Whilst it’s great to be able to visit, study or work here, for many people the goal is to live here permanently. New Zealand is a great place to bring up a family. See our virtual tour of NZ here. But wherever you decide to call home, these are some of the ways to achieve residency.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
This visa is for migrants who have readily transferable skills and experience. You need to be under 56 years old, be of good health and character, and meet English requirements. Your partner and dependent children can be included in this visa.
This is a two-stage process whereby we first need to send an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Immigration NZ, telling them about your working background and qualifications.
A number of points are allocated to your assessment by an immigration officer, across factors such as age, length of work experience, level of qualifications, if you have worked in NZ, and where you intend to live. The current required level is 160 points to be Invited to Apply (ITA) for residency.
A residency application is then sent.
Straight to Residence Visa
This visa is for you if you work for an accredited employer or hold a job offer from one. Your role must be on Tier 1 of the Green List, full-time and permanent, or at least a 12-month fixed-term contract. You must meet the requirements on the list for your role, e.g., qualifications, registration, or experience. You can apply for this visa either as a work visa holder or outside New Zealand.
Work to Residence Visa
This visa is for you if you are employed in a role on Tier 2 of the Green list or hold an offer of employment for one. To be eligible, your employer must be accredited when you apply, and your role must be full-time, permanent, or at least a 12-month fixed-term contract. You must meet the requirements on the list for the role and have worked for 24 months in New Zealand in a role of Tier 2 of the Green List.
Suppose you hold or applied for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, any other work visa, or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) before 4th July 2022. In that case, your employment can be counted towards a Work to Residence visa. Acceptable employment in New Zealand can be counted from 29 September 2021. You can apply for this Visa from September 2023.
Highly Paid Residence Visa
To be eligible for this visa, you must have employment or an offer of employment that is paid at least twice the median wage, and you must have been working for 24 months in New Zealand in a role paid at least twice the median wage. Your employer must also be accredited when you apply for this visa.
Suppose you hold or applied for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, any other work visa, or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) before 4th July 2022. In that case, your employment can be counted towards a Highly Paid Residence Visa. Acceptable employment in New Zealand can be counted from 29 September 2021. You can apply for this Visa from September 2023.