NZ Work to Residence Visa (2026): How to Get NZ Residency After 24 Months

If your job is on the NZ Green List Tier 2, you can build toward a New Zealand Resident Visa by working in New Zealand for 24 months. Here is exactly who qualifies, what the 24-month rule means in practice, and how to apply when you are ready.

Quick answer: The Work to Residence Visa is a New Zealand Resident Visa for people in Green List Tier 2 occupations. You must first work in New Zealand for 24 months full-time in your Tier 2 role (on a qualifying visa), meeting the wage rate INZ has set for your role throughout that period (or NZD $35.00/hour, the 2025 median wage, where no specific rate is declared). Then you apply for the Resident Visa. You must be 55 or younger, have a current job offer from an accredited employer, and meet health, character, and English requirements. Once granted, the visa allows you to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Wage rates and rules change. Check your role at immigration.govt.nz wage rates and immigration.govt.nz Work to Residence Visa before applying.

What Is the Work to Residence Visa?

The Work to Residence Visa is one of two Resident Visas that come out of New Zealand's Green List pathway. The other is the Straight to Residence Visa. The distinction is straightforward: Tier 1 jobs qualify for an immediate Resident Visa; Tier 2 jobs require you to earn your residence by working in New Zealand first.

The pathway works like this: you enter New Zealand on a temporary work visa (most commonly an Accredited Employer Work Visa, or AEWV), work for 24 months full-time in your Tier 2 occupation at the qualifying pay rate, and then apply for the Work to Residence Visa. Once granted, the Resident Visa gives you the same outcome as Tier 1: the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

The 24-month period is not a probationary test of your character or performance. It is simply New Zealand's mechanism for ensuring that migrants in Tier 2 roles have a genuine, established connection to the NZ labour market before granting residence.

See our full Green List pathway guide for an overview of how Tier 1 and Tier 2 compare and how to find out which tier your occupation sits in.

Who Qualifies? Tier 2 Occupations

To apply for the Work to Residence Visa, your occupation must be on the Green List under Tier 2. Tier 2 covers a wide range of skilled trades, technical, and specialist roles that New Zealand needs but in which shortages are less acute than Tier 1. Ten additional trades occupations were added to the Tier 2 list on 18 August 2025.

Common confusion to avoid: Early Childhood Teachers are on Tier 2 (Work to Residence), not Tier 1. Many people assume all teachers are on Tier 1 because primary, intermediate, and secondary school teachers are. Early Childhood Teachers must complete 24 months of qualifying NZ work before applying for the Resident Visa.

Sector	Example Occupations	Notes
Electrical and Plumbing Trades	Electrician (General), Plumber (General), Gasfitter, Drainlayer, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic	Registration with relevant NZ licensing body required
Automotive and Mechanical	Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Automotive Electrician
Metal Trades (added 18 August 2025)	Metal Fabricator, Metal Machinist (First Class), Fitter (General), Fitter and Turner, Fitter Welder, Pressure Welder, Welder (First Class)	AEWV (work visa) wage rate: NZD $43.63/hour (NZD $90,750/year). Resident Visa application wage rate: NZD $45.50/hour (130% of the 2025 median wage).
Construction and Civil (added 18 August 2025)	Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, Paving Plant Operator	AEWV wage rate: NZD $38.59/hour (NZD $80,267/year). Resident Visa application wage rate: NZD $40.25/hour (115% of the 2025 median wage), or NZD $83,720/year.
Telecommunications	Telecommunications Technician
Education	Early Childhood Teacher, Special Needs Teacher, Special Education Teachers nec, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teacher of the Hearing Impaired	Registration with NZ Teaching Council required
Agriculture and Primary Industries	Dairy Cattle Farmer, Dairy Cattle Farm Worker, Crop Farmer, Halal Slaughterer	Experience requirements apply
Other Roles	Corrections Officer, Crane Operator

This table is illustrative only. The official and complete Tier 2 list is maintained at immigration.govt.nz. Each occupation has specific qualification, registration, and wage requirements. Verify before applying.

Important note on wage thresholds: The general floor where INZ has not declared a specific wage is NZD $35.00/hour (the 2025 median wage, in effect from 9 March 2026). However, several Tier 2 occupations have their own specific rates, and the rate for the Resident Visa application is often higher than the rate for the AEWV (work visa).

For metal trades roles (Welder, Fitter, Metal Fabricator, Metal Machinist), the AEWV minimum is NZD $43.63/hour but the Resident Visa application requires NZD $45.50/hour (130% of the 2025 median wage). For Panel Beaters, Vehicle Painters, and Paving Plant Operators, the AEWV minimum is NZD $38.59/hour but the Resident Visa application requires NZD $40.25/hour (115% of the 2025 median wage). Always check both your AEWV wage rate and your Resident Visa wage rate at immigration.govt.nz wage rates before signing an offer.

The 24-Month Rule: What It Means in Practice

The 24-month work requirement is the central element of this pathway. Here is what INZ's rules actually say:

Rule	What It Means
Start date	Qualifying work experience can only count from 29 September 2021 onwards. Work before this date does not count, even if it was in a Tier 2 occupation in New Zealand.
Lookback window	INZ applies a 30-month lookback window. Your 24 months must fit within the most recent 30 months before you apply. You cannot count experience from 5 years ago.
Must be full-time	Work must be full-time and paid. Part-time hours do not count toward the 24 months.
Multiple employers	You can accumulate your 24 months across more than one employer, as long as all roles are Tier 2 Green List occupations with accredited employers at the qualifying pay rate.
Leave counts	Annual leave, sick leave, and other approved leave taken during your employment counts as part of your 24 months. You are not penalised for taking time off.
Pay must be maintained	You must earn at the required AEWV rate for your occupation throughout the qualifying 24-month period. If your pay drops below the threshold at any point, that period stops counting. If you change jobs, the rate applicable at the time of the job change applies. Note: for some occupations, the wage rate required when you apply for the Resident Visa is higher than the AEWV rate (see the wage thresholds note above).
Visa must be current	Your experience only counts if you held a qualifying visa at the time (typically an AEWV, Critical Purpose Visitor Visa with work rights, or an interim visa following a qualifying work visa). Work done on an expired visa does not count.
Must be in New Zealand	The work must be performed in New Zealand. Overseas work experience, even in the same occupation, does not count toward the 24 months.

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Verify current work experience rules at immigration.govt.nz.

Practical tip: Keep payslips and employment records from day one of your NZ work. When you apply for the Work to Residence Visa, you need to demonstrate 24 months of work experience and salary payments with documentation. Missing payslips or gaps in records are a common cause of delays. Your employment agreement, payslips, and any leave records are the core of your evidence file.

Full Eligibility Requirements

You must meet all of the following to be granted the Work to Residence Visa:

Requirement	Detail
Age	55 or younger at the time you apply for the Work to Residence Visa
24-month work experience	24 months of full-time, paid work in a Green List Tier 2 occupation in New Zealand, from 29 September 2021 onwards, within a 30-month lookback window
Current employment or job offer	A current job or job offer from an INZ-accredited employer, for a Tier 2 Green List role, in a permanent or fixed-term position of at least 12 months
Salary	Throughout the 24-month qualifying period, you must earn at or above the AEWV wage rate for your occupation (NZD $35.00/hour where no specific rate is declared, or the specific rate INZ has set for your role). When you apply for the Resident Visa, the rate is generally the same, but for some occupations a higher rate applies (for example, NZD $45.50/hour for metal trades and NZD $40.25/hour for Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, and Paving Plant Operator). Check your role at immigration.govt.nz wage rates.
Qualifications and registration	Must meet the qualification, registration, or experience requirements for your specific Tier 2 occupation. Regulated trades (electricians, plumbers) require NZ licensing. Teachers require NZ Teaching Council registration.
Health	Chest X-ray and medical examination (results must be less than 3 months old when INZ receives them). Required for applicants aged 15 and over
Character	Police certificates from all countries where you hold citizenship or have lived for 12 or more months in the past 10 years. Must be less than 6 months old when you apply
English language	Must speak and understand English, demonstrated through citizenship, education background, or a language test. Test results must be no more than 2 years old when you apply
Family members	Your partner can be included with their own work rights. Dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included if they are financially dependent on you, single, and have no children of their own. All included family members must meet health, character, and English requirements (or pay for English lessons).

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Requirements change. Verify at immigration.govt.nz before applying.

How to Apply: The Full Pathway

The Work to Residence pathway involves two stages: entering New Zealand on a temporary work visa, and then applying for the Resident Visa once you have clocked up your 24 months.

Stage 1: Enter New Zealand on a Work Visa

Confirm your occupation is Tier 2 on the Green List. Match your job to the correct ANZSCO code based on actual duties. Check it against the official Green List at immigration.govt.nz.
Check the occupation-specific requirements for qualifications, registration, and wage rate. Obtain any required NZ professional registration before applying for a work visa.
Secure a job offer from an INZ-accredited employer at or above the required wage rate for your occupation.
Apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). This is the main work visa used for the Tier 2 pathway. See our NZ Work Visa (AEWV) guide for the full requirements and application steps. Your employer will need to complete a Job Check with INZ before you apply.

Stage 2: Accumulate 24 Months, Then Apply for the Resident Visa

Work full-time in your Tier 2 role for 24 months, maintaining the required pay rate. Keep copies of all payslips and employment records from day one.
Ensure your visa remains current. If your AEWV is due to expire before you hit 24 months, apply for a renewal in good time. Experience on an expired visa does not count.
Gather your residence application documents: passport copy, proof of 24 months of work experience and salary payments, current job offer or employment agreement, chest X-ray and medical (completed within 3 months), police certificates (within 6 months), qualifications and registration evidence, English language proof, and certified translations of any non-English documents.
Confirm you meet the Resident Visa wage rate for your occupation. For some Tier 2 roles (notably the metal trades and the panel/vehicle/paving group), the Resident Visa wage rate is higher than the AEWV rate. Make sure your pay reflects the Resident Visa rate at the time you apply.
Apply online at online.immigration.govt.nz. Create or log in to your INZ account, complete the Work to Residence Visa application form, upload documents, and pay the fee.
If your current visa is close to expiring while INZ processes your residence application, INZ will automatically grant you an Interim Visa when eligible. You do not apply for the Interim Visa separately. The Interim Visa lets you continue living and working in New Zealand while your Resident Visa application is processed.

Steps and requirements change. Verify at immigration.govt.nz before applying.

Costs and Processing Time

Item	Detail
Work to Residence Visa application fee	From NZD $6,450 (for the primary applicant). Additional fees for included family members.
Work to Residence Visa processing time	Average around 8 weeks; most applications completed within 4 months. Source: INZ resident visa wait times.
AEWV fee (prior work visa)	Separate fee applies when you apply for the AEWV to enter NZ. Verify at immigration.govt.nz.
Medical exam costs	Paid separately to an INZ-approved panel physician. Costs vary by country.
Police certificate costs	Varies by country of issue.
Professional registration fees	Varies by profession and licensing body (e.g. Electrical Workers Registration Board, NZ Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, NZ Teaching Council).

Fees and processing times are set by INZ and change periodically. Verify at immigration.govt.nz and INZ resident visa wait times.

Note: The total cost of this pathway is higher than Tier 1 because it involves two separate visa applications over 2 to 3 years (the AEWV and then the Work to Residence Visa). Budget for the full sequence when planning your timeline and finances.

What the Visa Allows

Once granted, the Work to Residence Visa gives you the same outcome as the Straight to Residence Visa:

Live in New Zealand indefinitely with no obligation to remain in your original occupation
Work in any job for any employer in New Zealand, without restrictions
Study anywhere in New Zealand for any length of time
Travel in and out of New Zealand freely for 2 years from your visa grant date
Include your partner and dependent children (children must be aged 24 or younger, financially dependent on you, single, and have no children of their own) on the same Resident Visa

After holding the Work to Residence Visa for 2 continuous years, you become eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa, which removes the travel conditions entirely and lets you re-enter New Zealand at any time. New Zealand citizenship eligibility typically follows after 5 years of residence.

Verify Permanent Resident Visa eligibility rules at immigration.govt.nz.

Recent Changes to the Tier 2 List

The Green List is updated periodically as New Zealand's labour market needs shift. Here are the most recent changes relevant to Tier 2 applicants:

18 August 2025: Ten trades occupations were added to the Tier 2 Work to Residence pathway. The new roles are: Metal Fabricator, Metal Machinist (First Class), Fitter (General), Fitter and Turner, Fitter Welder, Pressure Welder, Welder (First Class), Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, and Paving Plant Operator. AEWV wage minimums for these roles: NZD $43.63/hour for metal trades; NZD $38.59/hour for Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, Paving Plant Operator. Resident Visa application minimums are higher: NZD $45.50/hour (130% of the 2025 median wage) for metal trades; NZD $40.25/hour (115% of the 2025 median wage) for the panel/vehicle/paving group.
26 March 2025: Primary and intermediate school teachers were moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1. To qualify on the Tier 1 Straight to Residence pathway, teachers must be paid at least Step 5 of the teacher pay scale (approximately NZD $78,000 to $80,000 per year as of 2026). If you are a teacher who began accumulating NZ work experience toward the Work to Residence pathway, check whether you are now eligible to apply directly for the Straight to Residence Visa instead.
9 March 2026: The immigration median wage increased to NZD $35.00/hour (based on June 2025 data). This is now the general minimum salary threshold for Green List residence applications where INZ has not declared a specific wage rate for the occupation. Wage thresholds for skilled residence pathways including Green List Tier 1 and Tier 2 also increased in line with the new median wage.

If you began planning this pathway more than a year ago, recheck the current list before proceeding. Occupation additions, removals, and tier changes can materially affect your timeline.

Source: Immigration New Zealand news centre and wage rates page (immigration.govt.nz). Always verify the current list and salary thresholds before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my overseas work experience in a Tier 2 occupation count toward the 24 months?

Can I count work done before 29 September 2021?

Are early childhood teachers on Tier 1 or Tier 2?

What happens if I change jobs during my 24 months?

Does parental leave count toward the 24 months?

My visa is expiring before I reach 24 months. What should I do?

How long does the Work to Residence Visa application take to process?

Is there a salary threshold I need to meet throughout my 24 months, or only at the point of application?

What is the realistic total timeline from first arriving in NZ to holding a Resident Visa?

Planning the Work to Residence Pathway?

Getting the 24-month requirement right from day one saves you from discovering a gap or disqualification when you are ready to apply. Kiwifern's licensed immigration advisers help you confirm your occupation tier, check your employer's accreditation, structure your record-keeping, and build a complete Resident Visa application when the time comes.