Getting New Zealand residence based on your skills

You can work towards getting a resident visa to live in New Zealand, depending on your job and skills. When you meet the requirements, you can apply for residence.

Skilled residence pathways

'Skilled residence pathways' are the different ways you can get a resident visa based on your job and skills. Most people will need to work in New Zealand first to meet the requirements for work experience.

When you meet all the requirements for a resident visa, you can apply for it.

There are 3 skilled residence pathways:

  • skilled migrant category pathway — follow this pathway if you have a skilled job based on your occupational registration, qualification or income
  • Green List pathway that leads to the Straight to Residence Visa and Work to Residence Visa — follow this pathway if you have a Tier 1 or Tier 2 job on the Green List of in-demand jobs
  • care workforce and transport sector agreements pathway — follow this pathway if you work in the care workforce or transport sectors.

Figure 1: Summary of skilled residence pathways

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Details about each skilled residence pathway

Skilled migrant category pathway to residence

This pathway to New Zealand residence is for people who have a skilled job and have occupational registration, a Bachelor's qualification or higher, or earn 1.5 times the median wage.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa - How to apply

Green List pathway to residence

This pathway to New Zealand residence is for people who have a Tier 1 or Tier 2 job on the Green List of in-demand jobs.

Green List pathway to residence

Care workforce and transport sector agreements pathway to residence

This pathway to New Zealand residence is for people who work in the care workforce or transport sectors.

Care workforce and transport sector agreements pathway to residence