Applications Open for Timorese Seeking Jobs in New Zealand Under RSE Program
DILI, 08 September 2025 (TATOLI) – The Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) has opened online applications for Timorese citizens interested in working in New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Program. Applications are open from 8 to 12 September.
“Young people should seize this opportunity by demonstrating their skills, qualifications, and ability to meet the demands of the New Zealand labor market,” said Secretary of State Rogério Mendonça in Dili, today.
Mendonça added that employment contracts will last six to seven months, with the possibility of gradual extension.
SEFOPE’s National Director for Overseas Employment, João Correia Pereira, explained that the RSE Program was created to meet seasonal labor demands in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries, while also creating temporary job opportunities for workers from Pacific partner countries, including Timor-Leste.
According to Pereira, applicants must be at least 21 years old and demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applicants are required to submit colored PDF scans of several documents: a valid passport (minimum six months), criminal record certificate with English translation, English proficiency certificate, SEFOPE-issued Evidence Card, national identity card, voter card, COVID-19 vaccination certificate, birth certificate, and a full-body photograph. A driver’s license may also be submitted as a supporting document.
Candidates must be physically fit and able to perform demanding tasks such as harvesting, carrying loads, and repetitive work. They should also be prepared to work in temperatures ranging from 7°C in winter to 34°C in summer.
At the end of their contracts, workers must return to Timor-Leste before becoming eligible for a new contract.
Currently, Timorese workers are offered jobs only in the horticulture and viticulture sectors, with a minimum of 30 working hours per week or 120 hours per month. The minimum wage is NZ$23.15 per hour (approximately US$13.68).
Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the official portal: Application for Admission to New Zealand’s RSE Program
Workers already registered under the PALM scheme are not eligible to apply online for the RSE. Instead, they may send an expression of interest letter to: enquiries.lsu.tl@gmail.com
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
