Resident Visas
Pathways to New Zealand Residence
Your journey to becoming a New Zealand resident starts with applying under an eligible residence visa category. New Zealand currently offers five skilled residence pathways, each designed for applicants whose qualifications, experience, or occupations align with the country’s long-term workforce needs.
Alongside skilled pathways, New Zealand also provides a range of family residence categories for partners, parents, and dependent children of eligible New Zealand residents and citizens.
New Zealand remains one of the world’s most attractive destinations for migrants, and its skilled residence pathways are structured around key factors such as your job role, wage level, work experience, and academic background. The current skill-based residence options are:
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Skilled Migrant Category (6 points)
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Straight to Residence — Green List Tier 1
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Work to Residence — Green List Tier 2
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Work to Residence — Care Workforce
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Work to Residence — Transport Sector
In addition to these, there are other residency schemes like the Parent Resident Visa and the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa, among others.
A Permanent Resident Visa is the usual next step after holding a Resident Visa. Unlike a Resident Visa—which has limited travel conditions and only allows re-entry to New Zealand until a specified date—a Permanent Resident Visa provides unlimited travel rights and the ability to re-enter New Zealand at any time.
To qualify, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. These can be met in several ways, such as demonstrating a sufficient commitment to New Zealand or meeting other approved pathways set by Immigration New Zealand.
To qualify under the Skilled Migrant Category, you must reach a total of 6 points. Points can be claimed from one of the following primary factors:
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New Zealand professional registration, or
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Recognised qualification, or
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Income level (relative to the median wage)
If your chosen factor does not give you the full 6 points, you may claim up to 3 additional points for skilled work experience in New Zealand.
For the purpose of this category, skilled work means:
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ANZSCO skill levels 1–3 paid at or above the median wage, or
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ANZSCO skill levels 4–5 paid at 1.5× the median wage.
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The Straight to Residence pathway is available to migrants working in select occupations across sectors such as health and social services, construction, primary industries, science, engineering, ICT, and electronics and telecommunications. These roles are listed on Tier 1 of the Green List.
To qualify, applicants must be working for an accredited employer or have a valid job offer from one, and must meet all of the following criteria:
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The role must appear on Tier 1 of the Green List.
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The applicant must meet the specific qualification, registration, or experience requirements for that role.
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The position must be full-time (30+ hours per week), genuine, and permanent, or a fixed-term role of at least 12 months.
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In limited situations, independent contractors may also be eligible if they meet the criteria set out by Immigration New Zealand.
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This pathway is for people who have worked in specific Tier 2 Green List roles in New Zealand for at least 24 months.
To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following:
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Be working for an accredited employer or hold a job offer from one.
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Hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or another eligible work visa (such as an Essential Skills Work Visa or a Post Study Work Visa) applied for before 4 July 2022 at the time the residence application is lodged.
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Meet the acceptable employment requirements for their Tier 2 Green List occupation.
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Have completed 24 months of work in New Zealand in that Tier 2 occupation.
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People working in specific care-related roles for an accredited employer and earning at least the Level 4 pay rate (currently NZD $28.25 per hour) may qualify for a two-year Work to Residence pathway.
Eligible roles include:
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Kaiāwhina (Hauora) / Māori Health Assistant
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Disability Services Officer
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Residential Care Officer
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Aged and Disabled Carer
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Nursing Support Worker
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Personal Care Assistant
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Therapy Aide
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Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
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Diversional Therapist
To qualify, applicants must:
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Hold an AEWV or another eligible work visa (such as an Essential Skills Work Visa or Post Study Work Visa) that was applied for before 4 July 2022 at the time the residence application is lodged.
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Be paid at or above the Level 4 rate for a role on the Care Workforce sector list.
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Have completed 24 months of work in New Zealand in one of the listed Care Workforce occupations.
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Certain transport roles have a limited-time, two-year Work to Residence pathway under the Transport Sector Agreement.
Current eligible roles include:
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Ship’s Master
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Deck Hand
To qualify, applicants must have been paid the required hourly rate or salary for their specific role throughout the entire 24 months of work experience.
Previously approved Work to Residence transport roles (before 7 April 2024) included:
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Bus Driver
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Truck Driver
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Aircraft Refueller
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Furniture Removalist
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Tanker Driver
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Tow Truck Driver
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Parents may be able to live in New Zealand permanently if they have a child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident who meets the required income threshold and agrees to sponsor them. This category also has several additional eligibility requirements.
To begin the process, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). If Immigration New Zealand selects the EOI, the applicant may then be invited to apply for residence.
Immigration New Zealand selects EOIs every three months, drawing from two groups:
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The queue: EOIs submitted before 12 October 2022
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The ballot: EOIs submitted on or after 12 October 2022
Selections are held in February, May, August, and November, generally on the second Tuesday of the month.
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This visa allows you to become a New Zealand resident if your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident and you both meet Immigration New Zealand’s eligibility requirements.
To qualify, you and your partner must meet standard health and character requirements, and your partner must hold the correct immigration status. The circumstances of any dependent children will also be assessed.
A key part of the application is proving that you and your partner are living together in a genuine and stable relationship. You will need to provide evidence showing:
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How long you have been in a relationship
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How long you have been living together
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That you share finances and responsibilities
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That you spend time together (e.g., photos, messages, communication records)
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That other people recognise your relationship
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Any other documents that help demonstrate the genuineness and stability of your partnership
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