New Zealand Straight to Residence Visa
New Zealand's Straight to Residence Visa is for Green List Tier 1 occupations: a job or job offer with an accredited employer leads straight to residence, with no prior period of work in New Zealand required.
Core requirements
The job must be on Tier 1 of the Green List. This is what separates this route from Work to Residence: Tier 1 leads straight to residence, while Tier 2 requires 24 months of work first.
You must be working for an accredited employer, or hold a job offer from one.
You must be aged 55 or younger when you apply.
You must speak and understand English.
Once granted, you may live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
The cost starts from NZD 6,450.
The published processing time is 80 per cent within three months.
You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in the same application.
Official sources
- Straight to Residence VisaImmigration New Zealand · Reviewed 2026-09-06
How immigration works in New Zealand — the process in order, the current figures with their dates, and what commonly blocks an application.
General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-06.