NZ Green List, Highly Paid and Care Workforce Skilled Residence Visas
Eligibility criteria for the NZ Green List straight to residence, work to residence and highly paid skilled and care workforce residence visas.
There are general application requirements for the Straight to Residence, Work to Residence, Highly Paid Residence and Care Workforce Work to Residence Visas.
These are that on the date you apply for your residence visa:
- you are aged 55 or younger
- you, and if applicable your partner, and dependent children aged 16 or over, meet the English language requirements
- Both you and your partner, and dependent children in your application meet health and character requirements for residence.
If you hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa or another type of work visa, you (and any family if applicable) still need to meet the health and character requirements for residence. These are different from the requirements for temporary work visas.
Your work must be for an accredited employer.
- Accredited employers and AEWV
- Health requirements for residence visa categories
- Character requirements for residence visa categories
- Acceptable English language results and visa categories
NZ Green List Straight to Residence Visa
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 outside of New Zealand.
NZ Green List Work to Residence Visa
To be eligible for this residence visa you must:
- be employed in a role on Tier 2 of the NZ Green List or hold an offer of employment for one
- meet the specified requirements on the NZ Green List for the role
- have worked for 24 months in New Zealand in a Tier 2 Green List role (and met its specified requirements).
Your employer must be accredited when you apply for this visa.
Employment criteria
The employment or offer of employment must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), genuine, and permanent, or be at least a 12-month fixed-term contract.
Acceptable work in New Zealand
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted towards a Work to Residence Visa while you hold or held:
- an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- another work visa or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) and held it or applied for it before 4 July 2022.
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted from 29 September 2021.
There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must still show you worked for the required 24 months within the 30-month period before your visa application date.
You can mix acceptable work criteria, such as working in a role on Tier 2 of the Green List (Work to Residence) and work earning twice the median wage (Highly Paid Residence).
You can apply for this visa from September 2023.
NZ Green List Highly Paid Residence Visa
To be eligible for this residence visa you must have:
- employment or an offer of employment in a role that is paid at least twice the median wage, currently NZD $59.32 an hour
- been working for 24 months in New Zealand in a role that paid at least twice the median wage.
Your employer must also be accredited when you apply for this visa.
Acceptable work in New Zealand
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted towards a Highly Paid Residence Visa if you hold or held:
- an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- another work visa or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) and you held it or applied for it before 4 July 2022.
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted from 29 September 2021.
There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must still show you worked for the required 24 months within the 30 month period before your visa application date.
You can mix acceptable work criteria, such as working in a role on Tier 2 of the Green List (Work to Residence) and also any work earning 2 times the median wage (Highly Paid Residence).
You can apply for this visa from September 2023.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
To be eligible for this residence visa you must:
- work in an occupation that is on the Care Workforce sector occupations list
- be paid at least NZD $28.25 an hour (level 4) of the Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlements Act 2017
- have worked in that role at the level 4 rate for 24 months in New Zealand.
Care Workforce sector occupations list
| Occupation | ANZCO code |
|---|---|
| Kaiawhina (Hauora) (Maori Health Assistant) | 411512 |
| Disabilities Services Officer | 411712 |
| Residential Care Officer | 411715 |
| Aged or Disabled Carer | 423111 |
| Nursing Support Worker | 423312 |
| Personal Care Assistant | 423313 |
| Therapy Aide | 423314 |
| Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant | 423411 |
| Diversional Therapist | 411311 |
Employment criteria
The employment or offer of employment must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), genuine, and permanent, or be at least a 12-month fixed term contract.
Acceptable work in New Zealand
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted towards Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa while you hold or held:
- an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- another work visa or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) and you held it or or applied for it before 4 July 2022.
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted from 29 September 2021.
There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must still show you worked for the required 24 months within the 30 month period before your visa application date.
You can mix acceptable work criteria, such as an occupation on the Care Workforce sector occupation list, work on Tier 2 of the Green List (Work to Residence) and work earning twice the median wage (Highly Paid Residence).
You can apply for this visa from September 2023.
Application fees
The application fee and immigration levy will be between NZD $4,020 and NZD $4,890 depending on whether you are applying from within New Zealand or another part of the world.
