Skilled Visa
New Job. New Life. New Zealand.
On this page, you’ll learn:
- How to get started with a temporary work visa
- Pathways to residence for skilled workers
- Which visa strategy suits your situation
Skilled Visas for Migrants and Expats
New Zealand is one of the countries actively looking for qualified professionals. The country has a modern immigration system for skilled workers, giving qualified employees access to the labour market and the possibility of a long-term stay.
Anyone wishing to live and work in New Zealand usually starts with a temporary work visa – most commonly the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Depending on your occupation, qualifications and the length of your stay, you may later be able to apply for residency in order to remain in the country permanently.
With its different skilled-worker visa pathways, New Zealand offers flexible options – from your first job to gaining permanent residence. Which pathway is right for you depends on your professional background, qualifications, income and your long-term goals.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a temporary work visa for skilled professionals who have received a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer. It allows you to live and work in New Zealand for a set period of time – usually up to five years, depending on the type of work, the wage level and your individual circumstances.
The visa is tied to a specific position and a specific employer. Changing employers is only possible by varying your visa conditions or by applying for a new visa. For many applicants, the AEWV is the first step towards gaining work experience in New Zealand – and potentially qualifying for a long-term residence visa later on.
- What does the employer need to do?
Only accredited employers are allowed to hire skilled workers under the AEWV.
Before the visa can be applied for, the employer must complete a Job Check and demonstrate that no suitable New Zealand candidate is available and that the salary meets the applicable wage and labour market requirements.
The visa application can only be submitted once this step has been approved.
- How long is the AEWV valid?
The validity period depends on the type of work and the wage level. Depending on the occupation and income, the maximum duration is either three years or (most commonly) five years.
After this period, a further work visa may be possible for qualified roles (depending on the role’s skill level), provided all requirements continue to be met.
- What rights do I have with an AEWV?
With the AEWV, you are allowed to live in New Zealand and work in the approved position. Your visa is linked to the specific role and employer named in your application. A job change on an existing visa is possible under certain conditions, but it must be applied for.
The AEWV gives you the opportunity to gain valuable New Zealand work experience – often the first step toward qualifying for a long-term residence visa.
- Bringing your family
Depending on your income and occupation, your partner and children may be able to accompany you to New Zealand. If the role is considered skilled and you meet the defined minimum income threshold, your partner may be eligible for an open work visa without a job offer (which is often the case).
Children can apply for either a Student Visa or Visitor Visa, depending on their age.
This means your whole family can live together in New Zealand for the duration of your AEWV.
- From AEWV to Residency
Under certain conditions, the AEWV can pave the way to a permanent residence visa. Depending on your occupation and personal situation, there are several possible pathways, which are explained in the next section.
Which option suits you best depends on your qualifications, the job you perform in New Zealand, how long you have been employed, and your income level. Even though the AEWV itself is not a permanent visa, it can be an important first step toward gaining long-term residency in New Zealand.
Residency Pathways
Many international skilled workers begin their journey to New Zealand on a temporary work visa, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Those who wish to live and work in New Zealand long-term may later be able to apply for permanent residency, provided certain conditions are met.
With residency, the restriction to a specific employer or occupation no longer applies.
There are several different pathways to residency, depending on your occupation, income and qualifications. Some pathways are designed specifically for highly skilled workers and allow a direct or step-by-step transition to residence. Other pathways are industry-specific and aim to support employers in essential sectors by offering their employees a longer-term perspective after an extended period of employment.
Unlike temporary visas, residency applications allow you to include family members (partners and dependent children) in the same application without requiring separate submissions.
Residency Pathways overview:
- Skilled Migrant Category
- Green List – Straight to Residency
- Green List – Work to Residency
- Sector Pathways
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Overview
The Skilled Migrant Category is New Zealand’s main pathway to permanent residence for skilled professionals working in the country.
In contrast to temporary work visas such as the AEWV, it allows you to apply directly for residency once certain requirements relating to qualifications, income or occupational registration are met.
To apply, you must achieve at least 6 points, which must initially come from one of three main categories:
- Qualification
- New Zealand occupational registration
- Income earned in New Zealand
These categories cannot be combined. If fewer than 6 points are reached through the main category, the remaining points can be made up through skilled work experience in New Zealand (e.g. on a temporary AEWV or a Post Study Work Visa).
Key requirements:
- Main applicant is 55 years or younger
- Employment or a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer
- The role must meet the requirements for skilled employment
- At least 6 points (as outlined above)
- Meeting English language requirements
- Meeting health and character requirements
Green List – Straight to Residence
Overview
The Green List – Straight to Residency pathway allows highly qualified professionals in critical occupations to apply for residency immediately, without needing to work in New Zealand for several years first.
This option is available to applicants in Tier 1 Green List occupations – roles for which there is a clear skills shortage in New Zealand and whose qualifications are internationally recognised.
To be eligible, applicants must have a current job offer or employment in one of these occupations in New Zealand, and must meet all additional qualification or occupational registration requirements listed for that role on the Green List.
Key requirements:
- Main applicant is 55 years or younger
- Full-time employment or a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer
- Meeting the defined minimum salary threshold
- Meeting the Green List requirements for the specific occupation
- Meeting English language requirements
- Meeting health and character requirements
Green List – Work to Residence
Overview
The Green List – Work to Residence pathway is designed for skilled workers whose occupation appears in Tier 2 of the Green List.
Unlike the Straight to Residence option, residency can only be applied for after completing at least 24 months of employment in New Zealand.
During this period, applicants typically work for an accredited employer on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), through which they gain the required skilled work experience.
Key requirements:
- Main applicant is 55 years or younger
- Full-time employment with an accredited New Zealand employer, and at least 24 months of work experience in the relevant occupation in New Zealand
- Meeting the defined minimum salary threshold
- Meeting the Green List requirements for the specific occupation
- Meeting English language requirements
- Meeting health and character requirements
Sector Pathways
Overview
The Sector Pathways offer workers in specific, essential industries in New Zealand the opportunity to apply for residency after an extended period of employment.
They are designed for skilled workers in shortage occupations with lower formal qualification levels (ANZSCO Level 4–5) who have worked in these sectors over a longer timeframe.
Currently, these residency pathways exist in only two areas: the Care Workforce Pathway (care and support sector) and the Transport Sector Pathway.
Both programmes allow applicants to apply for residency after at least 24 months of continuous employment in New Zealand, provided all requirements are met.
Key requirements:
- Main applicant is 55 years or younger
- Full-time employment with an accredited New Zealand employer, and at least 24 months of work experience in the relevant occupation in New Zealand
- Meeting the defined minimum wage threshold
- The position must match one of the defined shortage roles for the respective sector
- Meeting English language requirements
- Meeting health and character requirements
- What rights do I have as a New Zealand resident?
With a Resident Visa, you are allowed to live and work in New Zealand – similar to New Zealand citizens. However, a Resident Visa includes travel conditions that limit your ability to return to New Zealand to the first two years after the visa is granted. During this period, you may leave and re-enter the country as often as you like.
After this timeframe, you must either apply for Permanent Residency or request an extension of your travel conditions in order to continue travelling in and out of the country, even though your visa itself remains valid while you stay in New Zealand.
- From Residency to Permanent Residency
If your Resident Visa is expiring and you meet the requirements, you can apply for Permanent Residency. To do so, you must show that you have lived in New Zealand for at least two years and have made the country your main home, or that you have other strong ties – for example through the total time spent in the country, employment, investments or business ownership.
A Permanent Resident Visa allows you to stay in New Zealand indefinitely without any travel conditions. You may leave and return at any time, even after long absences.
- Planned changes from 2026
The New Zealand government has announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa to help employers retain qualified professionals long-term and to support economic growth.
From August 2026, two new residency pathways within the Skilled Migrant Category are expected to be introduced:
- Skilled Work Experience Pathway – for skilled workers in qualified occupations (ANZSCO Skill Level 1–3) with at least 5 years of relevant work experience, including a minimum of 2 years in New Zealand, earning at least 1.1 × the median wage.
- Trades and Technician Pathway – for applicants in specific trades or technical occupations who hold a relevant Level 4 qualification or higher and have at least 4 years of post-qualification work experience, including at least 18 months in New Zealand at or above the median wage.
In addition, the Skilled Migrant Category will increase the points awarded for New Zealand qualifications to make it easier for graduates to transition into residency and to make studying in New Zealand more attractive. The requirement for New Zealand work experience will also be reduced – in the future, most applicants under the Skilled Migrant Category will need a maximum of 2 years, instead of the current 3.
These adjustments aim to make New Zealand’s skilled migrant settings more internationally competitive and to provide qualified professionals with a clearer and more achievable pathway to permanent residence.
Which visa pathway is right for me?
The right pathway to residency depends on your professional situation and the goals you wish to pursue in New Zealand.
The following questions can help you understand your starting point and identify the most suitable pathway:
- Do you want to live and work in New Zealand for only a few years – or are you planning a long-term stay?
- Do you have family members who will be coming to New Zealand with you?
- Do you work in an occupation on the Green List, or in a field covered by the Sector Pathways (such as care or transport)?
- Have you already made contact with potential employers in New Zealand or received a specific job offer?
- Are you already working in New Zealand – for example on an AEWV – or are you looking for an initial entry route?
- What formal qualification or vocational training do you have, and is it recognised in New Zealand?
Your answers to these questions will indicate which residency pathway – Skilled Migrant Category, Green List or Sector Pathways – best aligns with your situation.
Alternative routes toward Residency
The pathway to residency often happens in stages – and these visa building blocks can help you prepare for your long-term goal.
Entry into New Zealand’s skilled residency programmes does not always have to begin with the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Although skilled employment is usually required for residency visas such as the Skilled Migrant Category or the Green List Pathways, there are alternative ways to build this foundation step by step.
For some applicants, the journey begins with a Student Visa, often combined with a work visa for their partner. This allows you to gain relevant New Zealand work experience either during your studies or through your partner’s employment – a significant advantage for later residency applications. For a residency application, it is sufficient for one person to meet the visa requirements. This means that someone who originally comes to New Zealand as the partner of an AEWV holder can later become the principal applicant for residency.
The Post Study Work Visa also provides a valuable opportunity to work in skilled roles after completing a New Zealand qualification and to gain skilled employment experience. This employment can later count towards the points assessment for the Skilled Migrant Category or be recognised as skilled work for a residency application.
The Working Holiday Visa can also be an effective starting point, depending on your profession and plans. It enables you to gain initial work experience in New Zealand, establish contacts with employers and create the foundation for subsequent skilled employment.
Skilled Visa Consultation
Your pathway to residency starts here. We show you which visa strategy is right for you.
An experienced, licensed immigration adviser will guide you step by step.
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