New Zealand Work to Residence Visa
New Zealand's Work to Residence Visa is for Green List Tier 2 occupations and requires 24 months of work in that job in New Zealand first — the core difference from the Straight to Residence Visa.
Core requirements
The job must be on Tier 2 of the Green List, and you must have worked in New Zealand for 24 months in that Tier 2 job. Those 24 months are the core difference from the Straight to Residence Visa.
You must be working for an accredited employer, or hold a job offer from one.
The job must be full-time, and permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
You must be aged 55 or younger when you apply.
You must speak and understand English.
You must meet the visa's wage rate requirement; the page states no figure.
Once granted, you may live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
The cost starts from NZD 6,450.
You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in the same application.
Official sources
- Work 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.