Live & Work in New Zealand
An Accredited Employer Work Visa allows you to work in New Zealand for an Accredited Employer in a position that you have the skills and/or qualifications for.
What it means to obtain a New Zealand Work Visa
This visa is generally granted for 5 years (in some cases, 3 years) and, obtaining this visa in New Zealand allows you to:
- Work in New Zealand for an accredited employer who has offered you at least 30 hours work a week.
- Support a work visa for your partner and visitor or student visas for your dependent children.
- Study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period, or do any study required as part of your employment.
- If you are eligible, apply for a Straight to Residence Visa, Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa or Transport Work to Residence Visa.
- If you are eligible, use skilled work experience in New Zealand to claim points towards the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
New Zealand Skilled Residence Pathways
There are 3 skills-based pathways that allow you to get New Zealand residence if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- the Green List pathway through the Straight to Residence Visa and Work to Residence Visa
- the Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreement pathways
- the Skilled Migrant Resident pathway.
Some of the visas on these pathways allow you to apply for residence straight away, such as the Straight to Residence Visa. Other pathways may require you to work in New Zealand before you can apply for residence, such as the Work to Residence Visa.
The Green List
The Green List makes it easier for New Zealand employers to hire and attract migrants for specified high skilled, hard-to-fill occupations, with residence pathways for eligible migrants.
The Green List includes just under 200 highly skilled roles that have been identified as being in high demand globally and in ongoing shortage in New Zealand.
These roles often have professional registration, qualification or experience requirements and some roles have a minimum remuneration requirement.
Eligible migrants working in these occupations will have clear pathways to residence and, in many cases, their partners will have open work rights.
The Green List is about making it easier to attract globally in-demand workers.
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New Zealand Green List Tier 1 (Straight to Res)
Eligible migrants employed in these occupations can apply for residence in New Zealand directly from offshore. Minimum requirements, such as qualifications or salary requirements apply where specified.
Business Professionals
External Auditor
Internal Auditor
Construction
Construction Project Manager
Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman)
Quantity Surveyor
Surveyor
Engineering
Chemical Engineer
Materials Engineer
Civil Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Structural Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Electronics Engineer
Industrial Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Production or Plant Engineer
Aeronautical (Aerospace/Avionics/Aviation) Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Naval Architect/Marine Designer
Engineering Professionals nec
Civil Engineering Technician
Electrical Engineering Technician
Electronic Engineering Technician
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)
Telecommunications Engineer
Telecommunications Network Engineer
Health and Social Services
Clinical Dental Technician (Dental Prosthetist)
Dentist (Dental Practitioner or Dental Surgeon)
Dental Specialist
Dental Technician
Dental Therapist
Endodontist
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral medicine specialist
Oral Pathologist
Oral surgery specialist
Orthodontist
Paedodontist
Periodontist
Prosthodontist
Public health dentistry specialist
Restorative dentistry specialist
Special needs dentistry specialist
Oral Health Therapist
General Practitioner
Resident Medical Officer
Anaesthetist
Specialist Physician (General Medicine
Cardiologist
Clinical Haematologist
Medical Oncologist
Endocrinologist
Gastroenterologist
Intensive Care Specialist
Neurologist
Paediatrician
Renal Medicine Specialist
Rheumatologist
Thoracic Medicine Specialist
Specialist Physicians nec
Psychiatrist
Surgeon (General)
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Otorhinolaryngologist
Paediatric Surgeon
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Urologist
Vascular Surgeon
Dermatologist
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Ophthalmologist
Pathologist
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
Radiation Oncologist
Medical Practitioners nec
Midwife
Nurse Practitioners
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
Registered Nurse (Community Health)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
Registered Nurse (Medical)
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
Registered Nurse (Surgical)
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
Registered Nurses nec
Enrolled Nurse (Nursing Assistant)
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Anaesthetic Technician
Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician
Medical Laboratory Technician
Clinical Psychologist
Educational Psychologist
Organisational Psychologist
Psychologists nec
Psychotherapist
Physicist (Medical)
Orthoptist
Veterinarian
Addiction Practitioner / Alcohol & Drug Clinician
Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
Audiometrist
Chiropractor
Clinical Physiologist
Careers Counsellor
Family and Marriage Counsellor
Rehabilitation Counsellor
Student Counsellor
Counsellors NEC
Dietician
Dispensing Optician
Optometrist
Genetic Counsellor
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Osteopath
Ambulance Paramedic
Perfusionist (cardiac)
Hospital Pharmacist
Industrial Pharmacist
Retail Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Play Therapist (hospital)
Speech Language Therapist
Sterilisation Technician
Social Worker
Audiologist
Medical Imaging Technologist
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
Medical Radiation Therapist
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Sonographer
Occupational Therapist
Podiatrist
Teaching
Secondary School Teacher
Other: (Primary Industries, Science)
Other Spatial Scientist
Environmental Research Scientist
Food Technologist
ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications
Chief Information Officer
ICT Project Manager
ICT Managers nec
Analyst Programmer
Developer Programmer
Software Engineer
Software Tester
ICT Security Specialist
Software and Applications Programmers nec
Database Administrator
Systems Administrator
Multimedia Specialist
New Zealand Green List Tier 2 (Work to Res)
Eligible migrants in these occupations can apply for residence after 2 years.
Construction
Building Associate (Building Construction supervisor)
Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator
Factory Process Worker
Slaughterer
Health and Social Services
School Principal
Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher)
Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher)
Primary School Teacher
Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher
Special Needs Teacher
Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
Teacher of the Sight Impaired
Special Education Teachers nec
Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher – registered
ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications
Telecommunications Technician
Civil Machinery Operators
Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)
Backhoe Operator
Bulldozer Operator
Excavator Operator
Grader Operator
Loader Operator
Protective Service Workers
Corrections Officer
Trades
Automotive Electrician
Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
Motor Mechanic (General)
Motorcycle Mechanic
Electrician (General)
Plumber (General)
Drainlayer
Gasfitter
Agriculture
Dairy Cattle Farmer (Dairy Cattle Farm Manager) including Dairy Farm Manager, Assistant Dairy Farm Manager and Dairy Herd Manager
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
If you have a job or job offer for an occupation in the Care Workforce sector agreement, and you meet the specified qualification, registration, and wage requirements, you need 2 years’ relevant work in New Zealand on a specified visa.
- Māori Health Assistant — Kaiawhina (Hauora)
- Disabilities Services Officer
- Residential Care Officer
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Nursing Support Worker
- Personal Care Assistant
- Therapy Aide
- Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant, or
- Diversional Therapist.
After this you can apply for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa. You must have been paid at least NZD$28.25 an hour during your 2 years’ work experience in a Care Workforce sector agreement role. With this residence visa you can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
This visa is for people who have skills that will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth. You must have a job or job offer in skilled employment in New Zealand and your job must pay at least the median wage.
You need an acceptable job or job offer in New Zealand and you need to be able to claim a minimum of 6 points to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. This 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 experience in New Zealand in a skilled job, up to a maximum of 3 points.
You can achieve 6 points in 4 different ways. You can receive 6 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 6 years’ training, or
- a PhD or doctorate, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 3 times the median wage.
Any 1 of these is worth 6 points and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa with no skilled work in New Zealand.
You can receive 5 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 5 years’ training, or
- a Master’s degree.
Either of these is worth 5 points. You can receive an additional point for 1 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa. With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can receive 4 points if you have
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 4 years’ training, or
- an Honours Degree or Post-graduate Diploma, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 2 times the median wage.
You can receive an additional 2 points for 2 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa.
With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can receive 3 points if you have:
- New Zealand registration in a specified occupation, requiring at least 2 years’ training, or
- a Bachelor’s Degree or Post-graduate Certificate, or
- a job or job offer in New Zealand which pays at least 1.5 times the median wage.
You can receive an additional 3 points for 3 year’s skilled work in New Zealand on any work visa.
With this, you will have 6 points, and you can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Free Assessment & Consult
Once we receive your CV, age, marital status and family structure, we will provide you with a full assessment and free consultation to discuss your pathway into your country of choice.
Doc Checks & Visa Applications
Our amazing team of file managers will ensure that your visa application to your country of choice is successful and as stress-free as possible.
Job Search & Recruitment
We provide you with ACTUAL job search training, consisting of 5-6 hours of face to face training, as well as market your new CV to relevant recruiters and employers.
Relocation Services
We provide assistance with your relocation process to your country of choice. Consisting of flight tickets, banking, money transfer, pet and furniture relocation and much more!
Get in touch today for your New Zealand Work Visa
We can assist you on your journey to start working in New Zealand.
Looking for more Information?
We’d love to take your call if you have any questions regarding your migration journey, or about our offerings.
Here's what our clients have to say
Piet De Clercq2025-03-23Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent team to work with, fast and reliable. Highly recommended. Shaun Olivier2025-03-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am beyond grateful to Network Migration Services for their exceptional support and guidance throughout our journey to become Visa-ready and travel to New Zealand. Their team went above and beyond in every aspect, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. A special shout-out to Xenia, whose tireless efforts truly made a difference. From helping us perfect our CV's and LinkedIn profiles to providing invaluable training, Xenia's expertise and support were crucial to our success. Her commitment was unwavering, and it felt like she was always there when we needed her. A huge thank you to Samantha, who was available 24/7 to answer all of our questions, no matter the time of day or night. Sam's dedication and responsiveness ensured that we always felt supported, and we never had to worry about delays or unanswered queries. Her service was truly above and beyond. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to Andrew, who has led this fantastic team with remarkable professionalism and empathy. Andrew was always available to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. His leadership has clearly shaped the team into a cohesive, supportive unit. This team is truly a dream to work with, and I have no doubt that they will continue to grow from strength to strength. May you all be blessed in everything you do. You’ve made a huge impact on our lives, and for that, we will forever be grateful. A million thanks and more to this incredible team! Margot Wnuczek-Lobaczewski2025-03-12Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Andrew and his team are really good! It was such a good experience to have professionals look after my immigration plans and needs. Keep on doing what you are. Awesome! Dirk Steenekamp2025-02-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outstanding service we received from Andrew and his team from Network Migration. From start to finish, their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly knowledgeable. They guided us through every step of the immigration process with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that everything was handled smoothly and correctly. Despite their immense workload, they were always helpful, responsive, and willing to go the extra mile to provide clarity and support. Their expertise and dedication made what could have been a stressful process feel seamless. Worth every cent, and we are truly grateful to have partnered with them. Highly recommended! The Steenekamp Family Bonieta Sonnekus2025-02-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Andrew and his team at Network Migration has been incredibly helpful during our Visa Extension process. There have been so many changes and challenges and they have helped and advised us every step of the way. They have been patient and kind, and always available! We are looking forward to working with them on our next step which is our Residence application. We would recommend their team for any immigration process! Nelisiwe Hlophe2025-02-11Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This week, we are on our way to New Zealand, and the efficient team at Network Migration made this possible. Thank you, Andrew, Xenia, Amy, and the team, for your support and guidance. Your job training program is the best. I had two successful interviews. Next week, I am starting my new job, and my daughter is starting year 12 in high school. Wilfred Charamba2025-01-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Everystep of the process was made success through the exprerience of Network Migration team, indeed itwas stressful journey but with their help it was made out with ease. Thank Andrew and NMS team as whole for your services. Ty3thedjay2025-01-27Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From start to finish, every detail of my emigration was taken care of. The team at Network Migration made the entire process smooth and stress-free, all while providing exceptional service with a warm and friendly attitude. A special thank you to Andrew and his team for their support. I'm also particularly grateful for the outstanding assistance from my document manager Camileen Nadioo — their help made everything that much easier. Highly recommend! Gary Schneider2025-01-23Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Every step of our journey was catered for. The team at NMS made the experience of emigration seamless and did so with friendly and helpful service. Thank-you to Andrew and his team, we are incredibly appreciative. Laurika Swartz2025-01-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent experience with Network Migration Services!! We cannot recommend Andrew and his capable team enough. From start to finish they made this whole immigration process smooth and hassle-free for us as a family. It was tough and extremely stressful, but with Andrew and his team by your side, we can just say THANK YOU for your AMAZINGLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE!! The fact that we can go back to Andrew with any question years after we started our journey and still receive the same service that we've become accustomed to from day 1, says something. Network Migration Services in SA or NZ is the way to go in helping you with your immigration journey - very highly recommended.
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