If you have been working in the care sector in New Zealand for at least two years, you may be able to apply for this residence visa, which is specifically aimed at the care workforce.
Who can apply for a Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa?
To be eligible for this visa, individuals must:
- currently be working for or have a job offer from an accredited employer
- the job must be permanent or fixed for a minimum of 12 months
- the job must be full-time
- have been working in the care workforce for at least 24 months, earning at least NZD $28.25/hour from 1 July 2022 and at least $27.00/hour for any qualifying employment before that date (care pay rates are reviewed from time to time, so check the current rate with us before you apply)
- have held at least one valid visa for the entirety of the 24-month qualifying period, such as:
- a valid work visa
- a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa
- an Interim Visa which was given while your application for another visa was being considered
- speak and understand English to a suitable level
- be no more than 55 years of age
- meet the health and good character requirements for New Zealand visas
What does a Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa offer?
Individuals who are successful in their application for this visa are permitted to:
- live in New Zealand indefinitely
- work anywhere in New Zealand, for any employer and in any role
- study in New Zealand for any length of time
- travel freely to and from New Zealand for as long as their ‘multiple entry travel conditions’ are valid
- this travel condition is usually granted for an initial period of two years
- after the travel condition expires, you must renew it or apply for a Permanent Resident Visa in order to leave New Zealand without your visa expiring
- include their partner or any dependent children aged 24 or younger in their visa application
How do I apply for a Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa?
Once you have gathered your supporting information, applications for this visa can be submitted to Immigration New Zealand online.
The fee for applying for a Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa varies depending on your nationality, as well as whether you are inside or outside New Zealand when you submit your application. For most applicants the total is NZD $6,450 (application fee plus immigration levy).
If you apply from within New Zealand and your current visa is expected to expire before you receive a decision on your application for this residence visa, you will typically be automatically granted an Interim Visa for six months while your application is processed.
Care Workforce Work to Residence requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What you need |
| Work experience | 24 months of work in an eligible care role in New Zealand, within the 30 months before you apply |
| Pay | At least the care workforce residence rate (the Level 4 rate, NZD $28.25 an hour) for the whole 24 months and in your current job or job offer |
| Job | Full time (at least 30 hours a week), permanent or fixed term for at least 12 months, with an accredited employer |
| Qualification | A Level 4 care qualification is not required for this residence visa |
| Age | 55 or younger when you apply |
| English | An acceptable English test result from the last 2 years, unless you are exempt (for example some citizens of Canada, the USA, the UK and Ireland). Partners and children aged 16 or over can meet a lower standard or pre-purchase English lessons |
| Family | You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger |
| Government fee | NZD $6,450 for most applicants |
Your 24 months can start from the date your pay first reached the required rate, so check your payslips carefully before you apply.
Eligible care roles
The care workforce settings cover care and support roles such as:
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Personal Care Assistant
- Nursing Support Worker
- Kaiāwhina (Māori Health Assistant)
- Disabilities Services Officer
- Residential Care Officer
- Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
- Therapy Aide
- Diversional Therapist
Your actual duties matter more than your job title. We compare your employment agreement and job description with the role descriptions before you rely on this pathway.
Wage rate rules from 24 August 2026
New rules for work to residence visas took effect on 24 August 2026. They make the pay requirement more predictable:
- You only need to meet the required wage rate that was in place when you started counting your work experience.
- You do not need to meet a higher rate just because you change employer during your work experience period.
- If the required rate rises after your work visa is granted, a grace period can let you use the rate in place when your visa was granted, as long as you were paid at least that rate within 5 months of the grant.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa questions
Can I work in care on an Accredited Employer Work Visa first?
Yes. Most people build their 24 months on an Accredited Employer Work Visa. Eligible care roles paid at or above the care residence rate can be granted an AEWV for up to 5 years, and at that pay level you may be able to support your partner for a work visa and your children for student or visitor visas.
Do I need a care qualification?
No Level 4 qualification is needed for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa. What matters is that you work in an eligible care role, full time, for an accredited employer and at the required pay rate for 24 months.
What if my hourly rate dropped below the residence rate for a period?
Each pay period in your 24 months generally needs to be at or above the required rate. A period below the rate can break your qualifying time, so talk to us before you apply. We review your pay history and work out the earliest date you can apply.
Is this visa permanent residence?
It is a resident visa, so you can live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Your travel conditions usually last 2 years. After that you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa if you meet the requirements.
