Complete 2026 Guide

New Zealand Immigration Pathways
Find Your Route

New Zealand offers four main residency routes for skilled workers, students, investors, and families. This hub covers every pathway — with tools, occupation guides, and licensed advice to help you choose the right one.

⭐ Green List — Straight to Residence 🏅 Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) 💼 Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) 🎓 Study-to-Residence ❤️ Family & Partner Visas

Find My Pathway → Compare All Routes

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Fastest to Residence

Green List — Straight to Residence

The Green List is New Zealand's most direct path to permanent residence. It covers occupations in critical shortage where NZ genuinely cannot fill roles locally. Tier 1 occupations qualify for Straight to Residence with a job offer — no waiting period. Tier 2 occupations qualify for Work to Residence after 2 years in a skilled role.

The Green List covers 135 occupations across healthcare, engineering, technology, education, and trades. With a confirmed job offer from an accredited NZ employer, eligible workers can apply for residence without points or ballot.

Tier 1 (Straight to Residence): Get a job offer → Employer applies for AEWV accreditation → You apply for Green List Straight to Residence visa
Tier 2 (Work to Residence): Get a job offer → Work 2 years on AEWV → Apply for residence via Skilled Migrant Category or Green List WTR
No Expression of Interest ballot required — direct application pathway
Partner and dependent children included on your visa application

📖 Complete 2026 Green List Guide — All Occupations, Tiers & Requirements

Highlighted Green List Occupations

General Practitioner Registered Nurse Software Engineer Civil Engineer Secondary School Teacher Primary School Teacher Pharmacist Midwife Structural Engineer ICT Security Specialist

Browse by sector

🏥 Healthcare ⚙️ Engineering 💻 Technology 🎓 Education 🔧 Trades 📊 Business

View all 135 Green List occupations →

🏅

Points-Based Residence

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

The Skilled Migrant Category is NZ's points-based residence visa for workers who are skilled but not necessarily in a Green List occupation. Points are awarded for age, qualifications, NZ work experience, and skilled employment. Candidates submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and are invited to apply if they score above the selection points threshold.

Following 2026 SMC reforms, the work experience requirement for skilled employment dropped from 3 years to 2 years — opening the pathway to a broader range of applicants including recent graduates working in skilled roles under an AEWV.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with your skills profile
Selected candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) — typically within 2–4 months
Apply for residence with supporting documents (qualifications, employment, settlement funds)
Processing time: approximately 18–24 months from EOI to residence

📖 2026 SMC Guide — Points, EOI Process & Selection Thresholds
📋 2026 NZ Immigration Changes — What's New This Year

Key SMC requirements

✅ Skilled employment in NZ or overseas (ANZSCO Skill Level 1–3)

✅ Age: Under 56 years at time of application

✅ Qualifications: NZ Level 4+ or overseas equivalent

✅ English language: Overall IELTS 6.5+ or equivalent

✅ Minimum points score as set at each EOI selection round

Check your SMC eligibility →

💼

Employer-Sponsored Work Visa

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

The AEWV is the main NZ work visa for skilled overseas workers. It replaced the Essential Skills visa and several other categories in 2022. To be eligible, your employer must be accredited with Immigration NZ, the role must meet the median wage threshold, and you must meet skill and qualification requirements for the job.

The AEWV is not a residence visa — it's a work-to-residence pathway. After working in NZ on an AEWV, you can progress to residence via the Green List (Tier 2), Skilled Migrant Category, or Long Term Skill Shortage List routes.

Your employer must be accredited with Immigration NZ (Standard or High Volume accreditation)
The role must meet the median wage test (or an exemption applies for Green List roles)
You apply for the AEWV job check, then the visa — typically processed in 3–5 weeks
AEWV duration: up to 5 years (Tier 1 Green List roles), 3 years (standard), 2 years (low-skill)
After qualifying time on AEWV, apply for residence via SMC or Green List

AEWV-eligible occupation sectors

🏥 Healthcare ⚙️ Engineering 💻 Technology 🔧 Trades 🎓 Education ❤️ Social Services

Browse all occupations by AEWV eligibility →

💡 Tip: If your occupation is on the Green List Tier 1, your employer can apply for your residence visa directly — skipping the AEWV work period entirely.

Check if your role is AEWV-eligible →

🎓

3-Year Pathway

Study-to-Residence Pathway

Study in New Zealand then stay permanently. The study-to-residence route typically takes 3–5 years: study a qualifying qualification, graduate with a Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV), work in a skilled role, then apply for residence via the Green List or Skilled Migrant Category.

Enrol in a qualifying NZ qualification (Level 7+ degree or Level 7 Graduate Diploma)
Graduate and apply for a Post-Study Work Visa (up to 3 years)
Find skilled employment in NZ — Green List or ANZSCO Skill Level 1–3
After 2 years skilled work: apply for residence via Green List WTR or SMC
Fastest route: Tier 1 Green List occupation → Straight to Residence with job offer

📖 Study-to-Residence: Your 3-Year Path to NZ Permanent Residency (2026 Guide)
👨‍👩‍👧 Moving to NZ with a Family in 2026 — Costs, Timing & Visa Routes

Study resources

📚 Study in NZ Hub — 25+ courses, student visa info, residency pathways 🗺️ Study-to-Residence Pathway Planner — get a personalised timeline ✈️ Try NZ — 1-month study pilot on a visitor visa 🏛️ NZ Institutions Directory — universities, polytechnics, institutes

❤️

Family Reunification

Family & Partner Visas

New Zealand's family-based immigration routes allow NZ citizens and residents to sponsor their partners, dependent children, parents, and siblings. The Partner of a NZ Resident visa and the Family Category residence visa are the two primary routes.

Partner Category: NZ citizen or resident sponsors their partner — 2-year temporary visa leading to residence
Parent Category: NZ citizen or resident sponsors parents — subject to annual ballot (1,000 places/year)
Dependent Child Category: Single parent sponsor — for children under 24
Sibling/Adult Child Category: NZ citizen sponsors sibling or adult child — subject to ballot
Most family visas require the NZ-based sponsor to meet minimum income thresholds

📖 Moving to NZ with a Family in 2026 — Costs, Visas & Planning Guide

Not sure which family route applies? The Pathway Finder asks about your family situation and matches you to the correct visa category — including whether a work visa or family category is the faster option.

Run Pathway Finder →

Which Pathway Is Right for You?

A quick comparison of the four main NZ immigration routes to help you choose. Use the Pathway Finder for a personalised match.

Pathway	Best for	Processing time	Approx. gov't fees	Key requirement	Result
⭐ Green List Straight to Residence	Workers in 135 shortage occupations with an NZ job offer	3–6 months	NZ$4,990–$8,500	Job offer + NZ-registered qualification/registration	Permanent Residence
🏅 Skilled Migrant Category Points-Based	Skilled workers in any occupation (ANZSCO Skill Level 1–3)	18–28 months	NZ$4,460–$7,500	Points score above selection threshold, skilled employment	Permanent Residence
💼 AEWV Work to Residence	Workers with an accredited NZ employer offer above median wage	3–6 weeks (initial), 2–5 years to residence	NZ$750–$1,800 (work visa)	Accredited employer, median wage, skill level requirements	Work Visa → Residence
🎓 Study-to-Residence 3–5 Year Plan	Overseas students seeking NZ qualification + skilled work pathway	3–5 years total	NZ$750 (student visa) + tuition fees	Qualifying NZ qualification, post-study skilled employment	Student → Work → Residence

Government fees are indicative and subject to change. Always verify current fees at immigration.govt.nz.

Find Your Exact Pathway in 4 Minutes

Answer a few questions about your occupation, qualifications, and goals — and get a personalised match across all NZ immigration routes. Free, instant, no obligation.

Start Free Pathway Finder → Browse Occupations

✓ Licensed NZ immigration advisers ✓ Free tool, no sign-up required ✓ Results in under 4 minutes ✓ Updated for 2026 policy changes

New Zealand Immigration PathwaysFind Your Route