Your Essential Guide to the Straight to Residence Visa NZ

The Straight to Residence Visa NZ offers skilled workers a direct pathway to settling in New Zealand indefinitely. If you already work in or have a job offer for a role on Tier 1 of Immigration New Zealand’s “Green List”, and your employer is accredited, this residence visa may allow you and your family members to live, work, and study in New Zealand with no time limit from day one.

In this guide, I will explain who potentially qualifies, what you’ll need, and how the application process works from start to finish.

Who Can Apply for a Straight to Residence Visa

The straight to residence pathway is designed for people working in critical sectors like healthcare, engineering, infrastructure, and IT jobs listed on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List. To potentially qualify for this visa category, you must:

• Be aged 55 or under

• Work in, or have a job offer for, a Tier 1 Green List role, and meet the requirements for that role as set out in the Green List

• Be employed by an accredited employer

• Meet any job-specific conditions, such as minimum pay, minimum hours, required qualifications, or professional registration

• Be in good health and of good character

• Prove English language ability.

You may include your partner and dependent children (aged 24 and under), if applicable, and they meet the definition and requirements for partners and dependent children, plus the general requirements of all applicants (including health, good character, etc).

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Straight to Residence Visa NZ are clear and accessible for those who meet the necessary job and health standards.

Age

You must be 55 years old or younger at the time of applying. Your passport will be used to verify this.

Employment Criteria

Your employment or offer of employment must be:

• In a Tier 1 Green List occupation, and meet the specific Green List requirements/thresholds for that occupation (e.g. qualifications, remuneration, licensing/registration, experience)

• Full-time (30+ hours/week)

• With an accredited employer

• Permanent, fixed-term (12+ months), or a continuous contract (6+ months for contractors)

Contractors

If you’re working on a contract basis, you’ll need to show:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience

• That you earn the significantly higher wage threshold for contractors for your occupation, as set out in the Green List

Check the Green List to confirm what your employment details require.

Qualifications

If your qualification was obtained outside of New Zealand, you may need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA), unless it's exempt under global agreements such as the Washington or Sydney Accord.

Health and Character Requirements

You and your family members must meet health and character requirements. This includes:

• A comprehensive medical examination and chest X-ray (within 3 months of application)

• Police certificates (within 6 months) from all countries you’ve lived in or visited for 12 months or more (including across multiple trips) over the past 10 years.

There is an exception to the requirement to provide police certificates and a medical/chest x-ray where they have been provided with a previous visa application to Immigration New Zealand and they remain valid.

English Language Requirements

As with other skilled residence visas, applicants and any dependent children aged 16 or older must prove English proficiency. This may be proven through:

• Citizenship of certain English-speaking countries

• Qualifications of a certain level gained in certain English-speaking countries

• Recent test results from an approved provider (no more than 2 years old)

• Prepaid English language lessons (for family members only).

What You’ll Need to Apply

To apply for the Straight to Residence Visa NZ, you must prepare a full set of necessary documents for both yourself and any included family members. Immigration New Zealand will not begin processing unless all required documents are submitted in the correct format.

Here’s what to gather before starting your online visa application:

For the main applicant, as a minimum:

• A valid passport or certificate of identity

• One acceptable photo

• Medical and chest X-ray certificates (issued within the last 3 months)

• Birth certificate

• Police certificates from your country of citizenship and any country where you've lived or visited for 12+ months in the last 10 years

• Proof of your job offer or current employment in a Tier 1 Green List occupation

• Evidence that you meet the role’s specific conditions, including pay rates, registration, or required qualifications and/or experience

• Proof of English language ability (or valid test results)

• Any required IQA results if your qualification was gained overseas

• Certified English translations for all non-English documents

For partners and dependent children (if included), as a minimum:

• A valid passport or certificate of identity

• One acceptable photo

• Birth certificate

• Medical and X-ray certificates (children under 11 years of age are not required to have an X-ray examination)

• Police certificates if aged 17 or older

• Evidence to show they meet the requirements for inclusion in your application, including the definitions of “partner” and “dependent child”

• English language test results or confirmation of prepaid English classes (for applicants aged 16 or older)

• Certified English translations for all non-English documents

Ensure that translations of any supporting documents that are not in English are completed by authorised certification translation services that meet Immigration NZ standards.

How Does the Application Process Work?

Once all your documents are ready, you can begin your application process through the official Immigration New Zealand website. Applying for residence in New Zealand involves multiple steps, such as:

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

Before you start the online applications, ensure everything is ready:

• Finalise your health check appointments

• Apply for police certificates early — these must be less than 6 months old at submission

• Get your IQA result if your qualification requires one

• Ask your accredited employer for proof of employment that shows your hours, position, start date, and salary

If you’re a contractor, prepare:

• Contracts showing 6+ months of continuous service

• Proof of 10 years' experience

• Evidence that your income meets the higher wage threshold

Step 2: Apply for Police Certificates

You need police certificates from:

• Each country you are a citizen of

• Any country you’ve lived in or visited for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years

Use the online tool provided by the New Zealand government to check the exact requirements per country. Certificates must cover your full criminal history.

Step 3: Submit Your Application Online

• Log in or create your Immigration NZ account

• Fill out the online visa application form

• Upload all supporting documents in the accepted formats

• Pay the applicable fee

Step 4: Respond to Any Additional Requests

After submission, Immigration officials may contact you for more documents. These could include, for example:

• Bank statements showing regular wage payments

• Recent pay slips

• Additional information from your employer about the position

• Additional information from you about the position, or evidence of your previous work experience or qualification(s)

• Additional evidence of English language ability

Make sure you regularly check your application status by logging into your online Immigration NZ account.

Step 5: Receive Your Visa

Once approved, you'll receive an eVisa by email. If applying from outside New Zealand, you must enter the country within 12 months of visa issuance.

Before travelling, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) online or by paper form. On arrival, officials may check for changes in your character, identity, or health.

How Long Does it Take?

Processing times for the Straight to Residence Visa can vary, depending on your situation and the volume of applications. Most applications are processed within 2.5-3.5 months from the date of lodgement.

After You Arrive in New Zealand

Once you arrive, your resident visa allows you to:

• Live and work in any job

• Study at any institution

• Travel freely in and out of New Zealand for 2 years

After holding your straight to residence visa for two consecutive years, you may become eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. This removes travel limits, allowing you to come and go from New Zealand indefinitely.

After five years of residence status, you may qualify for New Zealand citizenship.

Final Tips for a Successful Application

This residence visa offers one of the most direct and appealing routes for skilled professionals aiming to make New Zealand their long-term home. But preparation is a key aspect:

• Start your visa application early

• Don’t delay medical or police certificates

• Ensure your employer meets accreditation standards

• Triple-check that your documents meet the format and currency requirements

If you’re currently on a work visa, this residence pathway offers a faster route to stability and long-term settlement. For eligible individuals, this is more than just a visa; it’s the first step toward a new life in New Zealand indefinitely.

Getting Help with Your Application

It must be stressed that the above is intended as a simple overview only of the key requirements, documents and process for this visa category, which assumes a “straightforward” scenario. However (and as with most things), rarely are things straightforward when it comes to immigration, and there will likely be additional requirements, complexities or exceptions involved in your application. Given the high stakes (including the significant immigration fees), investing in an Immigration Lawyer to assist could be money well spent. Your lawyer will be best placed to guide you on the forms, evidence and other documents and information required for your application, helping to ensure they are correct and comprehensive, and increasing your chances of success.