New Zealand•Oceania5 months
NZ$4,290 NZD
Varies by filing options
2 years
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
Dependents allowed
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
Job offer required
Work
Remote not required
Residence on arrival for skilled workers with a Tier 1 Green List job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer; PR after 2 years.
The Straight to Residence Visa, run by Immigration New Zealand, grants residence to skilled workers holding or offered a Tier 1 Green List job with an accredited employer. Introduced in September 2022, it consolidates earlier work-to-residence routes and removes the two-year wait that previously delayed essential workers.
Applicants must be aged 55 or younger, meet Green List requirements for the role (registration, qualification or pay rate), and earn at least the role's set rate or NZD 35/hour. Combined fee and levy total NZD 6,450; 80% of cases decide within 5 months. Holders live, work and study indefinitely with partner and children aged 24 or younger, and qualify for a Permanent Resident Visa after two years.
This visa is ideal for mid-career professionals in Tier 1 Green List occupations — healthcare, engineering, ICT or construction — with a confirmed accredited-employer offer who want permanent residence on arrival.
Aged 55 or under at the time of application
Hold a job offer for, or currently work in, a Tier 1 Green List occupation
Employment must be full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
Employer must be an accredited employer
Meet specific role requirements (e.g., qualifications, professional registration)
Meet English language proficiency requirements
Meet standard health and character requirements
Education
bachelor or higher
Experience
1+ years
Min. Income
136,739 EUR/yr
Valid passport or certificate of identity
One acceptable passport-sized photo
Birth certificate
Medical and chest X-ray certificates (issued within the last 3 months)
Police certificates from country of citizenship and any country lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years
Proof of job offer or current employment in a Tier 1 Green List occupation
Evidence of English language proficiency
Evidence of relationship for partners and dependent children (if included)
Certified English translations for all non-English documents
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