Five Pathways to Skilled Residence in New Zealand

In 2024, over 53,000 residence applications were approved for New Zealand. Of these, 20,337 were for skilled workers. Having an awareness of the available residence pathways from the get-go is important, so that you can make the right decisions to settle and work in New Zealand.

NZ has 5 skills-based residence pathways available to skilled migrants. These ‘skilled’ residence pathways make New Zealand an attractive destination for you and your family, with fast-tracked residence options and simplified application processes.

The ‘skilled’ residence categories below require applicants to have a job offer from an INZ accredited employer, meet health & character requirements, the applicable minimum standard of English, and be 55 years of age or younger when applying for residence.

Pathway 1: Green List - Straight to Residence (Tier 1)

Migrant workers in specific roles in health & social services, construction, primary industries and science, engineering and ICT, electronics and telecommunications may now apply for residency under the Green List Straight to Residence Visa. See the full list of eligible occupations here. 

To be eligible for this residence visa, the applicant must be working for an accredited employer or hold a job offer from one, and:

• The role must be on Tier 1 of the Green List.
• They must meet the requirements set out on the list for their role.
• The role must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), genuine, and permanent, or be at least a 12-month fixed-term contract. Under certain circumstances, independent contractors are also eligible. 

You can be in NZ or outside when you apply for this pathway.

Pathway 2: Green List - Work to Residence (Tier 2)

If you have been working in certain roles on the Green List for at least 24 months, you are eligible for residence through the Green List - Work To Residence.

To be eligible for this residence pathway, you must be working for an accredited employer or hold a job offer from one, and:

• Hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or another work visa applied for before 4 July 2022 (Essential Skills Work Visa, Post Study Work Visa, etc.) at the time the residence application is made
• Meet acceptable employment requirements in a Tier 2 Green List occupation
• Must have completed 24 months of work in New Zealand in a Tier 2 Green List occupation & met the list requirements for those 24 months. 

Pathway 3: Skilled Migrant Category

You will need 6 points to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category and must have a ‘skilled’ job or job offer from an Accredited NZ employer. 

You must claim points from at least one section from the blue box below. If you can get all the 6 points from the blue box, then you don’t need anything from the red box. However, if you are short of points, the remaining points can come from the red box. Irrespective of where you claim points from, 

Maximum points blue box can give you – 6 points

Maximum points red box can give you – 3 points

This category could become complex to navigate if there are challenges with 'substantial match' and 'suitably qualified' requirements of ANZSCO. Read more about SMC pathway here.

Pathway 4: Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa

If you are working in certain Health and Social Services roles for an accredited employer and are paid at Level 4 rate (currently NZD 28.25/hr) or more, you may be eligible for a 2-year work to residence pathway. 

Note – You not only have to be working at Level 4 but also must be paid at the Level 4 rate for the whole 2 years. 

These certain roles are: 

• Kaiāwhina (Hauora) (Māori Health Assistant), 
• Disabilities Services Officer
• Residential Care Officer
• Aged and Disabled Carers
• Nursing Support Worker
• Personal Care Assistant
• Therapy Aide
• Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
• Diversional Therapist

To be eligible, the applicant must:

• Hold an AEWV or another work visa applied for before 4 July 2022 (Essential Skills Work Visa, Post Study Work Visa, etc.) at the time the residence application is made
• Be paid at or above the Level 4 rate per hour in a Care Workforce sector occupation list for at least 2 years. 
• Have an offer of employment from or already be working for an accredited employer
• Your job or job offer must be for a permanent role or a fixed term contract of at least 1 year. 

Pathway 5: Transport Work to Residence Visa

The following professions have a limited time, 2-year work to residence pathway through a Transport Sector Agreement. 

• Ship’s Master
• Deck Hand

You must have been paid the relevant hourly rate or salary for the entire period of work experience, according to your role. 

These roles were also approved work to residence transport roles before 7 April 2024:

• bus driver
• truck driver
• aircraft refueller
• furniture removalist
• tanker driver
• tow truck driver

You can still count work experience gained from these roles towards your residence visa if, on or before 6 April 2024, you:

•  started working in one of these roles, on any work visa, or
• received an Accredited Employer Work Visa to work in one of these roles, or
• applied for an AEWV to work in one of these roles, and were successful in your application, or
• signed an employment agreement and had started work within 1 month of either signing it or being granted a non-AEWV visa. (For example a Partner of Worker Work Visa.)

NZ’s pathways to residence ensure that you can come to our country with peace of mind and fill the talent shortages we are facing. We have helped thousands of migrants gain residence in New Zealand over the years. If you are unsure about the best residence option for you and your family, complete this form for an initial residence eligibility consultation.