Key Pathways for Skilled Migrants Looking to Live Permanently in New Zealand

New Zealand has increasingly become a top destination for expatriates looking for residence in a beautiful country that affords a positive work-life balance. Net migration has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. According to the New Zealand government estimates, migrant arrivals were up 142% for the year ended January 2023 compared with the year ended January 2022.

As with many other countries looking to attract skilled workers to counter labour shortages, the New Zealand immigration program has undergone major modifications in the last two years, following a review by the New Zealand government into employer-sponsored and independent skilled migration programs. The government has introduced several reforms to the Skilled Migrant Residence visa programs to support the country’s economic growth and provide certainty to migrants and employers.

In August 2022, as part of work visa reforms and the introduction of the Accredited Employer Work (temporary) visa program, the New Zealand government announced the implementation of residence pathways for migrant workers already in New Zealand and eligible applicants offshore. 

Applications may include partners and dependent children who are 24 years old and younger. Applicants for each of the categories are required to be younger than 55 years old and meet English language, health and character requirements. Accompanying family members may also be required to meet English language, health and character requirements.

On grant, the visa provides Residence status, enabling visa holders to live in New Zealand indefinitely, study or work for any employer in New Zealand. The pathways include the Skilled Migrant Category, Straight to Residence pathway and Work to Residence pathway.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

This category is set to be introduced on 9 October 2023. Applicants must claim six points under one of the following categories:

• New Zealand registration: Holding a New Zealand occupation registration for an eligible occupation;
• Qualification: Holding a recognised qualification equivalent to NZQF Level 7, Bachelor to Level 10 Doctoral Degree; or
• Income: Having an offer of employment with a New Zealand employer with a high income over 1.5, 2 or 3 times the New Zealand median wage. Beginning in February 2024, the median wage will increase from $61,692.80 to $65,748.80 NZD annually (based on a 40-hour work week).

If an applicant is not able to claim the full six points from one of the above factors, they may claim up to three points through skilled work experience gained in New Zealand on a valid work visa, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

The government has noted that there will be no limits on the number of spots available through the SMC program. Applicants should expect a six-to-eight-week processing time for this category.

Straight to Residence Category

This category commenced on 5 September 2022.

Applicants may be eligible to apply for a Residence visa without having to spend time on the Accredited Employer Work visa (AEWV), where their nominated role aligns with an occupation on tier 1 of the Green List and the applicant meets the list requirements and have an offer of employment by an Accredited Employer for a full-time role of at least 12 months’ duration.

Green List Tier 1 occupations include roles in the construction, engineering, healthcare, primary industries, science, ICT, electronics and telecommunications industries. Applicants will be required to meet certain qualifications or salary requirements to be eligible (not based on a points system).

Work to Residence Pathway

Applicants may be eligible to apply under this pathway if they work for or have a job offer from an Accredited Employer and have worked in a Tier 2 Green List in-demand role for 24 months.

Employment must be full-time and permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months. Tier 2 Green List occupations eligible for this pathway include roles in the health, social services, education, trades and agriculture industries.

Further, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (the visa most utilised for employment of foreign nationals by New Zealand employers) is granted for a period of five years, with a step-down period of 12 months before being able to apply for a further AEWV.

That means AEWV holders who have stayed in New Zealand for five years will need to leave New Zealand for 12 months before they can apply for another AEWV, unless a Residence Visa application is in process or the visa is granted prior to the expiry of the five years on an AEWV, where they can continue to remain in New Zealand. This could mean disruption to businesses and projects and the imposition of having to leave New Zealand once the five-year duration of an AEWV has been reached.

Need to know more?

Please contact Fragomen’s New Zealand practice for further information and an eligibility assessment by reaching out to [email protected].  

This blog was published on 25 September 2023, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.