LIVING IN NZ

From working here to belonging here

A work visa is a step, not the destination. The destination is residence, the security of knowing you can stay, that your family can stay, and that you can build a life here without an expiry date hanging over you.

Explore my residence options

New Zealand has several residence pathways. Which one fits you depends on your job, your skills, your qualifications, your pay, and how long you've worked here. Choosing the right one, and timing it well, is the difference between an application that's approved and one that's declined or delayed for years.

This is some of the most rewarding work we do, because it's the step that turns a posting into a home.

The main pathways to residence

There's no single route to residence, and the right one for you may not be obvious. These are the main pathways we work across:

The Green List, Straight to Residence

For a small number of highly skilled, in-demand roles, this is the fastest route, in some cases you can apply as soon as you have the right job offer, without working here first. Your role, qualifications, experience and pay must exactly match the Green List requirements.

The Green List, Work to Residence

For other in-demand roles, this pathway lets you apply after working in an eligible role, with specified pay, for a set period, usually two years.

The Skilled Migrant Category

A points-based pathway, where points come from things like your qualifications, work experience, pay, and occupation. The points system is changing in 2026, so getting current advice matters more than usual right now.

Sector and trades pathways

Specific routes exist for skilled trades and technicians, for migrants with substantial New Zealand work experience, and for eligible workers in sectors such as care and transport, each with its own requirements and timeframes.

Worth knowing: Points totals, pay multipliers, and qualification thresholds change, and the 2026 Skilled Migrant Category settings are in the middle of changing right now. Talk to us for the current numbers that apply to your situation, rather than a figure you've seen elsewhere.

Adviser reviewing residence application documents at a desk

Why timing and pay structure decide so much

Two people in almost identical jobs can have completely different residence options, because of how their pay is structured, which skill level their role sits at, or simply when they apply relative to a rule change.

We'll help you see the whole board: which pathway you're eligible for now, which you could become eligible for, what needs to be true about your job and pay for an application to succeed, and when to apply. If you're better to wait six months, change something about your role, or move pathways entirely, you'll hear it.

If your work visa is running out while you wait

One of the most common worries is the gap between a work visa expiring and a residence application being decided. In many cases, if you have a residence application in progress when your work visa expires, you can keep working while you wait.

We'll make sure your status is protected throughout, this is exactly the kind of timing we plan for, not react to.

Immigration adviser talking a client through her residence options at a laptop

Father pointing out the view to his family in a field at sunset, settled in New Zealand

Bringing your family onto your residence

Your partner and dependent children can usually be included in your residence application as part of the same process. That means when residence comes through, it comes through for your family too.

We'll make sure everyone who should be included is included, and that the evidence for each person is right.

Bringing your partner & family →

What we'll do for you

A plain-English approach, and a Licensed Immigration Adviser in your corner

A clear pathway assessment

You'll get an honest read on which pathway fits, and which doesn't, before anything is lodged.

The right timing built in

A plan that accounts for when to apply, not just what to apply for.

A Licensed Adviser, on your side

Managing your application and dealing with Immigration New Zealand, on your behalf.

Get in touch

RESIDENCE

Frequently asked questions

How long until I can apply for residence?

It depends entirely on your pathway. Some people in highly skilled, in-demand roles can apply almost straight away; others apply after working here for a set period, often around two years. The right answer for you comes from looking at your job, your skills, and your timeline together, which is exactly what a first conversation is for.

Can my family be included in my residence application?

Yes, your partner and dependent children up to age 24 can usually be included in the same application, so when residence comes through, it comes through for your family too. We'll make sure everyone who should be included is included, and that the evidence for each person is right.

Bringing your partner & family →

What if my work visa expires before my residence is decided?

In many cases, if you have a residence application in progress when your work visa expires, you can keep working while you wait for a decision. You may need to apply for a further visa to allow this. This is exactly the kind of timing we plan for rather than react to, so your right to stay and work is protected throughout.

Which residence pathway is fastest?

For people in certain highly skilled roles, the "straight to residence" route is the quickest. But the fastest pathway on paper isn't always the one you're eligible for, and choosing the wrong one costs time and money. We'll tell you honestly which pathways are open to you now, which could open later, and which is genuinely the best fit.

Do I need an English test for residence?

Most residence applications require evidence that you meet an English-language standard, which can often be met in more than one way. The specifics change, so rather than worry about a test you may not need, talk to us about what applies to your pathway. Thresholds and rules change regularly, talk to us for the information that applies to your situation today.

The points system is changing, does that affect me?

New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category points settings are changing in 2026, so this is a moment where current advice matters more than usual. If residence is on your horizon, it's well worth a conversation now so your plan is built around the rules as they'll actually be, not as they used to be.