There are now 3 main pathways to residence in New Zealand for skilled professionals:

1.     The Skilled Migrant Resident pathway

2.     The Green List pathway

3.     The Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreement pathways.

Some of the visas on these pathways allow migrants to apply for residence straight away, such as the Straight to Residence Visa. Other pathways may require migrants to work in New Zealand before they can apply for residence, such as the Work to Residence Visa.

These 3 pathways require the migrant to have relevant New Zealand employment in place.

The Skilled Migrant Category pathway

The requirements of the new Skilled Migrant Category:

Under the new Skilled Migrant Category, which came into effect in October 2023, applicants for the SMC must have:

·      occupational registration (where an occupation has a regulated registration, licensing, or certification scheme in New Zealand and full registration requires at least 2 years of formal training or experience), or

·      a Bachelor’s degree or higher level qualification, or

·      a skilled job earning at least 1.5 x median wage in New Zealand

The points system of the SMC

The new Skilled Migrant Category is based on a simplified points system.

You need 6 points to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. These can be made up from:

·      3 to 6 points based on New Zealand occupational registration, qualifications, or income, and

·      1 point for each year of work in New Zealand in a skilled job, up to a maximum of 3 points.

·      You must have a job, or a job offer in New Zealand to apply.

All applicants need a skilled job offer in New Zealand, and most applicants will have to spend time working in New Zealand before becoming eligible for residence.

The two Green List pathways

The Green List helps to address ongoing skill shortages by making it easier for highly skilled and in-demand professionals to move to New Zealand.

The main requirement for both Green List pathways is a job or job offer in one of the Green List occupations. Specific requirements detailed on the list for the said occupation have to be met by the applicant.  

The Straight to Residence Path – Straight to Residence Visa

If you have a job offer for an occupation on the Tier 1 list and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you can apply for the Straight to Residence Visa.

The Work to Residence Path – Work to Residence Visa

If you have a job or job offer for an occupation on the Tier 2 list and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you will need 2 years of relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa. After this, you can apply for a Work to Residence Visa.

The Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreements Pathways

If you have a job or job offer for an occupation in a specified sector agreement, and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you need 2 years of relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa.

Care workforce pathway

The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa allows care workers who earn NZD 28.25 an hour to gain residence after 24 months.

Transport sector pathway

In December 2022, the Immigration Minister announced a Transport Sector Agreement with a 2-year work to residence pathway for truck drivers and bus drivers.

Bus and truck drivers are able to apply for residence through this pathway if they have completed 2 years of work experience.  

All of the above pathways require you to have a job or a job offer in New Zealand.

Obtaining a job offer in New Zealand will be a vital component of your immigration process no matter which of the 3 pathways you will choose.

But job hunting in a new country is challenging. As a newcomer to New Zealand you will most probably experience that it can be difficult to get a job offer as long as you do not have a visa yet.

Some job listings even state: “Only applicants with the right to work in New Zealand may apply.”