The Journey from Work Visa to Permanent Residence
Work to Residence is a two-stage process. You first obtain or already hold an eligible work visa, then after meeting the qualifying conditions, you apply for a Resident Visa. Here is how the journey unfolds.
💼 Get an Eligible Job
Secure a job offer with an INZ-accredited employer in an eligible occupation at or above the median wage. Your role must be genuine and your duties must match the relevant ANZSCO code.
📄 Obtain Your Work Visa
Apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or hold another eligible work visa that qualifies for the Work to Residence pathway. Your work visa gives you the right to live and work in New Zealand while you build towards residence.
📅 Complete Your Qualifying Period
Work in your eligible role for the required period — typically 24 months. Depending on your stream, you may need to remain with the same accredited employer or accumulate time across multiple accredited employers.
🏠 Apply for Residence
Once you meet all the qualifying conditions, apply for the Resident Visa. If your application is approved, you receive permanent residence — giving you the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
Which Stream Applies to You?
There are several Work to Residence streams in New Zealand. The right one depends on your occupation, your employer, and your work history. We identify the correct stream in your free consultation.
- Occupation must be on Tier 2 of the current Green List
- Employer must be INZ-accredited
- 24 months of work in the Tier 2 role required
- Paid at or above the median wage throughout
- Role must match an eligible ANZSCO care occupation code
- Employer must be INZ-accredited
- 24 months across one or more accredited care employers
- No Skilled Migrant points assessment required
- Must have worked on a New Zealand-flagged fishing vessel
- Employer must be approved for this purpose
- 24 months of qualifying sea-going work required
- Specialist stream with specific conditions — contact us for details
- Must hold or have held an eligible Talent-based work visa
- Must have been contributing to NZ arts, culture, or sport
- Evidence of ongoing talent and contribution required
- Endorsement from a relevant NZ body may be required
What Most Streams Require You to Show
While each stream has its own specific conditions, these requirements apply across most Work to Residence pathways. Stream-specific requirements are discussed in your consultation.
Accredited Employer
For most streams, your employer must hold current INZ accreditation under the Accredited Employer Work Visa framework throughout the qualifying period. Work with a non-accredited employer generally does not count toward residence.
24 Months Qualifying Work
You must have accumulated at least 24 months of qualifying work in an eligible role. Depending on the stream, this may need to be with a single employer or can be spread across multiple accredited employers in the same sector.
Median Wage or Above
Your remuneration must be at or above the New Zealand median wage for the full qualifying period. The median wage threshold is reviewed by INZ periodically — we confirm the current figure during your consultation.
Eligible Work Visa Throughout
All qualifying work must have been performed lawfully under a valid work visa. Periods of unlawful stay or overstaying cannot be counted. The specific visa types that qualify vary by stream.
Health Requirements
You must meet INZ’s health standards. A full medical examination (INZ 1007) by an approved Panel Physician is required. All included family members must also meet health requirements.
Character Requirements
Police certificates are required from every country where you have lived for 12 or more months in the past 10 years. All included family members aged 17 and over must also satisfy character requirements.
Documents & Evidence Required
Work to Residence applications require detailed employment evidence across the full qualifying period. Gaps or missing payslips are a common reason for delays — start collecting early.
💼 Employment Evidence (24 months)
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Employment agreements
Signed agreements covering all periods of qualifying work, clearly showing your role title, start date, and pay rate. Gaps between agreements must be explained.
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Payslips (full 24-month period)
Payslips for every month of qualifying employment confirming you were paid at or above the median wage throughout. Missing payslips must be replaced with employer declarations.
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Employer confirmation letter
A letter from each employer confirming your role, start and end dates, hours worked, rate of pay, and their INZ accreditation status at all relevant times.
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Employer accreditation evidence
Confirmation that each employer held current INZ accreditation throughout the periods you are counting. We can verify accreditation records against INZ’s database.
📄 Identity & Visa Documents
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Passport
Your current valid passport plus any previous passports covering the full period of your work history in New Zealand.
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Work visa history
Evidence of all work visas held during the qualifying period, confirming all work was performed lawfully. This may include visa grant letters, passport labels, or eVisa records from Immigration Online.
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IRD number & tax records
Confirms earnings and employment in New Zealand, cross-referenced against employer payroll records. Useful as supporting evidence of your work history.
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Partner & children’s documents (if including)
Passports, birth certificates, marriage or de facto evidence, and consent from the other parent where applicable for any family members included in your application.
🏥 Health & Character Documents
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Medical examination (INZ 1007)
A full medical including chest X-ray by an INZ-approved Panel Physician. All included family members must also complete medicals. Book early as appointments fill quickly.
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Police certificates
From every country where you (and included family members aged 17+) have lived for 12+ months in the past 10 years. Must be recent at the time of lodgement.
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NZ Police certificate
Required as you will have lived in New Zealand for 12 or more months during your qualifying work period. We advise on timing to ensure it remains valid at lodgement.
How We Guide You to Residence
From your first consultation to your residence approval — here is exactly how we support you through the process.
Free Eligibility Assessment
We identify which Work to Residence stream applies to you, calculate your qualifying work period, confirm your employer’s accreditation history, and check your pay rate against the current median wage threshold.
Early Planning Advice
If you are still building towards the qualifying period, we advise you on what to start collecting now — payslips, employment agreements, employer letters — so that when you reach the threshold, you can apply immediately without delay.
Employment Evidence Review
We review your full employment history against INZ’s requirements, identify any gaps or issues in your payslip or contract record, and advise on how to address them before lodgement.
Health & Character Checks
We coordinate your medical examination and guide you through obtaining police certificates from New Zealand and all other required countries, timed to ensure everything remains valid at lodgement.
Application Preparation & Lodgement
We prepare your complete application — forms, employment narrative, supporting evidence — and lodge it through INZ’s online system, managing all INZ correspondence throughout the processing period.
Residence Granted
Once approved, we explain your visa conditions, advise on any travel requirements to activate residence, and outline the pathway to permanent residence and New Zealand citizenship for you and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve Done the Work. Now Let’s Make It Permanent.
Many workers in New Zealand qualify for residence sooner than they realise — but the evidence needs to be complete and correctly presented. Our licensed advisers will assess your eligibility, identify the right stream, and build a thorough application so you can make New Zealand your permanent home.
