratuity is 21 days' salary for each year of work for people who served more than 1 year but less than 5 years, and 30 days' salary for each year after the first 5 years, calculated on your last basic salary without allowances. Our grace period guide shows how to time the exit.

Landing costs in New Zealand

The biggest early expense is usually housing. In New Zealand the maximum bond is 4 weeks' rent for a general bond, and a landlord who receives one must lodge it online with Tenancy Services within 23 working days. Ask the landlord for the weekly rent in writing and budget for the first rent payment on top.

New Zealand's adult minimum wage is $23.95 per hour before tax from 1 April 2026, and an AEWV job must pay at least the market rate for the job. Ask the employer for the hourly rate in writing before you commit to any spending.

What you should never pay

New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs, including indirectly through a third party. INZ will decline an AEWV application if the applicant or their agent offered or promised money to the employer in exchange for a job offer. INZ also never asks for visa fees to be paid into a bank account: it accepts debit or credit card payment on its forms, or payment at an approved Visa Application Centre.

The same principle applies at home. Abu Dhabi Police state that it is illegal for recruitment companies to charge fees from job seekers, and our post on recruitment agency fees in the UAE sets out what an agent can and cannot ask of you.

How to budget your move step by step

Confirm the offer is from an accredited employer and ask for the written hourly rate and weekly hours.
Wait for the AEWV application link from the employer before you pay for anything. Avoid resigning, ending a lease or committing money in the Gulf on the strength of a listing alone.
Convert NZD $1540 at the Central Bank rate on the day you pay, and add the card charges your bank applies.
Time your Ministry of Interior certificate so its 30 days still cover your application, then add the AED 300 attestation.
Get a written medical price from an INZ panel physician.
List your UAE exit costs: notice, the AED 150 cancellation fees and any gap in rent.
Set aside a bond of up to 4 weeks' rent plus your first weeks of living costs in New Zealand.

If the role asks for English evidence, which applies to skill level 3 to 5 jobs, practising with a tool such as PractiseNow before the test can save a repeat attempt. A tidy CV also helps when you answer an employer's request for documents, and Build AI CV can help you prepare one.

Common mistakes

Quoting a fee from memory. The AEWV fee is "from" NZD $1540, so check INZ before you budget.
Letting the police certificate expire. The Ministry of Interior version is valid for 30 days from issue, so ordering it too early can mean paying again.
Paying for a job offer. Employers cannot charge you, and offering money for a job can get your visa application declined.
Resigning too soon. Ending a UAE job before you hold an offer and the approvals puts your residence and savings at risk.
Forgetting the exchange margin. Your bank will not use the Central Bank table rate, so keep a buffer.

For a wider view of the New Zealand route, see the AEWV in depth, then compare it with six checks before accepting a trade offer. To see how the same costs look in another currency, read PinoyAbroad's AEWV cost in pesos guide. You can also browse current roles such as Fitter / Turner and Welder in Christchurch or the full jobs list.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a New Zealand work visa from the UAE in dirhams?

The AEWV costs from NZD $1540, which is roughly AED 3,164 at the Central Bank of the UAE rate of 7 October 2026. Rates change daily, so use the current table and the fee shown on the INZ application before you pay.

Do I pay the employer anything to get a New Zealand job?

No. New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay their recruitment costs, including through a third party. INZ will decline an application where money was offered or promised in exchange for a job offer, so walk away from any request for payment.

Which UAE police certificate is cheaper for use abroad?

The Ministry of Interior certificate costs AED 100 for use outside the UAE plus AED 300 for MOFA attestation, while Dubai Police lists AED 200 for residents plus an AED 20 fee. Check which one your application asks for, and note the different validity of 30 days and 3 months.

What does it cost to cancel my UAE residence visa?

The ICP cancellation service lists an application fee of AED 50 and a smart services fee of AED 100, processed in 2 days. Your employer starts the process with MOHRE, and the grace period afterwards depends on your category.

How big can a New Zealand rental bond be?

A general bond is capped at 4 weeks' rent, and the landlord must lodge it online with Tenancy Services within 23 working days. Read the Tenancy Services pages for how a bond is returned, because this guide only covers the cap and the lodging deadline.

Key takeaways

The AEWV costs from NZD $1540, roughly AED 3,164 at the 7 October 2026 rate.
The Ministry of Interior certificate and attestation add AED 400 for use abroad.
Leaving your UAE job has its own costs, from notice to AED 150 in cancellation fees.
A New Zealand bond is capped at 4 weeks' rent, so plan your first month in advance.
You should never pay an employer or agent for a job offer.

Last checked: 2026-11-01 against the official pages linked above.

Every case is different — book a consultation and our partner registered migration agents (MARA) and licensed New Zealand immigration advisers will assess yours.

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