New Zealand Resident Visa 2025 Full Guide, Latest Requirements, and Strategies. To live in New Zealand permanently, you need a resident visa. There are a number of pathways to obtaining a resident visa, many of which start with a temporary visa allowing you to work, study or own a business in New Zealand. Some visas, such as those granted under the Skilled Migrant Category, grant you residence right away. You need to comply with any conditions attached to your visa, to ensure your pathway to residence is not interrupted.
Before moving to New Zealand permanently, you need to consider what visas you’re eligible for and whether those visas will enable you to stay in New Zealand permanently. You also need to make sure you are ready to move to New Zealand, because you will need enough time to complete the requirements of your temporary or resident visa conditions.
New Zealand Resident Visa 2025 Full Guide, Latest Requirements, and Strategies
The visa you hold while in New Zealand may dictate the Government-funded public services you’re able to access. The easiest visa to get isn’t necessarily the best.
In this video, Andy Saputra talks with Henny Bunardy, an experienced Relationship Manager in immigration from Queen City Law. The discussion begins with an explanation of what a Resident Visa is and the pathways that can be taken to obtain it. You will get the latest updates on Green List Roles, including important information for those whose skills are not included in the Skilled Migrant Category or Green List.
This video also discusses in detail jobs in the Care Workforce sector and their requirements. In addition, there is a complete discussion of the Transport sector and its opportunities to obtain a visa. For those of you who have a New Zealand partner, Henny explains the process and requirements for the Partnership Resident Visa. For international graduates who want to settle in New Zealand, the correct way to apply for a visa is also presented.
This video reviews how long it takes to meet the requirements for a Permanent Resident Visa and discusses the tricky things about buying a house after having a residence visa. Not to forget, there is an explanation of the Parent Resident Visa, the rights and obligations of Resident Visa holders, and information on whether there are age restrictions or certain health requirements that must be met. All are discussed clearly and completely with Henny who shares insights directly from her experience.
Make sure you watch this video till the end so you don’t miss any important tips and information that can help you apply for a Resident Visa in New Zealand!
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 through the Straight to Residence Visa and Work to Residence Visa
- 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
- Straight to Residence Visa
- Work to Residence Visa
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
- Transport Work to Residence Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
You must submit sufficient evidence when you apply. If you do not provide sufficient evidence, we may decline your application and not refund your fee.
Documents we need can include police certificates, medical certificates, proof you meet our English language requirements and evidence of your job or job offer. You also may need to provide proof of your qualification or registration in New Zealand. Check our visa information pages for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Summary of skilled residence pathways
Figure 1 is a summary of skilled residence pathways available. 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
Straight to Residence Visa
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
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. You must be paid the current median wage when you apply for your Work to Residence Visa.
Claiming work experience for your Work to Residence Visa
During your 24 months work experience, you must have been paid either:
- at least the median wage that was in place when your current visa was granted, or
- the specific rate for your role.
Some visas allow you to be paid less than the median wage, for example the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) which uses the market rate. If your visa was granted using a pay rate lower than the median wage, you cannot start counting that time towards your work experience.
For example, if your visa was granted after 28 February 2024, your job must pay at least NZD $31.61 to be included towards your 24 months work experience.
If your pay increases to pay at least the current median wage, you can start counting time towards your Work to Residence work experience.
Prasad was granted an AEWV in April 2024 as a Teacher of the Sight Impaired. His AEWV was granted based on the pay rate of NZD $29.66 an hour. He will not start gaining work experience to use towards a Work to Residence Visa.
In December 2024, Prasad’s pay increases to NZD $34.19 an hour. He will start gaining work experience for a Work to Residence Visa from December 2024.
Mei was granted an AEWV in December 2023 as a Telecommunications Technician. She is paid NZD $36.35 an hour (the specific rate for her role on the Green List).
Mei can count work experience from December 2023.
Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
You must have been paid at least NZD $28.25 an hour during your work experience.
Claiming work experience for your Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
You may be able to use work experience in other roles to make up the 24 months. It must be:
- in Tier 2 of our Green List of in-demand roles
- a transport sector role, or
- a role that paid at least twice the median wage.
Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Transport Work to Residence Visa
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.
You must be paid at least the current median wage when you apply for your Transport Work to Residence Visa, unless you are a bus driver.
Claiming work experience for your Transport Work to Residence Visa
During your 24 months work experience, you must have been paid at least:
- the median wage that was in place when your visa was granted, or
- NZD $28 an hour if you are a bus driver covered by the transport sector agreement.
Some visas allow you to be paid less than the median wage, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa which uses the February 2023 median wage. If your visa was granted based on a rate lower than the median wage, your work experience will not be included towards your work experience. There is an exception for bus drivers who can earn NZD $28 an hour during their work experience.
If your pay increases to meet the current median wage, you can start counting time towards your Transport Work to Residence Visa.
John was granted an AEWV in November 2023 to work as a bus driver. His AEWV was granted based on the transport sector agreement rate of NZD $28 an hour.
His 24 months work experience will start being counted from November 2023.
Elizabeth was granted an AEWV in March 2024 as an aircraft refueler. Her AEWV was granted based on the February 2023 median wage of NZD $29.66 an hour.
In June 2024, Elizabeth’s pay increases to NZD $31.61 an hour. Her 24 months work experience will start being counted from June 2024.
Note that some roles were removed from the transport Work to Residence pathway on 7 April 2024.
Transport Work to Residence Visa work requirements and roles
Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
This visa is for people who have skills that will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
You must have a job or job offer in skilled employment in New Zealand. Your job must pay at least the median wage.
You 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 experience in New Zealand in a skilled job, up to a maximum of 3 points.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Claiming skilled work experience points for your Skilled Migrant Category Visa
During your skilled work experience, you must have been paid at least the wage threshold that was in place when your visa was granted.
- If your job has an ANZSCO level of 1 to 3 you must earn the median wage or above.
- If your job has an ANZSCO level of 4 to 5 you must earn 1.5 times the median wage or above.
If you will be claiming points for your income, you need to earn that income over your work experience. For example, if you earn 1.5 times the median wage you can claim 3 points from your income. You must earn 1.5 times the median wage during each year of your skilled work experience.
Skilled work experience starts counting from whenever you started earning the wage threshold. It will not stop counting if the wage threshold increases and you remain in your current job. If you change jobs you will need to meet the current wage threshold.
Some visas allow you to be paid less than the median wage. If your visa was granted based on a rate lower than the median wage your work experience will not be included towards your skilled work experience.
Leon has an AEWV and has been working in a skilled job that pays NZD $68.88 an hour. Because he is paid at least twice the new median wage, he can claim 4 points from his income.
He has been working in this role for 2 years and has been earning NZD $68.88 this entire time (at least twice the median wage). He can claim 2 points for skilled work experience.
Leon can claim 6 points based on his income and his work experience, so he can submit an expression of interest for a Skilled Migrant Category Visa.
Kylie is granted an AEWV in July 2024 for a role that pays NZD $29.66.
Kylie works in this role for 1 year. She cannot use this time to claim points for work experience for a Skilled Migrant Category Visa.
Other visa options
Check our website to find out what other visa options may be available to you.
New Zealand Resident Visa 2025 Full Guide, Latest Requirements, and Strategies