Care workforce and transport sector pathway to residence
This pathway to New Zealand residence is for people who work in the care workforce or transport sectors.
Follow this pathway if you work in the care workforce or transport sectors.
This pathway leads to 1 of these resident visas:
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
- Transport Work to Residence Visa.
Jobs in the care workforce and transport sectors are covered by a
To be ready to apply for residence, follow these steps.
What to do
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1
Step 1: Work in New Zealand to get relevant experience
You will need to get a New Zealand work visa and work
for at least 24 months in an approved care workforce or transport sector job. The visas you can have to gain this work experience on are:
- any work visa including an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- Critical Purpose Visitor Visa — if you already have one that lets you work
- an interim visa given while you were waiting on an application for a new work visa, and your last visa was a work visa or Critical Purpose Visitor Visa that lets you work.
You can work your 24 months on 1 or more work visas. They can be any work visa that lets you work full-time in the job. This includes the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Critical Purpose Work Visa (if you already have it).
Care workforce jobs
In the 30 months before you apply, you will need to work
in any of these jobs for at least 24 months: - 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
- Diversional Therapist.
During the 24 months, you must be paid at least the care workforce sector wage rate.
Check the visa under 'Previous job' for full details on work experience and wage rates.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Other jobs you can work in
You can work for some of the time in a job that is not in the care workforce, but it must be:
- in Tier 2 of our Green List of in-demand roles
- a transport sector job, or
- a job that paid at least twice the median wage.
Note
The Green List is a list of jobs that we need people for in New Zealand — these jobs are separated into skill levels called tiers. Tier 1 is the highest skill level.
Transport sector jobs
In the 30 months before you apply, you will need to work
in any of these transport jobs for at least 24 months: - ship's master
- deck hand.
During the 24 months, you must be paid at least the
at the time, or the bus driver's wage if you worked as a bus driver. You must also meet the other requirements for the job. Check the visa under 'Previous job' for full details on work experience including the requirements for transport jobs and wage rates.
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Other jobs you can work in
You can work for some of the time in a job that is not in the transport sector, but it must be:
- in Tier 2 of our Green List of in-demand roles
- a care workforce sector job, or
- a job that paid at least twice the median wage.
There are other jobs — including bus driver — that were approved transport jobs before 7 April 2024. You may be able to count your time worked in these jobs.
Note
The Green List is a list of jobs that we need people for in New Zealand — these jobs are separated into skill levels called tiers. Tier 1 is the highest skill level.
-
2
Step 2: Continue to work in an approved job or receive a job offer
At the time you apply for residence, you must be working in, or have received an offer for, an approved job in the care workforce or transport sector with an
. You must meet the requirements for qualification, registration and wage rate for the job.
Check the visa under 'Current job' for full details including the work requirements for the job.
-
3
Step 3: Apply for residence when you meet the requirements
You can apply for residence when you:
- have gained 24 months of relevant work experience
- are working in an approved job, or have a job offer for an approved job, with an
- meet the other requirements for the resident visa — including qualification, registration and wage rate.
Check the visa for full requirements and how to apply.