SR4.15 Skilled Residence: Highly Paid requirements for 24 months of work in New Zealand (revoked 01/07/2023)

1. Applicants must have worked for at least 24 months in a role on and after 29 September 2021 with remuneration of at least twice the median wage.
2. Evidence that the applicant has earned twice the median wage can be demonstrated by:
   1. an employment agreement specifying their remuneration is at least twice the median wage; or
   2. a letter from the employer specifying their remuneration is at least twice the median wage; and
   3. a summary of earnings from Inland Revenue.
3. The period of work in New Zealand must have been completed while the applicant was holding an Accredited Employer work visa. an interim visa granted while the applicant held an Accredited Employer work visa and had applied for a further Accredited Employer work visa.
4. Despite (c) above, applicants who held or had applied for one of the following visas before 4 July 2022 and were earning twice the median wage while in full-time employment (at least 30 hours per week) can count their work (from 29 September 2021) towards the 24 month period:any work visa; or
   1. a critical purpose visitor visa with work conditions.

      Note: With the exception of an accredited employer work visa, work on any work visa applied for on or after 4 July 2022 cannot be counted towards meeting the 24 month period.

5. The 24 months of work must be gained during the 30 month period immediately before the date the residence application is made.
6. Highly paid work will start to be counted when the applicant’s remuneration reaches at least twice the median hourly rate in place at that time as specified in the immigration instructions (provided they hold a visa described in (c) or (d) above).
7. Work gained while earning at least twice the median wage will stop being counted if:
   1. the applicant ceases to hold one of the visas listed in (c) or (d) above, or
   2. the applicant’s remuneration decreases and the new rate is below twice the median wage.
8. A table showing the twice the median wage rates in effect across time appears below

   Date range	Twice median hourly rate
   29 September 2021 – 3 July 2022	$54.00
   4 July 2022 – 26 February 2023	$55.52
   27 February 2023-February 2024	$59.32

9. For the purposes of these instructions, any parental leave taken can be counted towards meeting the acceptable work in New Zealand requirements.
10. If an applicant has worked in New Zealand for at least 24 months in the last 30 month period but has not maintained a salary at twice the median wage for the full 24 months, they can still been considered for the grant of residence if they meet the acceptable work requirements set out for the Work to Residence visa (SR3.15) for the balance of the 24 months.

Note: The 24 months of work in New Zealand does not have to be completed consecutively and can be a total of different periods, for example two 12-month periods with a gap of six months between. Additionally, it can be made up of different types of work in New Zealand, for example 6 months in a Tier 2 Green List role and 18 months in a role paid twice the median wage.

Effective 27/02/2023