A residence visa for people who have worked in New Zealand for 24 months or more in an approved transport role, meet the required wage thresholds, and have a current job or job offer with an accredited employer.
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The Transport Work to Residence Visa provides a pathway to residence for workers who have contributed to New Zealand’s land, maritime, or aviation transport sectors and meet the work, wage, and visa requirements.
This pathway is available to applicants who have completed 24 months of qualifying full-time work in an approved transport job and continue to meet all visa conditions at the time of application.
Age Limit: You must be 55 years or younger
Work Experience : Have worked in New Zealand for at least 24 months in an approved transport role
Work Visa : Held a valid work visa throughout the qualifying period
Employment: Have a current job or job offer with an accredited employer
Meet income requirements: Have been paid at or above the minimum wage rate during the qualifying period
Language Obligation: They must understand and speak English fluently or pay for lessons
Health and Character Requirements: They must meet health and character requirements
Other Requirements: They must meet the other requirements of their pathway visa.
Our licensed immigration professionals dedicated to provide the fastest, most cost-effective solutions for your New Zealand visa needs. We're thorough in our approach to ensure your visa application succeeds at minimal cost.
Approved transport roles include certain positions in:
Land transport (for example, truck or bus drivers)
Maritime transport (such as deck hands or ship’s masters)
Other approved transport occupations as defined by Immigration New Zealand
Each role has specific requirements, including:
Minimum pay thresholds
Required licences or certificates
Minimum work duration in the role
Your job title alone is not enough - Immigration New Zealand assesses whether your actual duties, pay, and qualifications meet the approved role criteria.
With a Transport 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
The Transport Workforce Work to Residence Visa offers care workers a clear and reliable pathway to permanent residency in New Zealand.
To qualify, you must generally:
Have worked full-time (at least 30 hours per week)
Have been paid at or above the required wage rate for your approved transport role
Complete 24 months of qualifying work within the required timeframe
Annual leave, bereavement leave, and other legally entitled leave may be counted toward the 24 months.
If your pay fell below the required level during the qualifying period, that time may not be counted toward your 24 months.
You must show that you can speak and understand English, usually through:
An approved English language test, or
Evidence of eligible citizenship/study/work background
Partners and dependent children aged 16 or older must also meet English requirements or, where permitted, pre-purchase English language tuition.
You may include:
Your partner
Your dependent children aged 24 or younger
All included family members must meet health, character, and (where applicable) English language requirements.
Transport Work to Residence applications often depend on role eligibility, licence requirements, wage compliance, and accurate evidence for the full 24-month period. We help ensure your application is prepared clearly and meets 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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