Visa Win for Pro Athletes: Why the SPEV Change is a Step in the Right Direction
After a string of rapid-fire immigration changes over the past few years, it’s refreshing to see a policy shift that makes real world sense, especially for New Zealand’s thriving professional sports sector.
As of 26 May 2025, Immigration New Zealand has extended the maximum duration for Specific Purpose or Event Work Visas (SPEV) for professional sports players and coaches. This isn’t just a technical tweak, it’s a smart, long overdue adjustment that better reflects the structure of elite sporting contracts and the needs of clubs, athletes, and communities alike.
Under the updated instructions:
Professional sports players and coaches at a national or regional level can now be granted an initial SPEV for up to 36 months.
If their contract is extended, a further SPEV can also be granted, allowing a total stay of up to 36 months, a new and welcomed pathway that avoids unnecessary exits and reapplications.
Previously, even the most committed, contracted athletes were often forced into short, inflexible visa periods. That made little sense in a world where sports contracts — like the seasons themselves — often span two or three years.
Why Does This Matter?
1. Better Alignment with the Sports Industry
Sporting seasons, especially at a regional and national level, aren’t built around 12-month visa timelines. Clubs need stability. Players need certainty. The new rules acknowledge that.
2. Reduces Bureaucratic Red Tape
This update reduces churn — fewer repeat applications, less stress, and more time for everyone to focus on performance, not paperwork.
3. A Win for Clubs and Community Engagement
Athletes aren’t just performers; they’re often role models, coaches, and community ambassadors. Keeping them in New Zealand longer strengthens local connections and sporting development programs.
4. Supporting our Ties with the Pacific
Many professional athletes and coaches in New Zealand come from the Pacific Islands, where sport plays a vital role in community and cultural life. These visa changes better support sporting exchanges and strengthen longstanding regional relationships by allowing clubs to retain Pacific talent longer and more securely.
A Policy That Makes Sense
After a period of frequent and at times unpredictable immigration shifts, it’s refreshing to see a change that’s clearly been made with industry input and common sense in mind.
Professional sport is global, and retaining international talent is key to remaining competitive and growing grassroots participation. These new SPEV settings help New Zealand stand out as a welcoming, organised destination for high calibre athletes and coaches.
