A residence visa for skilled workers who have worked in New Zealand for at least 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 in-demand role and meet the requirements to transition from work to residence in New Zealand.
Live, work and study
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The Green List - Work to Residence Visa provides a structured pathway to residence for migrants working in roles that New Zealand needs, but where residence is available after gaining work experience in New Zealand.
If your occupation appears on Tier 2 of the Green List, you may be eligible to apply for residence after completing 24 months of qualifying full-time work in New Zealand and meeting all role-specific requirements.
Age Limit: You must be aged 55 or younger
Work history: Have worked in New Zealand for at least 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 role
Work Visa : Hold, or have held, a valid work visa during the qualifying period
Employment : Have a current job or job offer in a Tier 2 Green List role with an accredited employer
Qualification: Meet the pay, qualification, registration, and experience requirements for theirGreen List occupation
Language Obligation: You must understand and speak English fluently.
Health and Character Requirements: You must meet health and character requirements.
Get understanding of Green List Tier 2 work requirements and how INZ assesses it. Immigration New Zealand assesses more than just job titles. Officers look at whether your work genuinely meets Green List Tier 2 requirements throughout the qualifying period.
Employment with an accredited employer
A role listed on Tier 2 of the Green List
Full-time work (at least 30 hours per week)
Work completed over at least 24 months within the required timeframe
Pay meeting:
Ongoing compliance with any qualification, registration, or experience requirements for your occupation
Immigration New Zealand may also consider whether the role was genuine, lawfully obtained, and appropriate to the employer’s business.
Your 24 months of qualifying work must:
Be completed in New Zealand
Be in a Green List Tier 2 role
Be paid at or above the required wage for the relevant period
Be supported by evidence showing your duties, pay, hours, and dates of employment
If the median wage increased during your work period, your pay does not need to increase if you remained in the same role and continued to meet the applicable threshold.
If your pay dropped below the required level, time worked during that period may not count toward the 24 months.
If your Green List role requires qualifications and these were obtained overseas, you may need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA.
Some international qualifications are exempt from assessment, including those recognised under agreements such as the Washington Accord or Sydney Accord.
You must show that you can speak and understand English. This is usually demonstrated through:
An approved English language test, or
Evidence of study or work in recognised English-speaking countries
Partners and dependent children aged 16 or over must also meet English language requirements or, where permitted, pre-purchase English language tuition.
You may include:
• Your partner
• Your dependent children aged 24 or younger
All family members must meet health, character, and (where applicable) English language requirements.
With a Work to Residence Visa, you can:
Live, work, and study anywhere in New Zealand
Travel in and out of New Zealand while travel conditions are valid
Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after 2 years
Progress toward New Zealand citizenship once residence requirements are met
Work to Residence applications require careful assessment of employment history, wage compliance, and Green List requirements across the full 24-month period. We help ensure your application is accurate, complete, and aligned with Immigration New Zealand’s expectations.
Disclaimer: Immigration requirements can change, and every case is different. This page offers a simplified summary only. Unite Immigration will assess your situation carefully and guide you with personalised advice.
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