The NZ Government is continuing to progress its immigration rebalance, they have provided  details on how highly skilled migrants, including those with roles on the Green List, can apply to gain residence once they have arrived in New Zealand.

If you want to apply for a work-to-residence visa under the Green List, you'll need to make sure you meet the following criteria:

• You must have employment or an offer of employment in an occupation that's on the Green List
• You must meet the specific requirements for that occupation as listed on the Green List
• You must have worked in New Zealand for 24 months in an occupation that's on the Green List and meet the specific requirements for that occupation under tier 2 of the Green List.

Your employer will need to be accredited to sponsor you for this visa. If you're unsure whether your occupation is on the Green List or the specific requirements, you can speak with an expert at Provisas. We can help you determine your eligibility and put together a strong application.

Employment Criteria:

• The employment or offer must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), genuine, and permanent, or for at least a 12-month fixed-term contract.
• There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must have been employed for at least 24 months in total.

Acceptable Work in New Zealand

Acceptable work in New Zealand can be counted towards a Work to Residence Visa while you hold or held:

• an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
• another work visa or a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (with work conditions) that was held or applied before 4 July 2022.
• Acceptable work in New Zealand can be accrued from 29 September 2021.

There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must still show you worked for the required 24 months within the 30 months before your visa application date.

You can combine acceptable work in an occupation under tier 2 of the Green List with other types of work to make up the required 24 months.

This Could Include:

• gaps in employment of up to 3 months, as long as you've worked for at least 21 months in total
• part-time work, as long as you've worked for at least 32 hours a week on average
• seasonal work, as long as you've worked for at least six months in total.

How can Provisas Help?

At Provisas, we have a team of experienced immigration consultants who can help you with your work to residence visa application. We can assess your eligibility, help you gather the required documents, and ensure that your application is strong. Please speak to us today to get started.

If you have any questions about the work to residence visa or the Green List, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you every step of the way.