New Residence Visas
Residence New Zealand – New Visa pathways
- From September 2022 there is a new pathway for residency – the ‘Straight to Residence – Residence Visa’.
- From September 2023 there are two further pathways to residency opening up – the ‘Work to Residence Visa’ and the ‘Highly Paid Residence Visa’.
Straight to Residence
The pathway for those migrants whose occupations are on the ‘Tier 1’ Green List. These occupations include jobs in construction, such as project builders, engineering professionals, such as civil engineers and medical positions, such as general practitioners- GPs – among others. Applicants must
- be 55 and under
- meet health and character requirements
- meet Skilled Migrant level English language requirements
- their employer must be an accredited employer in New Zealand.
Applications for the ‘Straight to Residence’ visa open on 05 September 2022.
Work to Residence
The pathway will be open to those migrants whose occupations are on Tier 2 of the Green List. These occupations include health services, such as podiatrists, teachers, and tradespeople such as electricians and plumbers.
Applicants must
- be 55 and under
- meet health and character requirements
- meet Skilled Migrant level English language requirements
- their employer must be an accredited employer in New Zealand.
- must have worked in New Zealand in their profession for 24 months.
Applications under ‘Work to Residence’ open on 29 September 2023.
‘Highly Paid’ residence New Zealand
This residency category is open to those migrants who are earning twice the median wage, which is currently $55.52 per hour, for a two-year period.
Applicants must
- be 55 and under
- meet health and character requirements
- meet Skilled Migrant level English language requirements.
Applications under ‘Highly Paid’ open on 29 September 2023.
