The fastest skilled route to residence in the region
New Zealand Visa & Immigration Consultants
New Zealand replaced its old points scramble with something rarer: a published list of occupations that lead straight to residence. If your role is on the Green List, the path is unusually short and unusually clear.
- 80+
- Green List occupations
- 6
- SMC points required
- 55
- Max age for residence
- Up to 3 yrs
- Post-study work
Tier 1 and Tier 2 combined
Six-point skilled migrant system
Higher than Australia
Eligible qualifications
Why New Zealand
What makes New Zealand worth the effort
Straight to Residence
Tier 1 Green List roles can apply for residence immediately on securing a qualifying job — no provisional stage, no points scramble.
A simpler points test
The Skilled Migrant Category runs on a six-point scale built around qualifications, registration, income and experience. Far less ambiguity than a 100-point matrix.
Higher age ceiling
Residence remains open to applicants up to 55, giving mid-career professionals a window that has closed in Australia.
Genuine work-life balance
Four weeks of statutory annual leave, consistently high global liveability rankings and short commutes outside Auckland.
Access to Australia
New Zealand citizens can live and work in Australia indefinitely under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
Family-friendly settlement
Partners gain work rights and dependent children access free state schooling as domestic students.
Visa options
Every New Zealand route we handle
Grouped by purpose, with the specific subclass or permit name so you can search official sources directly.
Residence
Service →Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Six-point system across qualifications, registration and income.
Green List — Straight to Residence
Immediate residence for Tier 1 occupations with a qualifying offer.
Green List — Work to Residence
Residence after 24 months in a Tier 2 role with an accredited employer.
Care Workforce & Transport Work to Residence
Sector-specific residence pathways after a qualifying period.
Work
Service →Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The principal work route — accreditation, job check, then visa.
Specific Purpose Work Visa
Intra-company transfers and specialist short-term assignments.
Working Holiday Visa
Twelve months of open work rights for eligible nationals.
Study
Service →Fee Paying Student Visa
Study at an NZQA-approved provider with 20 hours per week work rights.
Pathway Student Visa
Up to three consecutive programmes on a single visa.
Post Study Work Visa
Up to three years of open work rights after graduation.
Family & visit
Service →Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
Residence for partners in a genuine, stable relationship.
Dependent Child Resident Visa
Residence for children of citizens and residents.
Parent & Grandparent Visitor Visa
Multiple-entry visitor visa valid for up to three years.
Visitor Visa
Up to nine months in an eighteen-month period.
Key facts
New Zealand at a glance
- Capital
- Wellington
- Currency
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Official languages
- English, Te Reo Māori, NZSL
- Immigration authority
- Immigration New Zealand
- Citizenship eligibility
- 5 years of residence
- Healthcare
- Public healthcare for residents
Popular destinations
- Auckland
- Wellington
- Christchurch
- Hamilton
- Tauranga
- Dunedin
- Queenstown
Cost of living
What it costs to live there
Indicative ranges to help you plan. Actual costs vary considerably between cities and regions.
- Single person, monthly (excl. rent)
- NZD 1,300 – 1,700
- One-bedroom rental, city centre
- NZD 1,800 – 2,600
- Student living cost requirement
- NZD 20,000 per year
- Public transport pass
- NZD 150 – 210
Questions
New Zealand — common questions
It is a published list of occupations in shortage, split into two tiers. Tier 1 roles qualify for Straight to Residence — you can apply for residence as soon as you have a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer. Tier 2 roles qualify for Work to Residence, where you apply for residence after 24 months of employment in that role. It covers a wide span of health, engineering, ICT, trades, education and primary industry occupations.
For most routes, yes. The Skilled Migrant Category, Green List pathways and sector agreements all require skilled employment or a job offer with an accredited employer. This differs from Australia, where the main skilled visas require no sponsor at all.
You need six points in total. Points come from your qualification level, occupational registration, or income relative to the median wage, and you can add points for skilled work experience in New Zealand. A recognised bachelor's degree, for example, contributes three points, so it must be combined with other qualifying factors.
Yes. Partners and dependent children under 24 can be included in residence applications. Partners of AEWV holders can generally apply for work visas, and dependent children of work visa holders can attend state schools as domestic students where the principal applicant's role qualifies.
Assess my New Zealand options
A consultant will review your profile against current New Zealand requirements and reply within one business day.
Not sure which visa you qualify for?
Neither are most people when they first call us. Fifteen minutes with a consultant is usually all it takes to replace uncertainty with a plan.