IRD number in New Zealand for OFWs: your first 30 days of pay, leave and rights

Tips · 2026-10-24 · 10 min read

A Filipino couple reviews a laptop and paperwork at a kitchen table in their New Zealand flat.

An IRD number is the first thing most OFWs in New Zealand need to sort out, because it is how Inland Revenue identifies you for tax. It is free to apply for, it stays with you for life, and your employer will ask for it so your pay is taxed properly. In the same first 30 days, it pays to learn your basic rights: the minimum wage, sick leave, holidays, and who to call if something goes wrong.

This guide is for Filipino workers who have just landed, or are about to land, on a work visa such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

Why your first 30 days in New Zealand matter

You are not alone in this. New Zealand's 2023 Census counted 99,264 people born in the Philippines, up from 67,632 in 2018, the largest numerical increase of any overseas birthplace. In the same census, 108,297 people (2.2 percent) identified as Filipino.

That community is a real help, but advice passed around in group chats is not always current. The first month is when you set up the records that protect you later: your tax number, a copy of your employment agreement, your first pay details and your OFW paperwork with the Philippine side.

Your IRD number: what it is and why your employer asks for it

Inland Revenue (IRD) is New Zealand's tax department. Your IRD number identifies you for tax, it is unique to you, and you keep the same number for life.

There is no fee to apply. If anyone offers to "process" an IRD number for you for money, you do not need them: the application goes straight to Inland Revenue, and the official IRD website explains how new arrivals apply.

Your employer needs the number so your pay is taxed correctly from your first pay. Give it to your employer as soon as you have it, and keep the confirmation somewhere safe.

KiwiSaver is not for temporary visa holders

You may hear co-workers talk about KiwiSaver, New Zealand's retirement savings scheme. Inland Revenue says it is for New Zealand citizens and people entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely. People on a temporary, visitor, work or student visa cannot join.

So if a form or a colleague says you must sign up while you are on an AEWV, check first.

Pay and leave: the minimum rights you start with

Immigration New Zealand says everyone in New Zealand, including migrants, has the same minimum employment rights, including paid holidays and sick leave. Your visa type does not lower that floor.

Right	What the law says	When it starts
Adult minimum wage	$23.95 an hour before tax ($958 for a 40-hour week)	From 1 April 2026
Starting-out and training minimum wage	$19.16 an hour	From 1 April 2026
Paid annual holidays	At least 4 weeks a year	After 12 months of continuous employment
Paid sick leave	10 days a year for eligible employees	Check the eligibility rules on Employment New Zealand
Job fees	Employers cannot charge you for a job or pass on their recruitment costs	Always, including through a third party

For a sense of scale, $958 a week is about PHP 34,100. That is a rough comparison only, worked out through the Reserve Bank of Australia rates for 16 Oct 2026 (1.2285 New Zealand dollars and 43.78 pesos per Australian dollar), and rates change every day. It is also before tax, and living costs in New Zealand are far higher than at home, so do not plan a remittance budget on this number alone.

Your AEWV offer must be paid at least the market rate for the job, which may be well above the minimum wage. The minimum wage is the floor, not the target. The Employment New Zealand minimum wage page lists the current rates and types.

Sick leave and holidays in practice

Annual holidays build up over your first year, so do not expect to book a long trip home in your first month. Plan a visit for after you have completed 12 months of continuous employment, when the full 4 weeks of paid annual holidays apply.

Sick leave rules have eligibility conditions, so read the Employment New Zealand sick leave page early, before you actually need a day off.

Your AEWV employment agreement: what to keep and check

Before you start, keep a clear copy of your employment agreement. Immigration New Zealand says an AEWV agreement cannot include unlawful deductions, a trial period or unacceptable bonding clauses. If your agreement mentions any of these, raise it with your employer and get the answer in writing.

Your AEWV is linked to one accredited employer and one job. If you are not sure your employer is accredited, our guide to checking the accredited employer before you sign or pay shows how to search INZ's list by company name or the 13-digit New Zealand Business Number. Our AEWV guide for Filipino workers covers the visa itself, and JobFinder's job offer checklist for Australia and New Zealand is a handy second read before you sign anything new.

Remember that time on an AEWV has a limit. The total can be 5 years for most jobs, or 3 years for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 roles, after which a person normally has to spend 12 months in a row outside New Zealand.

Your first 30 days, step by step

Days 1 to 3: save your documents. Scan your passport, visa, employment agreement and OFW paperwork into one folder on your phone, and keep printed copies in a separate place.
Week 1: apply for your IRD number. Use the official Inland Revenue website, pay no one to do it, and give the number to your employer as soon as it arrives.
Week 1: read your agreement again. Check your pay rate, hours and job title against your visa, and look for any trial period or deduction clause that should not be there.
Week 2: check your first pay. Compare your hours and hourly rate with the agreement, and keep a record of the hours you worked each week.
Week 2: save the help numbers. Add the Migrant Workers Office New Zealand (+64-4-2601161) and OWWA (1348) to your phone.
Weeks 3 to 4: sort your OFW status. If you will go home for a holiday later, learn what your Balik-Manggagawa OFW Pass needs before you book a flight.
Day 30: update your work record. Note your New Zealand job title, duties and start date while they are fresh, ready for your next application.

Staying connected to the Philippine side: MWO, OWWA and your OFW Pass

The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) New Zealand is at the Philippine Embassy, Level 1, 286 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington 6011.

The MWO matters most when your situation changes. If you change employers in New Zealand, entered from another country, or came in on a visitor or student visa, MWO New Zealand requires your contract to be verified before you can get an OEC. It charges NZD17.50 for contract verification and NZD40.00 for OWWA membership renewal or registration.

For returning workers, Balik-Manggagawa going back to the same employer, job and country can use the digital OFW Pass in the eGovPH app as their exit clearance. Our guide to the OFW Pass and its rules before you fly explains the rest.

OWWA membership is the welfare side. Our explainer on OWWA membership in New Zealand and how to renew it sets out who pays the USD 25 and when it runs out.

Where to get help if something goes wrong

Workplace problems and OFW problems go to different offices. For pay, hours and leave, the New Zealand government's Employment New Zealand pages are the starting point. For your contract verification, OFW Pass or welfare as a Filipino worker, contact the MWO in Wellington.

The DMW's Advisory No. 17, Series of 2025 told OFWs in New Zealand to deal only with official INZ channels and the Migrant Workers Office, and to watch for suspicious job offers or immigration services.

Only a licensed immigration adviser (or an exempt person) may give New Zealand immigration advice, and you do not need an adviser at all to apply for a visa. Our guide to who Filipino workers can call when work goes wrong lists the offices side by side.

Common mistakes Filipino workers make in the first month

Paying someone for an IRD number. It is free to apply. Anyone charging a "processing fee" is charging for something you can do yourself.
Paying money for a job or a "new employer". New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job, and INZ will decline an AEWV application if money was offered to an employer in exchange for a job offer.
Signing up for KiwiSaver on a work visa. Temporary and work visa holders cannot join.
Changing employers without telling the MWO. A new employer means your contract must be verified before your next OEC, and a change of job on an AEWV also has visa rules of its own.
Paying visa fees into a bank account. INZ never asks for this. Its scam protection page explains how it really takes payment.

Planning your next step while you settle in

Your first New Zealand job is also the start of your New Zealand work history. Write down your duties and the tools or machines you use while the details are fresh. When you later look at another role, such as this fitter, turner and welder job in Christchurch, that record makes your application far stronger.

A simple English CV that lists your New Zealand experience first is easy to build with Build AI CV, and a Talent Tabloid profile lets you show verified work history to employers in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay for an IRD number in New Zealand?

No. Inland Revenue says it is free to apply for an IRD number. You keep the same number for life.

Can I join KiwiSaver on an AEWV?

No. Inland Revenue says KiwiSaver is for New Zealand citizens and people entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely. People on a temporary, visitor, work or student visa cannot join the scheme.

What is the minimum wage in New Zealand in 2026?

From 1 April 2026 the adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour before tax, or $958 for a 40-hour week. The starting-out and training minimum wages are $19.16 an hour. Your AEWV job must also pay at least the market rate for the role.

Do migrant workers get sick leave and holidays in New Zealand?

Yes. Immigration New Zealand says migrants have the same minimum employment rights as everyone else. Eligible employees get 10 days of paid sick leave a year, and at least 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after 12 months of continuous employment.

Where is the Migrant Workers Office in New Zealand?

The MWO New Zealand is at the Philippine Embassy, Level 1, 286 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington 6011, telephone +64-4-2601161. It handles contract verification and OWWA renewals for Filipino workers.

Key takeaways

Apply for your IRD number early: it is free, it lasts for life, and your employer needs it for your pay.
People on work or other temporary visas cannot join KiwiSaver.
From 1 April 2026 the adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour, and migrants have the same minimum rights as everyone else.
Never pay for a job, and never pay visa fees into a bank account.
Changing employers means contract verification at the MWO in Wellington before your next OEC.

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