Foreign directors (other than Australian citizens) who wish to work in New Zealand must apply to the New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) for a temporary working visa. As part of this process, a foreign director or his/her representative is required to submit the supplementary form for Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Personnel Work Visa Application (INZ 1187) to SDGNZ.

By email: office@sdgnz.co.nz
By post: PO Box 47294, Ponsonby, Auckland

If you require an urgent approval (in less than 3 working days) you can request a letter of non-objection from SDGNZ. The letter is SDGNZ's advice to NZIS that the foreign director is not unnecessarily displacing work for a local NZ director.


SDGNZ will issue a letter of non-objection if:

1. The production has been commissioned by an overseas company and New Zealand is being used as a location, OR

2. Where the production has been commissioned by a New Zealand company, the company is able to satisfy SDGNZ that, prior to engaging an overseas director, all best efforts have been made to secure a New Zealand director.


Process

SDGNZ charges an administration fee for issuing letters of non-objection. The price per application for non-members is NZ$345.00 including GST (New Zealand Goods and Services Tax, 15%).

If you require a letter of non-objection, please fill out the form below and click on ‘send’. The form will be sent automatically to the office.

The fee for non-objections can be direct credited into our account:

The Screen Directors Guild of NZ
01 0102 0024927 00

If you are paying from overseas, you will need to use our SWIFT Code and address to make the payment:

Bank: ANZ Bank
SWIFT Code: ANZBNZ22
Address: ANZ National Bank Wellington, 215 - 229 Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand.

The estimated turn around time for non-objection letters is 1- 2 working days. If SDGNZ requires further information from the applicants this timeframe will be extended.

Membership invitation

We invite all international directors working in NZ to become temporary members of SDGNZ (6 months) for NZ$149.50 incl GST. After completing the online form below, and once we have issued a letter of non-objection, we will email you a Temporary Membership Form. This can be printed out, filled in and signed, and then mailed to SDGNZ, PO Box 47-294, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand.

Temporary membership entitles the visiting director to attend local SDGNZ functions and a copy of the quarterly magazine TAKE.

Note

SDGNZ handles letters of non-objection for Directors or 2nd Unit Directors only. For all others, including Assistant Directors, please contact:

• Film and Video Technicians' Guild | Phone +64 9 360 6032 | Email info@nztecho.com
• SPADA (Producers) | Phone +64 4 939 6934 | Email info@spada.co.nz
• Actors Equity | Phone +64 9 360 1980 | Email frances.walsh@actorsequity.org.nz

DIRECTOR	Name
	Citizenship
	Arrival date
	Departure date

PRODUCTION	Title
	Type (eg, TVC, feature, etc)
	Broadcast/release territory:
PRODUCTION COMPANY	Company name
* = Required	Contact person*
	Address
	Phone
	Fax
	Email*
NZ LINE PRODUCTION CO.	Company name:
	Contact person
	Address
	Phone
	Fax
	Email
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	Please add any further comments in this box