NZ Work to Residence Visa Guide

What is the NZ Work to Residence Visa?

The Work to Residence Visa is a resident visa that enables people employed in Tier 2 Green List occupations to settle in New Zealand after proving 24 months of eligible work experience.

Once approved, the visa allows you to:

Live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely
Travel in and out of the country during the 2-year travel condition period
Include your partner and dependent children (aged 24 or younger) in your application
After holding residence for two consecutive years, you may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa by proving your commitment to New Zealand, most commonly by spending at least 184 days each of the two years physically present in the country.

Unlike the straight-to-residence visa (Tier 1), which grants immediate residence, this pathway ensures that applicants have established themselves in the New Zealand labour market before permanent settlement is granted.

Who can apply for an NZ Work to Residence visa?

To qualify, applicants must meet general immigration requirements and job-specific employment conditions.

Category	Requirement
General requirements	Be 55 years or younger at the time of application Meet health and character standards (medical exams and police certificates) Show English language proficiency (through a recognised test or qualifying study/work history)
Employment requirements	Role must be on the Tier 2 Green List Must be employed by, or have an offer from, an Accredited Employer Employment must be full-time (30+ hours/week) Role must be permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months Must meet any qualification, registration, or experience requirements linked to the occupation

How are 24 months of Work Experience Calculated?

The most important rule for this visa is that you must have worked in New Zealand for 24 months (2 years) in a skilled job before you can apply for residence.

Here’s what that means in practice:

Timing: The 24 months of work must be completed within the 30 months (2 years and 6 months) preceding your application.
Flexibility: The work does not need to be all in one stretch. Breaks are fine, and normal leave, like annual holidays, sick leave, or parental leave, still counts.
Other jobs can count: If you worked in a job that is not on the Green List, it may still count as long as you were paid at least twice the median wage.
Wage rule: If at any point your pay drops below the required level, that time doesn’t count towards the 24 months until your pay is fixed.

This ensures applicants demonstrate both continuity of employment and a genuine contribution to New Zealand’s economy.

What Wage Thresholds must be met?

Wage requirements are a critical part of eligibility.

At the time of Application: You must earn at or above the wage rate specified for your Green List role, or at least the median wage (NZD $33.56/hour) if no specific rate is listed.
During the 24 Months: You must consistently meet the relevant wage threshold in place when you started each job. If your pay drops below the requirement, that time will not count.

What Documents are Required for the NZ Work to Residence Visa?

Core Documents:

A passport and a recent photograph
Medical and chest X-ray certificates (as required)
Police certificates for all countries you have lived in for 12+ months over the past 10 years
Proof of English language proficiency

Employment Documents:

Current and previous employment agreements
Detailed job descriptions
Payslips covering the qualifying period
Inland Revenue (IRD) earnings or tax statements
Employer letters on official letterhead confirming role, pay, and dates of employment

Additional documents may be requested, such as bank statements or extra payslips, particularly if INZ needs to verify wage evidence.

How to Apply for an NZ Work-to-Residence Visa?

The application process is entirely online through the Immigration New Zealand system.

Prepare your documents

identity, health, character, English, and employment records.

Submit your application

Submit your application and upload all supporting evidence.

Provide proof of 24 months’ work

Provide proof of 24 months’ work, including payslips and IRD summaries.

Wait for processing

most applications are decided within 8–11 weeks.

Receive your decision

if approved, you will be granted a Resident Visa with standard 2-year travel conditions.

If your temporary visa expires while your application is pending, you may be granted an Interim Visa to remain lawfully in New Zealand.

Conclusion

The Work to Residence Visa reflects New Zealand’s commitment to attracting and retaining skilled talent. It offers migrants a structured pathway to settle, contribute, and build a long-term future in the country. For many, it is more than a visa; it is the first step toward belonging, stability, and new opportunities in New Zealand.

FAQs

Yes, you must have completed 24 months of work in New Zealand to be eligible.

No, residence is different from citizenship. You must first gain permanent residence and then apply for citizenship separately after meeting residency requirements.

You can switch, but each new employer must be Accredited, and you must continue in an eligible role.

Yes, time spent while the role was on the list will still be recognised.

No, you must be employed by an Accredited Employer.

No, only your base pay counts toward the wage requirement.

Content Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for general reference only and may change based on updates to immigration policies. Applicants should always confirm the latest requirements and guidelines directly with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) before applying.