New Zealand skilled residence pathways
Find out what skilled residence pathways are available that will allow you to live permanently in New Zealand, including changes that will be introduced from October 2023.
Overview of skilled residence pathways
There are 3 skills-based pathways that allow you to get New Zealand residence if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- the Skilled Migrant Resident pathway
- the Green List pathway, and
- the Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreement pathways.
Some of the 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.
This page includes information on the following:
- Summary of skilled residence pathways
- Key dates in 2023
- Straight to Residence Visa
- Work to Residence Visa
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
- Transport Work to Residence Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Maximum continuous stay period for Accredited Employer Work Visa holders
Summary of skilled residence pathways
Figure 1 is a summary of skilled residence pathways available when the new Skilled Migrant Category takes effect in October 2023. People need to meet specified requirements for their pathway, along with standard requirements in areas like age, English language, health, and character.
Fig. 1: Summary of skilled residence pathways
Detailed description of image
Figure 1 shows a summary of the skilled residence pathways available when the new Skilled Migrant Category takes effect in October 2023.
It illustrates the residence options available under the Skilled Migrant Category, Green List and sector agreements pathways, including the amount of work experience in New Zealand needed before people can apply for their respective residence visa.
This visual representation particularly helps people who may qualify under multiple pathways, so they can determine the pathway that suits them best.
Skilled Migrant Category pathway
You can apply if you have an acceptable job or job offer in New Zealand and 6 points. The infographic shows that you can achieve 6 points in 4 different ways.
You can receive 6 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 6 years’ training, or
- a PhD or doctorate, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 3 times the median wage.
Any 1 of these is worth 6 points and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa with no skilled work in New Zealand.
You can receive 5 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 5 years’ training, or
- a Master’s degree.
Either of these is worth 5 points. You can receive an additional point for 1 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa. With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can receive 4 points if you have
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 4 years’ training, or
- an Honours Degree or Post-graduate Diploma, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 2 times the median wage.
You can receive an additional 2 points for 2 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa.
With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can receive 3 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 2 years’ training, or
- a Bachelor’s Degree or Post-graduate Certificate, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 1.5 times the median wage.
You can receive an additional 3 points for 3 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa.
With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Green List pathway
The image shows 2 ways to apply for residence through the Green List.
If you have a job offer for an occupation on the Tier 1 list and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you can apply for the Straight to Residence Visa.
If you have a job or job offer for an occupation on the Tier 2 list and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you will need 2 years’ relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa.
After this you can apply for the Work to Residence Visa.
Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreements pathways
If you have a job or job offer for an occupation in a specified sector agreement, and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you need 2 years’ relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa.
After this you can apply for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa or Transport Workforce Work to Residence Visa.
Key dates in 2023
Check this page for updates on visa application dates.
| Visa name | Application status |
|---|---|
| Straight to Residence Visa | Open now |
| Work to Residence Visa | Open now |
| Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa | Open now |
| Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa | Open now |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (current points system) | Closed to new EOIs on 16 August 2023. Applicants who have received an invitation to apply have 4 months to submit their application from the date of their invitation to apply letter. |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (new points system) | Opens 9 October 2023 |
Straight to Residence Visa
Status: Open
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.
If you are eligible you can apply for this visa now. You can either come to New Zealand on a work visa and apply or apply from overseas.
Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Work to Residence Visa
Status: Open
You can apply for this visa if you work for an accredited employer and you have worked in a Tier 2 Green List role for 24 months.
Applications for this visa are open now. Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Status: Open
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.
Applications for this visa are open now. Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Status: Open
You can apply for this visa if you work for an accredited employer and you have worked in a transport sector role for 24 months.
Applications for this visa are open now. Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Status: Closed to new EOIs.
Applicants who have received an invitation to apply have 4 months to submit their application from the date of their invitation to apply letter. New points system starts on 9 October 2023.
This visa is for people who have skills that will contribute to New Zealand's economic growth.
Current Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
EOIs not selected on or before 16 August
If your EOI was not selected on or before 16 August 2023, but you still want to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you may be able to apply under the new points system from 9 October 2023.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
From 9 October 2023, the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa will use a new points system. You will 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, 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.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Maximum continuous stay and longer visa length for Accredited Employer Work Visa
From 27 November 2023, we are introducing a maximum continuous stay and longer visa length for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
Maximum continuous stay and longer visa length for Accredited Employer Work Visa
Other visa options
Check our website to find out what other visa options may be available to you.