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Useful experience for immigration officers includes:

• work as a support officer with Immigration New Zealand
• work in a role that involves interpreting legislation, such as a contact centre role with a government organisation like Inland Revenue
• work in local or national government organisations, or state-owned enterprises
• customer service experience.

Immigration officers may do some or all of the following:

• interpret and provide information about immigration laws, policies and procedures for migrants and other stakeholders
• answer written and phone enquiries from migrants and other stakeholders
• read, check and decide on applications for residency or entry into New Zealand
• interview applicants
• provide correspondence between applicants, immigration advisors and lawyers
• explain decisions to applicants
• issue visas
• assess potential immigration risks
• manage caseloads
• investigate breaches of immigration laws.

Immigration officer roles moving to New Zealand

Chances of getting work as an immigration officer are good, as Immigration New Zealand recruits new immigration officers on a regular basis, typically each location will have an intake of 10-15 immigration officers every 3-4 months.

According to the Census, 606 immigration officers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Previous experience in administration or customer service useful

You can gain relevant experience and increase your chances of securing an immigration officer job if you have worked in an Immigration New Zealand customer service or administrative support role. A general background in customer service is also useful.

One employer of immigration officers

Immigration New Zealand (part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) is the only employer of immigration officers in New Zealand.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

(04) 901 1499 - www.mbie.govt.nz

Immigration officers may progress to work in senior positions, or as managers.

They may also move on to work as business analysts in Immigration New Zealand, other parts of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, or in other government departments.

• Business analyst job information

Immigration officers may specialise as immigration specialists (technical advisers), who supervise and mentor immigration officers. They are appointed based on their experience in making visa and permit decisions.

Immigration officers need to be:

• good at communicating, particularly in writing
• friendly, patient, honest and fair
• responsible and resilient under pressure
• able to use sound judgement 
• able to work well under pressure and in a team
• able to keep information private
• accurate, with an eye for detail.