Work to residence eligibility extended

Background on Work to Residence visa categories

Migrants working under the Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreements and the Green List Work to Residence visa categories have a pathway to residence if they work in New Zealand for 2 years and meet certain eligibility requirements (depending on their occupation). These residence categories will open for applications on 29 September 2023.

More on Sector agreement pathways

More on Green list pathways

Why this is an important change

Before the update

Under previous policy, these 2 years’ experience in New Zealand had to be accrued on an Accredited Employer Work visa only, unless that visa was applied for before 4 July 2022. This was an unfair, limiting factor. It was penalising people on open partnership work visas, or post-study work visas for instance.

What this update triggers

Eligibility for these work to residence pathways will be extended to include all types of temporary work visas including Critical Purpose Visitor Visa with work conditions, regardless of when they were granted. This means that your two-year work experience in New Zealand may be accrued on a variety of visa categories, ie Essential Skills Work visa (no longer available), Partnership Work visa, or Post-study Work visa.

These changes are also meant to align with the requirements of the new Skilled Migrant Category, which will allow people to claim skilled work experience on all types of work visas.

Small updates, big consequences! Contact us if you are not sure about what this means for you!

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