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, and
- 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
Figure 1 is a summary of skilled residence pathways available when the new Skilled Migrant Category takes effect in October 2023. 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
Detailed description of image
Figure 1 shows a summary of the skilled residence pathways available when the new Skilled Migrant Category takes effect in October 2023.
It illustrates the residence options available under the Skilled Migrant Category, Green List and sector agreements pathways, including the amount of work experience in New Zealand needed before people can apply for their respective residence visa.
This visual representation particularly helps people who may qualify under multiple pathways, so they can determine the pathway that suits them best.
Skilled Migrant Category pathway
You can apply if you have an acceptable job or job offer in New Zealand and 6 points. The infographic shows that you can achieve 6 points in 4 different ways.
You can receive 6 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 6 years’ training, or
- a PhD or doctorate, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 3 times the median wage.
Any 1 of these is worth 6 points and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa with no skilled work in New Zealand.
You can receive 5 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 5 years’ training, or
- a Master’s degree.
Either of these is worth 5 points. You can receive an additional point for 1 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa. With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can receive 4 points if you have
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 4 years’ training, or
- an Honours Degree or Post-graduate Diploma, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 2 times the median wage.
You can receive an additional 2 points for 2 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa.
With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can receive 3 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 2 years’ training, or
- a Bachelor’s Degree or Post-graduate Certificate, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 1.5 times the median wage.
You can receive an additional 3 points for 3 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa.
With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Green List pathway
The image shows 2 ways to apply for residence through the Green List.
If you have a job offer for an occupation on the Tier 1 list and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you can apply for the Straight to Residence Visa.
If you have a job or job offer for an occupation on the Tier 2 list and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you will need 2 years’ relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa.
After this you can apply for the Work to Residence Visa.
Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreements pathways
If you have a job or job offer for an occupation in a specified sector agreement, and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you need 2 years’ relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa.
After this you can apply for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa or Transport Workforce Work to Residence Visa.
Key dates in 2023
Check this page for updates on visa application dates.
| Visa name | Application status |
|---|---|
| Straight to Residence Visa | Open now |
| Work to Residence Visa | Opens 29 September 2023 |
| Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa | Opens 29 September 2023 |
| Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa | Opens 29 September 2023 |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (current points system) | Open now. EOIs must be submitted by 23:59, Tuesday 15 August 2023 (NZST). |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (new points system) | Opens 9 October 2023 |
Straight to Residence Visa
Status: Open
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
Status: Opens 29 September 2023
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.
Applications for this visa will be open from 29 September 2023. Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Status: Opens 29 September 2023
You can apply for this visa if you work for an accredited employer and you have worked in a care workforce sector role for 24 months.
Applications for this visa will be open from 29 September 2023 as this is when the first group of people will become eligible to apply. Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Status: Opens 29 September 2023
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.
Applications for this visa will be open from 29 September 2023 as this is when the first group of people will become eligible to apply. Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Status: Currently open. EOIs must be submitted by 23:59, Tuesday 15 August 2023 (NZST). New points system starts on 9 October 2023.
This visa is for people who have skills that will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
Current Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Before you can apply, you will need to send us an expression of interest (EOI) that details your work experience and qualifications.
You can submit an EOI from now until 23:59, Tuesday 15 August 2023 (NZST).
EOIs are being selected on the third Wednesday of every month until 16 August 2023. If you are invited to apply for residence, you will have 4 months to apply under the current criteria.
Check the visa information for more information on eligibility and how to submit an expression of interest, and the selection process.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Withdrawing your EOI
If you do not have 180 points, or will not able to provide evidence you meet the criteria, you should withdraw your EOI before the July or final August selection and ask for a refund. You cannot get a refund if your EOI has been selected or is still in the pool when the category closes. This is because the fee you pay covers the costs of assessing your EOI.
Can I get a refund of my residence application or expression of interest fee?
EOIs not selected by 16 August
If your EOI is not selected by 16 August 2023, but you still want to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you may be able to apply under the new points system from 9 October 2023.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
From 9 October 2023, the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa will use a new points system. You will 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 in New Zealand in a skilled job, up to a maximum of 3 points.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Maximum continuous stay period for Accredited Employer Work Visa holders
From November 2023 a maximum continuous stay period of 5 years will be introduced for migrants on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
This means that after 5 years on an AEWV you will need to leave New Zealand for at least 12 months.
However, if you can show that you are on a pathway to skilled residence, you may be able to get a further AEWV. For example, if you start earning 1.5 times the median wage after 3 years on an AEWV and require 1 more year of skilled experience to qualify for 6 points for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, at the end of the 5 years on an AEWV.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
The maximum length of an AEWV will also be extended from 3 years to up to 5 years from November 2023. This will apply to new visa applications.
If you are an existing AEWV holder with a 3-year visa, you will be able to apply for another AEWV that will allow you to stay in New Zealand for up to 5 years (in total). Your employer will not need a job check for this if your visa conditions remain the same. Further information on how to apply will be available in the coming months.
Other visa options
Check our website to find out what other visa options may be available to you.
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