Essential Guide to The Work to Residence Visa New Zealand

The Work to Residence Visa NZ is designed for skilled workers who have been working in New Zealand for at least two years in an occupation listed in Tier 2 of Immigration New Zealand’s “Green List”. This visa allows you, your partner, and your dependent children to live, work, and study in New Zealand, with the potential to apply for a permanent resident visa after two years.

In this guide, I will explain who can apply, what you’ll need, and how the visa application process works step by step.

Who Can Apply for the Work to Residence Visa

The work-to-residence visa is for people who have already spent two years working in New Zealand in a Tier 2 Green List occupation and want to transition from a temporary work visa to a residence class visa. Occupations listed in Tier 2 of the Green List are in high demand but not as high as Tier 1 roles. These often include skilled trades, healthcare assistants, and technical positions.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be 55 years old or younger when you apply

• Have held a work visa or Critical Purpose Visitor Visa with work conditions for at least 24 months prior to applying

• Have been working in a Green List Tier 2 occupation for at least 24 months

• Have a current job offer or employment with a New Zealand employer that holds an accreditation with Immigration New Zealand

• Be in good health and of good character

• Meet English proficiency requirements

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 in Detail

Age Requirement

You must be 55 or under at the time of applying. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) verifies your age using your passport or other valid identity documents.

Your Work Visa

You must have continuously held a valid work visa for at least 24 months before applying. This can include:

• Any type of work visa,

• A Critical Purpose Visitor Visa that allowed you to work, or

• An Interim Visa was issued where you held a work visa or a critical purpose visitor visa that allowed you to work, and your application for a further work visa was being processed.

Note: The Critical Purpose Visitor Visa is now closed, but if you held one during the last 24 months, it still counts.

Work Experience

You need to show that you have worked in New Zealand for at least 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 occupation. In particular, you will need to demonstrate with evidence that:

• Your role matches the Green List Tier 2 occupation description and requirements. An immigration officer will assess whether:

  • You and/or your job meet the specific requirements (e.g. remuneration, qualification, registration, work experience) that are set out in Tier 2 of the Green List in relation to that occupation. Note the general rule is that you must have met these specified occupation requirements set out in Tier 2 of the Green List for the full duration of the 24-month period (there are exceptions for several occupations).

  • Your job is substantially consistent with the Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (“ANZSCO”) description for that occupation - both with the 6-digit level description for that occupation and with the tasks listed at the 4-digit ANZSCO Unit Group level description for that occupational group, excluding any tasks which are not relevant to the Occupation description.

• Your pay met or exceeded the wage rate for that role as specified in the Green List or the median wage (if no wage rate is stipulated),

• You worked full-time, which means a minimum of 30+ guaranteed hours per week for every week worked,

• The work was performed in New Zealand,

• The employer details and your job history are correct,

• The 24 months of work were gained during the 30-month period immediately before the date the residence application is made.

Acceptable evidence includes:

• Employment agreements and job descriptions

• Job offer letters

• Payslips and IRD tax statements

• Letters of long service or employer verification

• Bank statements showing salary payments

Green List Tier 2 Roles

The Green List is New Zealand’s official list of in-demand jobs. Tier 2 occupations include skilled trades, healthcare support roles, and other positions essential to New Zealand’s economy. Even if your occupation is removed from the Green List after you have started working in that role, the work can still be counted toward the 24 months required if you remain working in that occupation and you continue to meet the requirements of the Green List as they were listed for the duration of the 24-month period.

Important Wage Rules:

Where an occupation has remuneration requirements, the work period will start to be counted when your remuneration reaches the hourly rate specified for that occupation in Tier 2 of the Green List 

Where an occupation does not have remuneration requirements, the work period will start to be counted when your remuneration is at or above the median wage at that time.

However, the work period (while earning the specified hourly rate) will stop being counted if:

• You cease to hold one of the valid visas listed above (entitling you to work); or

• You change employment and your new income is below the median wage at that time or the hourly rate specified in Tier 2 of the Green List of that occupation at that time; or

• Your remuneration decreases, and the new rate is below the median wage at that time or the hourly rate specified in Tier 2 of the Green List for that occupation at that time.

Despite the above, if you applied for your work visa or Critical Purpose Visitor Visa before 29 September 2023 and a wage rate was not specified for your job, you only need to be paid the median wage at the time you apply for your residence visa.

Qualifications and Skill Verification

If your qualification was obtained overseas, Immigration New Zealand might require an International Qualification Assessment (IQA). This process evaluates how your qualification compares to New Zealand standards. Some qualifications are exempt, such as those under the Washington or Sydney Accord.

Health and Character Requirements

You and your family members must meet health and character requirements.

You will need to provide:

• 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. Use the online tool provided by the New Zealand government to check the exact requirements per country.

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

When preparing your application, gather the following:

For the Main Applicant:

• A valid passport or certificate of identity

• One acceptable photo

• Birth certificate

• Medical and chest X-ray certificates

• Police certificates from all required countries

• Proof of job offer or employment in a Green List Tier 2 role with an accredited employer

• Evidence of 24 months of work and wages (payslips, IRD statements, bank records)

• Proof of English language ability

• IQA results (if needed)

• Certified translations for all documents not in English

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

How the Application Process Works

Step 1: Gather Your Documents

Start early to avoid delays. This includes booking medical exams, applying for police certificates, and requesting employer letters confirming your role, pay and work hours, and work duration.

Step 2: Submit Your Application Online

• Log in or create an Immigration NZ account

• Complete the Work to Residence visa form

• Upload all documents in the correct formats

• Pay the required fees

Important: Ensure all details match your passport exactly. Errors can cause delays or refusals.

Step 3: Wait for Immigration New Zealand’s Decision

Immigration New Zealand might request additional documents, such as:

• 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

Step 4: Receive Your Visa

If your application is approved, you’ll receive an eVisa. If you’re overseas, you must enter the country within 12 months of visa issuance.

After You Get the Visa

Once you hold a Work to Residence Visa:

• You can work for any employer and study in any institution

• You can travel in and out of New Zealand freely for 2 years

After two years, you may become eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa, which allows indefinite travel in and out of the country.

How Long Does It Take

Processing times vary depending on the number of applications and whether you’ve submitted all required documents. Most applications are processed within 2-3 months.

Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship

After holding a work-to-residence visa for 2 years, you may become eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa.

After 5 years of living in New Zealand as a resident, you may become eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship (you don’t need to get permanent residency first).

Final Tips for a Successful Application

• Start early: Medical and police certificates can take time.

• Check your pay and hours: Make sure you meet Tier 2 Green List requirements.

• Confirm accredited employer status: Your employer must be accredited when you apply.

• Provide clear evidence: IRD summaries, payslips, employment documents and employer letters are critical.

• Double-check translations: All documents not in English must be translated by certified professionals.

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.