Immigration NZ Resident Visa

Residence From Work

There are several options for a resident visa in NZ, and nearly all of them are based on whether you hold skilled employment in the country.

If you want to gain residence through your work in New Zealand, an excellent pathway to follow is the Work to Residence visa. It covers four temporary work visa categories which can lead to eligibility for residency – given that you meet the criteria, of course.

Immigration NZ Residency From Work Options

The four subcategories of work to residence visas are:

Talent Visa (Accredited Employer)

If you have a skill needed by an accredited employer, you can apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) work visa. You can apply for a resident visa in NZ following this pathway if you continue to work for that employer for two years.

You’ll be required to earn at least the minimum salary that was in place when you applied for your Talent (Accredited Employer) work visa. Note that if you applied for your Talent (Accredited Employer) work visa after the 6th of October 2019, there are higher minimum salary requirements to meet.

Talent Visa (Art, Culture, and Sport)

Professionals in the fields of Art, Culture, and Sport can apply for temporary work visas if they are prominent in their occupation and meet a high threshold of excellence.

You may be eligible for this class of resident visa in NZ if you have been actively involved in your declared field of exceptional talent in New Zealand for more than two years.

You must still be prominent in your declared field and be able to enhance the quality of New Zealand’s accomplishments in it.

You must also have an acceptable sponsor and support from a New Zealand organisation of national repute in your field of talent.

Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)

You can apply for a visa under this category if you hold the relevant experience, qualifications, and skills to work in an occupation under Immigration New Zealand’s Long Term Skill Shortage List.

You can apply for a resident visa for NZ if you have been employed in New Zealand for more than two years in an occupation that was on the LTSSL when you were granted a work visa or an organisation currently on the LTSSL when applying for residence. You must also have a salary of NZD 45,000 or greater.

Religious Visa

These visas cover religious groups or organisations who want to apply for work visas to carry out religious projects in New Zealand.

To be eligible for residency, you must already have held a valid Religious Worker work visa for three years or more.

Other criteria for a religious resident visa for NZ include an offer of continuing work and sponsorship from the religious organisation that’s currently sponsoring you and five years of religious work experience and/or training.

Note that if you include your partner and children in your visa application, they’ll need to meet the same identity, health, character, and English language requirements as you.
Applying for residency in New Zealand can be a confusing, challenging, and time-consuming process. The experienced immigration lawyers at Sharma Law can advise you on the best options for your circumstances and help you craft the best possible application. To book a free initial consult, please contact us at +64 7 855 2663.