ExplainerAugust 26, 2026 · 8:11 AM4-minute read

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NEW ZEALAND JOB SCAMS

Five checks Filipino applicants can use to verify a recruiter, employer, fees, visa route, and written job offer before paying or travelling.

The Department of Migrant Workers has warned Filipinos about fake or misleading job offers for New Zealand. Some applicants have reportedly been asked to pay large amounts, only to discover that the promised job did not exist or was different from what they were told.

If you are applying for work in New Zealand, these five checks can help you avoid losing money or travelling into a dangerous situation.

Check the Philippine recruitment agency and the job order

A professional-looking Facebook page, office, or contract is not proof that a recruiter is authorized. Check the agency's current license status and the approved job order through the Department of Migrant Workers. A licensed agency can still advertise a position it was not approved to fill, so verify both.

Do not rely on screenshots supplied by the recruiter. Search the official DMW records yourself or ask the DMW to confirm the offer.

WHAT TO WATCH

Before submitting an application, find the agency's current license entry and the position's approved job order in the DMW records. A missing, suspended, cancelled, or mismatched record means the offer needs direct verification from the DMW.

Do not pay anyone in exchange for the job

Immigration New Zealand says employers cannot charge workers for a job or pass their recruitment costs to the worker, even through another person. Philippine rules for New Zealand-bound workers also place visa, work-permit, and related immigration-adviser costs on the employer.

There may still be legitimate personal expenses, such as obtaining documents or completing a medical examination. But a demand for money to secure the job itself is a major warning sign. Calling it a reservation fee, slot fee, consultancy fee, or urgent processing fee does not make it legitimate.

WHAT TO WATCH

Before paying any amount, demand a written breakdown naming the charge, the recipient, and the official basis. Compare it with the New Zealand and Philippine rules, then ask the DMW about any fee described as necessary to secure the job.

Verify the New Zealand employer and read the full offer

For an Accredited Employer Work Visa, the offer must come from an accredited employer with an approved job check. Immigration New Zealand maintains a searchable list of accredited employers, although some employers choose not to appear publicly and may need separate confirmation.

The written offer and employment agreement should identify the employer, work location, duties, hours, pay, and conditions. If the recruiter will not let you read the agreement before payment or departure, do not proceed.

WHAT TO WATCH

Before signing, compare the company name, address, job title, salary, worksite, and contact person across the offer, employment agreement, visa application, and official employer records. Any mismatch should be resolved in writing before the process continues.

Use the correct visa and official application route

A visitor visa is not a substitute for a work visa. For the Accredited Employer Work Visa process, the employer must give the worker a genuine offer, job description, employment agreement, and a unique link to the official online application.

No recruiter or adviser can guarantee approval, special access, or faster treatment through a supposed connection inside immigration. Immigration New Zealand decides applications under its rules, not through private influence.

WHAT TO WATCH

Before submitting the visa application, confirm that the employer supplied the required offer, job description, employment agreement, and official application link. Check the website address and email domain, and read the completed form before it is sent.

Save evidence and report suspicious recruitment early

Keep copies of advertisements, chats, contracts, receipts, bank transfers, names, phone numbers, and account details. These records can help authorities trace the recruiter and support a complaint.

You do not have to wait until money is gone or travel has begun. The DMW's Migrant Workers Protection Bureau accepts reports and can help possible victims pursue complaints. If you are already in New Zealand and believe you are being exploited, Immigration New Zealand and Employment New Zealand also provide assistance.

WHAT TO WATCH

After reporting, keep the complaint reference, the name of the receiving office, and the next deadline or hearing date. If several applicants received the same offer, encourage each person to preserve and submit their own evidence.

BOTTOM LINE

A real overseas job should survive verification. Before paying, resigning from your current job, borrowing money, or boarding a plane, confirm the Philippine agency, the approved job order, the New Zealand employer, the written employment terms, and the proper visa. Urgency is not proof that an offer is real. It is often the tool a scammer uses to prevent you from checking.

MCT DAILY BRIEF