What is the New Zealand Straight to Residence Visa?
The Straight to Residence Visa is the most direct pathway to living permanently in New Zealand. If your occupation is on Tier 1 of the Green List and you have a full-time job offer (or current employment) from an accredited employer, you can apply for residence without spending time on a temporary work visa first. You must meet the qualification, professional registration, and pay requirements specific to your occupation. After 2 years of residence, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. Partners and dependent children can be included — partner and children aged 16 or older must demonstrate English proficiency.
Note: Information on this page is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify
You must meet four requirements for the Straight to Residence Visa. Health, character, and family relationships are proven through the documents section below. If you do not meet any of these, you will not be eligible for the Straight to Residence Visa.
You must have a full-time job offer (at least 30 hours per week) or current employment in a Green List Tier 1 in-demand role with an Immigration New Zealand (INZ)-accredited employer. The offer must be permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
ou must be aged 55 or younger at the time of your residence application. There is no exemption.
You must speak and understand English. This applies to the main applicant and to any partner and dependent children aged 16 or older included in the application. English can be demonstrated through citizenship of an English-speaking country, qualifications taught in English, or an approved test result. Family members who cannot demonstrate English may be able to pay for English classes in New Zealand instead.
You must be in good health and of good character. These are proven through the medical certificates and police certificates listed in the documents section below.
2026 salary requirements
Green List Tier 1 occupations either have a specific pay rate set by INZ or default to the current median wage of NZ$35.00/hour. The rate that applies depends on your specific occupation — check the Green List search tool.
What you need to apply
You apply for residence online through INZ. The items below are what you submit with your application.
If you do not have any of the documents below, you can read the FAQs section below for further guidance.
What to expect, step by step
From securing a Tier 1 Green List role to receiving residence typically takes 3–6 months. If applying from outside the country, an AEWV may be needed first to enter New Zealand and begin work while the residence application is processed.
Find an accredited employer offering a role on Tier 1 of the Green List. Confirm the role, pay, and your qualifications match the Green List requirements. If applying from offshore, the employer may need to complete a Job Check and issue a Job Token for an AEWV to allow entry while the residence application is processed.
Collect all required documents — employment agreement, qualifications, professional registration, police certificates (less than 6 months old), medical certificates (less than 3 months old), English proficiency evidence, and proof of genuine relationship if including family. Submit the residence application online through INZ. The application fee is approximately NZ$4,000.
INZ reviews the residence application. Processing currently takes 3–6 months. INZ may request additional documents during this period — including further evidence of English ability.
On approval, you receive a Straight to Residence visa allowing indefinite stay in New Zealand. After 2 consecutive years of holding this visa, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which allows indefinite travel in and out of New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Once you hold the Straight to Residence visa, you are a resident — you can work for any employer in any role. There are no restrictions on changing jobs, becoming self-employed, or starting a business.
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included in the residence application. You must have a genuine relationship with your partner and any dependent children. Your partner and dependent children aged 16 or older must demonstrate English proficiency through citizenship of an English-speaking country, qualifications taught in English, or a test. If they cannot demonstrate English, they may be able to pay for English classes in New Zealand instead.
Tier 1 covers a wide range of critical shortage occupations across healthcare (doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, pharmacists, radiographers, and many specialist medical roles), engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, structural, environmental), ICT (software engineers, ICT security specialists, database administrators), education (experienced primary and secondary teachers with registration earning at least the median wage), trades (electricians, plumbers, fitters, welders, mechanics), and scientific roles. The full list includes over 200 occupations and is searchable here.
Budget NZ$5,000–NZ$8,000 for one applicant, including dependants. The residence application fee is approximately NZ$4,000. Add police certificate costs, medical examination (~NZ$400–$600), qualification assessment (NZQA IQA ~NZ$860 if required), and professional registration fees (vary by body). If an AEWV is needed first, add the NZ$750 visa fee.
Timing and requirements. Straight to Residence (Tier 1) lets you apply for residence immediately with a qualifying job offer — no waiting period. Work to Residence (Tier 2) requires you to have held a work visa for at least 24 months and to have been working in New Zealand for 24 months in a Tier 2 role before applying. Both lead to the same outcome — residence, then Permanent Resident Visa after 2 years. The tier your occupation falls under determines which pathway applies.
No. The age limit of 55 or younger is a hard requirement with no exemption. If you are over 55, you may still be eligible for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) to work in New Zealand, but you cannot apply for residence through the Green List pathway.
Find visa-sponsored jobs in New Zealand
You cannot apply for the Straight to Residence Visa without a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer. We have solved this problem for you. Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in New Zealand. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city, and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.
Other visas you may qualify for
New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. Three-stage employer-led process. No fixed salary threshold beyond minimum wage, but earning at or above the median wage (NZ$35/hour) unlocks residence pathways and partner work rights.
New Zealand's residence pathway for Tier 2 Green List occupations. Work for 24 months in a qualifying role, then apply for residence. Covers software engineers, construction managers, ICT specialists, trades, and education roles. Must be aged 55 or under.