If you’re aiming for skilled residence in New Zealand under the Green List or Skilled Migrant Category, one crucial detail you need to get right is your employment contract. Specifically, people often ask how “12-month fixed-term contracts” are assessed. How strict are Immigration New Zealand (INZ) rules—does a 12-month contract mean exactly 365 days, or is the definition a bit broader? Here’s how it works, explained with clarity to help you avoid any confusion.
First thing’s first: INZ evaluates contracts based on months rather than counting the exact number of days in a year. While 12 months does equal 365 days in most cases, the assessment focuses on whether your contract covers each full calendar month included in the term.
To count as a full 12 months, the contract should cover the entire duration, including the start and end dates. Any missing days can make the difference in whether your contract meets the skilled residence criteria.
INZ has specific guidelines about what qualifies as a full month. For example, if a contract starts on March 1 and ends on March 29, this does not meet the requirement for a full calendar month. Why? Because March has 31 days, and the contract doesn’t include March 30 and 31. This highlights the importance of inclusive dates when outlining the duration of your contract.
The best way to illustrate this is through examples. Here’s a closer look at what does—and doesn’t—qualify as a 12-month fixed-term contract:
Contract period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. This contract meets the 12-month requirement. It starts on January 1 and ends on December 31, covering the full months of January through December, including all days within this duration.
Contract period from January 27, 2025, to January 25, 2026. While this might appear to span 12 months, it doesn’t meet the criteria. The contract ends on January 25, 2026, leaving out January 26. Since the final month (January 2026) isn’t fully covered, it falls short of the 12-month requirement.
Contract period from March 1, 2025, to February 29, 2026. For leap years like 2026, February has 29 days. This contract covers all the days from March 2025 to February 2026, making it a complete 12-month term.
These assessments ensure that workers meet the full employment duration expected under Green List or Skilled Migrant applications. The focus on months rather than days allows for clearer and more standardized evaluations.
For employers and applicants, this means contracts need to clearly define start and end dates that leave no room for interpretation. Ambiguity—like leaving out a day at the end of a month—can lead to delays or complications in your application.
To avoid any issues with your skilled residence application, here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to employment contracts:
Fixed-term contracts are a vital piece of your residency puzzle in New Zealand. By understanding and meeting these specific guidelines, you can strengthen your application and avoid unnecessary hurdles on your pathway to living and working in this beautiful country.
Vandana Rai is a Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser and has built a reputation around her rare set of skills, which could be considered ideal for her legal profession.