New Zealand Work to Residence Visa

People aged 55 or younger who meet the visa, work, job, wage, English, health and character requirements.

• Be 55 or younger

  You must be aged 55 or younger when you apply.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Hold an eligible visa

  For at least 24 months before applying, you must have held one or more work visas, a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa that allowed you to work, or an Interim Visa granted while you applied for either of those visas.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Complete eligible work

  You must have at least 24 months of eligible work in New Zealand in the 30 months immediately before applying. The work must be full-time, in a Green List Tier 2 job or a job paid twice the median wage, and paid at or above the required wage rate.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Have a Tier 2 job

  You must currently work in, or have an offer for, a full-time Green List Tier 2 job that is permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months from when you apply.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Work for an accredited employer

  Your current job or job offer must be with an employer accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa policy, either when you apply or when your visa is decided.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the wage rate

  Your job or offer and eligible work experience must meet the required wage rate for your job that was in place when you started counting that experience. This is the hourly rate specified for the Tier 2 job, or the median wage at that time if no hourly rate was specified.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet your job's requirements

  You must meet any additional requirements listed for your Green List job, which can include a specific qualification, registration or pay rate.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Show English ability

  You must show that you speak and understand English through eligible citizenship, work and study evidence or an approved, in-person test taken no more than 2 years before applying. The principal applicant's minimum IELTS overall score is 6.5; other approved tests have their own minimum scores.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet health requirements

  You and anyone included in your application must be in good health. Applicants aged 15 or older must complete a chest X-ray and medical examination; different examination requirements apply to younger children.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet character requirements

  You and anyone included in your application must be of good character. Anyone included who is aged 17 or older must provide police certificates less than 6 months old when applying, from their countries of citizenship and countries where they spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Assess a qualification if neededSometimes needed

  If your Green List job requires a qualification gained outside New Zealand, you may need an International Qualification Assessment and must include its results if one is required.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Prove family relationshipsSometimes needed

  If you include a partner or dependent children aged 24 or younger, you must prove your genuine relationship with them. A partner or dependent child who already has, or is applying for, a visa based on their relationship to you must be included in your residence application.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet family English requirementsSometimes needed

  An included partner or dependent child aged 16 or older must show English ability or pay for English lessons in New Zealand; the minimum IELTS overall score for the test option is 5. Children younger than 16 have no English requirement.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Translate non-English documentsSometimes needed

  You must provide certified English translations and copies of the originals for documents that are not in English.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource

• Skilled Residence application fee for an application made in New Zealand or from outside the Pacificimmigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource$2,880 once
• Skilled Residence application fee for an eligible Pacific-country citizen applying outside New Zealandimmigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource$1,860 once
• Skilled Residence immigration levy per application, unless exemptimmigration.govt.nz · checked 5 days agoSource$3,570 once
• Decision timeThe resident-visa wait-times page reports an average of 8 weeks and 80% completed within 3 months, based on applications processed in the last 4 weeks. It does not give a separate timeframe for applications made outside New Zealand. Three months is not a fixed number of calendar days, so no maximum-About 8 weeks

1. Get ready

   • Check your Green List role

     Confirm that your job is Tier 2 and check its specific qualification, registration and pay requirements.

   • Complete eligible work

     Complete at least 24 months of eligible work in New Zealand within the 30 months immediately before applying.

     You’ll need: Employment agreements, Job descriptions, Pay slips, Summary of earnings

   • Confirm your current job

     Gather evidence of your qualifying Tier 2 job or offer with an accredited employer, including its hours, duration and pay.

     You’ll need: Employment agreement, fixed-term contract or job-offer letter, Job description

   • Prepare identity and job documents

     Prepare your identity documents and evidence that you meet the Green List job requirements, including an International Qualification Assessment if required.

     You’ll need: Passport or certificate of identity, Photo, Qualification or registration evidence, International Qualification Assessment results if required

   • Prepare English evidence

     Gather evidence that you meet the English requirement and, if applicable, evidence for included family members aged 16 or older.

     You’ll need: Eligible citizenship and study evidence or approved English test results, Family members' English evidence if applicable

   • Prepare health and character evidence

     Arrange required medical examinations, chest X-rays and police certificates, and gather relationship documents if including family.

     You’ll need: Medical and chest X-ray evidence, Police certificates, Marriage or birth certificates if applicable

2. Apply

   • Apply online and pay

     Complete the online application, upload the required documents and pay the applicable fee and levy.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents, Certified English translations and originals where required

3. Visa

   • Check your application status

     Check your online account, respond if Immigration New Zealand requests more information, and look for the emailed decision and eVisa.

     You’ll need: Additional evidence if requested, eVisa if approved

4. Settle in

   • Check your travel conditions

     Check the travel conditions on your eVisa, which expire 2 years after your first arrival as a resident or, if you are already in New Zealand, 2 years after the visa is granted.

     You’ll need: eVisa

After holding the visa for 2 years in a row, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

• Resident visa wait times :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• INZ 1028 Fees Guideimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• English language requirements for skilled residence visas :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• Work to Residence Visa » Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• immigration.govt.nz/work/requirements-for-work-visas/green-list-occup…Official

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.