Immigration experts in Australia and NZ

Work To Residence Visa

Administered by Immigration New Zealand, this visa category is designed to attract skilled and experienced individuals who can contribute to the country’s workforce in a Green List Tier 2 category. And eventually, settle in New Zealand on a long-term basis.

Work To Residence Visa​

Administered by Immigration New Zealand, this visa category is designed to attract skilled and experienced individuals who can contribute to the country’s workforce in a Green List Tier 2 category. And eventually, settle in New Zealand on a long-term basis.

Who Is Eligible For The Work To Residence Visa?

To be eligible for the Work to Residence Visa, applicants must meet specific criteria, including working for or holding a valid job offer from a New Zealand employer in an occupation that is in the Green List Tier 2 category. Furthermore, the applicant must have already worked in the Green List Tier 2 role for 24 months, and fulfilled the role’s corresponding requirements. Applicants must also at least earn the New Zealand median wage and work for an Accredited Employer.

Application Process

The application process for the Work to Residence Visa involves several stages:

1. Job Offer: Applicants must secure a genuine job offer from an Accredited New Zealand employer who is willing to support their visa application.

2. Temporary Work Visa: Initially, successful applicants are granted a temporary work visa that allows them to work and live in New Zealand. This visa is typically valid for 2 years as an opportunity for individuals to demonstrate their value to the New Zealand workforce.

3. Residence Application: After fulfilling the requirements of their temporary work visa, applicants can submit a residence application, seeking to transition from temporary to permanent residency. This stage may require additional documentation and proof of ongoing employment.

4. Residency: If the residence application is approved, applicants and their immediate family members are granted residency in New Zealand, allowing them to live, work, study, and access healthcare and education services indefinitely.

Benefits

The Work to Residence Visa offers numerous benefits:

1. Residency: Holders of the work to residence visa and their immediate family members are granted residency in New Zealand, providing stability and long-term prospects in the country.

2. Employment Opportunities: New Zealand actively seeks skilled professionals to address labor shortages in various industries, offering a wide range of employment opportunities and career growth potential.

3. Family Reunification: Applicants have the option to include their immediate family members (spouse, partner, and dependent children) in their application, allowing them to move to New Zealand together.

4. Voting Rights: Registering and participating in elections is a crucial right and duty, granting you the opportunity to influence the future of your new community.

Our Visa Services

Once you contact the team at Absolute Immigration, we will arrange a discovery call to find out more about your situation.

After our discovery call, your dedicated Migration Agent will develop a Migration Strategy that will outline the steps involved and the details required to lodge your Work to Residence visa application.

Once you have approved your Strategy, we take over and begin your application using the documents and information you provide.  On your behalf, we are able to lodge your visa application with Immigration New Zealand which takes away the stress from you!

Apply For A Green List Tier 2 Work To Residence Visa

Step 1

Once you reach out to Absolute Immigration, we set up a discovery call to understand what your needs are and what Visa best suits you.

Step 2

From there, we will send you a Strategy proposal outlining the steps we will take to assist you in getting a Visa for you to sign off on.

Step 3

Now our team leaps into action, following immigration pathways, taking care of the paperwork and helping you through the entire application process.

Take the first step and schedule a call

Call us

You can reach our team via our support line at +64 800 250 001 or schedule a consultation through our Acuity Portal

Email us

You can get in touch with the team through our support email: aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a visa category for foreign workers working for a role in the Green List Tier 2 category, who are seeking residency in New Zealand. It offers a pathway to stability, career growth, and the opportunity to contribute to New Zealand’s workforce and society.

Applicants must be currently working, or have a job offer from an Accredited employer, and have worked in a Tier 2 Green List in-demand role for 24 months.

The easiest way to apply for a Green List Tier 2 Work to Residence Visa in New Zealand is to contact Absolute Immigration.  A discovery call with our experienced team will ensure you are on the right immigration pathway for your circumstances.

Subscribe for the latest immigration updates

Subscribe to keep current with the latest immigration changes affecting your situation and industry. Follow us on our social media channels so you don’t miss an update.

Recent articles

New Business Investor Visa to open November: new pathways to residence

New Zealand has announced a Business Investor Visa, opening November 2025, offering $1m and $2m investment pathways to residence. The Entrepreneur Work Visa has now closed to new applications.

International Student Visas transition to enhance Immigration Online system

From 18 August 2025, international student visa applications in New Zealand will transition to Immigration Online’s enhanced ADEPT system, simplifying processes and improving user experience.

Skilled Residence Visa wage thresholds updated from 18 August 2025

From 18 August 2025, Immigration New Zealand will update the wage thresholds for skilled residence visas to align with the new median wage of $33.56 an hour, ensuring immigration policy

Ten trades occupations added to Work to Residence pathway on the Green List

From 18 August 2025, ten additional trades occupations will be added to New Zealand’s Green List Work to Residence pathway, giving skilled tradespeople a faster and more certain route to

New seasonal visa pathways to support peak workforce demand

The New Zealand Government will introduce two new seasonal visas, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa, from 8 December 2025 to help accredited employers meet peak seasonal

Active Investor Plus Visa updates: changes to investment rules and flexibility

New Zealand has introduced key updates to the Active Investor Plus Visa, including stricter limits on on-call investments and new flexibility for funding property development, creating clearer pathways for productive
download

About Sleek

Sleek.com is your one-stop shop for everything back office related, from setting up your company to handling day-to-day accounting, taxes, ASIC/ATO compliance, payroll and more – all on a single platform.

We take a human-first approach, using technology to tackle the boring stuff so you can focus on building your business. Our expert team is always here to give you personalised advice, with in-house tax experts who can handle your big questions.

With a presence in Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong, we’ve gained the trust of over 450,000+ modern businesses, and are a team of 500 strong devoted to your success.

Free initial consultation with Sleek experts:

Get your free initial consultation with Sleek experts. Mention ‘Absolute Immigration’ and enjoy a free initial consultation and subsequent discounting.