New Zealand•Oceania4 months
6,450 NZD
Indefinite (Resident Visa)
No
Required
Not Specified
Available
Not Required
Indefinite NZ residence pathway for transport workers aged 55 or younger with 24 months of approved transport work for an accredited employer.
Skilled residence pathway for transport workers in New Zealand, run by Immigration New Zealand. Open to applicants aged 55 or younger with 24 months of qualifying work in an approved transport role (Ship's Master, Deck Hand, bus driver, or truck driver) for an accredited employer in the 30 months before applying.
Grants indefinite residence — live, work and study without time limit, with a Permanent Resident Visa available after 2 consecutive years. The fee is NZD 6,450 inclusive of the immigration levy. A current job or 12-month job offer with an accredited employer is required at NZD 35.00/hour or more (lower for bus and truck drivers). Partners and children aged 24 or younger may be included.
This visa is ideal for experienced transport professionals already working in New Zealand under an accredited employer who want to convert two years of qualifying work into lifelong residence.
Must have completed at least 24 months of skilled work in New Zealand in an approved transport role (Ship's Master, Deck Hand, bus driver, or truck driver) within the 30 months immediately before applying.
Must currently be working in, or hold a job offer for, an approved transport job with an accredited employer; the role must be permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
Must meet the minimum pay rate: NZD 35.00/hour (median wage); bus drivers at least NZD 28.00/hour; truck drivers at least NZD 31.61/hour.
Must be aged 55 or younger at the time of application.
Must speak and understand English (meet the standard English language requirement).
Must meet health and character requirements for residence.
Job Offer
Required
Valid passport or acceptable photo ID.
Employment agreement, fixed-term contract or written job offer from an accredited employer describing the job, hours, length of employment and pay rate.
Evidence of 24 months of skilled work in an approved NZ transport role within the last 30 months — payslips, Inland Revenue earnings summary, and employer letters on official letterhead signed by an authorised person.
Role-specific qualification evidence where required (e.g. Skipper Restricted Limits CoC with 500GT/3000GT endorsement or STCW certificate for Ship's Master; Qualified Deck Crew CoP or DWR CoP for Deck Hand).
Chest X-ray / medical examination evidence (less than 6 months old where required).
Police certificates from countries you have lived in (less than 6 months old where required).
English language evidence meeting the INZ residence English standard.
Relationship and dependency evidence if including a partner or dependent children aged 24 or younger.
| Application Steps | Confirm you meet eligibility: aged 55 or younger, 24 months of skilled work in an approved transport… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Fees | NZD $6,450 (includes visa application fee and immigration levy) | immigration.govt.nz |
| Official Info | https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/transport-work-to-residence-visa/ | immigration.govt.nz |
| Max Age | 55 | immigration.govt.nz |
| Max Stay | Indefinite (Resident Visa) | immigration.govt.nz |
| Name | Transport Work to Residence Visa | immigration.govt.nz |
| Processing Time | Typically 80% of applications are processed within 4 months. | immigration.govt.nz |
| Required Docs | Valid passport or acceptable photo ID.; Employment agreement, fixed-term contract or written job off… | immigration.govt.nz |
Let's check your eligibility against published requirements. 2 minutes. Free trial.
Check Eligibility