Once you have been in New Zealand for 2 years on a Work to Residence visa, you may be eligible for residence status under the Residence from Work Category. There are 2 main types of Work to Residence visas – both allow you to work in New Zealand temporarily and then to apply for a Residence from Work visa after at least 24 months in the job.
To be eligible for this residence visa you must:
- be employed in a role on Tier 2 of the Green List or hold an offer of employment for one
- meet the specified requirements on the list for the role
- have worked for 24 months in New Zealand in a role (and meet the specified its requirements) on Tier 2 of the Green List.
Your employer must be accredited when you apply for this visa.
Employment criteria
The employment or offer of employment must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), genuine, and permanent, or be at least a 12-month fixed term contract.
Acceptable work in New Zealand
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted towards a Work to Residence Visa while you hold or held:
- an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- another work visa or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) that was held or applied before 4 July 2022.
Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted from 29 September 2021.
There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must still show you worked for the required 24 months within the 30 month period before your visa application date.
You can mix acceptable work criteria, such as a role on Tier 2 of the Green List and work earning twice the median wage.
You can apply for this visa from September 2023.
Green List roles and qualification requirements
Overview
Two Types of Work to Residence Visas
Work to Residence: Long Term Skill Shortage work visa
Please Note:- This visa closed to new applicants on 31 October 2021 and will be replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa from 4 July 2022
Related: New Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
You can only reapply for this visa if you have already held a Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa Work Visa and you either are waiting for a decision on your Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa Resident Visa application, or worked in the role the visa was issued for, were overseas when the border closed on 19 March 2020, and had not returned by 31 October 2021.
You need to wait until you can return to New Zealand before you can reapply. You will only be granted a border exception if you meet the criteria for one — otherwise you need to wait until the border reopens.
Eligibility criteria include:
- you have a current, full-time job offer, and
- Your job offer can be from any accredited employer, the employer who supported your initial work to residence visa application, or an employer whose accreditation expired after 31 March 2021.
- the job is in an occupation on the Long-Term Skill Shortage List, and
- your qualifications and experience match those required, and
- you meet the age, health and character requirements.
Find out more here.
Work to Residence: Talent (Accredited Employer) work visa
Please Note:- This visa closed to new applicants on 31 October 2021 and will be replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa from 4 July 2022
Related: New Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
You can only reapply for this visa if you have already held a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and you either are waiting for a decision on your Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa application, or you worked in the role the visa was issued for, were overseas when the border closed on 19 March 2020, and only returned after 31 October 2021.
You need to wait until you can return to New Zealand before you can reapply. You will only be granted a border exception if you meet the criteria for one — otherwise you need to wait until the border reopens.
Eligibility criteria include:
- you have a current, full-time job offer job offer from an Immigration New Zealand accredited employer (accredited because they frequently employ migrants), and
- Your job offer can be from any accredited employer, the employer who supported your initial work to residence visa application, or an employer whose accreditation expired after 31 March 2021.
- your job offer meets certain requirements, and
- you meet the age, health and character requirements.
Find out more here.
Residence from Work Category
Residence from Work Category will allow you to live in New Zealand for as long as you like and an access most publicly funded service. To apply for the Residence from Work Category, you must have met the requirements of the Work to Residence Visa.
To be eligible for residence status you must:
- have been in New Zealand on a Work to Residence visa for 2 years, and
- meet health and character requirements, and
- meet the requirements of one of the 2 ‘pathways’ to residence.

Mohamed Anas Sirajur Raheem
BA (Political Studies), LLB (VUW)
Mohamed is a New Zealand Immigration Consultant with VisaEnvoy and an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
He is a former New Zealand Immigration Officer (Visa Services) and Border Officer at Auckland International Airport. He has several years of experience working in various Government Departments in New Zealand and has also worked as a Licensed Immigration Adviser at a prominent New Zealand Immigration firm.
His areas of expertise and interest are in the fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child Visa streams.
Mohamed was inspired to pursue a career in immigration by his own migration experiences. Over the years he has assisted individuals, families, large corporations, Professional sportspeople, and Entertainers (singers, speakers, and actors) to come to New Zealand.
Green List and other immigration changes
Employing overseas chefs and median wage threshold
New Zealand’s International Border Reopening Plan
Claiming Points for your Age
Claiming Points for your Partners Recognised Qualifications
Claiming Points for Recognised Qualifications