There are five main skill-based types of Resident Visas in New Zealand:

— Green List: Straight to Residence

— Green List: Work to Residence

— Care Workforce: Work to Residence

— Transport Sector: Work to Residence

— Skilled Migrant Category

Some visas on these pathways allow you to apply for residence straight away, such as the Straight to Residence Visa. Other pathways may require you to work in New Zealand before you can apply for residence, such as the Work to Residence Visa.

Other important criteria to be met across all types of Resident Visas:

— Age: You must be aged 55 or younger

— Job Offer: This must be from an Accredited Company

— Health: be in good health

— Character: be of good character

Pathway to Permanent Residency in
New Zealand –

Green List Straight to Residence Visa

You can apply for this visa if you work for an accredited employer or you have a job offer from an accredited employer and your role is on Tier 1 of the Green List (search roles).

If you are eligible, you can apply for this visa as soon as you obtain the Job Offer and meet the other requirements. You can either come to New Zealand on a Work Visa and apply for Residence from overseas.

Green List: Work to Residence – Tier 2

You can apply for Skilled Residence Visas if you work for an accredited employer and you have worked in a Tier 2 Green List role for 24 months (search roles).

Care Workforce: Work to Residence

You can apply for this visa if you work for an accredited employer and you have worked in a care workforce sector role for 24 months. You must have worked in New Zealand in a full-time care workforce role as one of the following:

• Māori Health Assistant — Kaiawhina (Hauora)

• Disabilities Services Officer

• Residential Care Officer

• Aged or Disabled Carer

• Nursing Support Worker

• Personal Care Assistant

• Therapy Aide

• Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant, or

• Diversional Therapist

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa – SMC

This type of Resident Visa is for people who have skills that will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth. Under the new points system, you need 6 points to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. This can be made up from:

– 3 to 6 points based on New Zealand occupational registration, or qualifications, or income

AND

– 1 point for each year of work in New Zealand in a skilled job, up to a maximum of 3 points.

Job Offer Requirement

Each residence visa specifies the requirement to either hold the right type of Work Visa or a Job offer to apply for a Skilled Residence Visa.