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How Do I Qualify for a Work Visa or Work Permit under Work to Residence Policy?
How Long Can I Stay Under Work to Residence Policy?
How Do I Qualify for Residence under Work to Residence Policy?
 

How Do I Qualify for a Work Visa or Work Permit under Work to Residence Policy?
Work to Residence policy has four options that provide a pathway to gaining residence in New Zealand. An additional option is provided to enable General Skill’s category residence applicants to obtain an offer of employment in New Zealand. The four options providing pathways to residence are:

Talent policy - employment with accredited employers

Talent policy - for people with exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport

Priority Occupation List policy - employment in an occupation on the Priority Occupations List

Business policy - Long-term business visa/permit category

The additional option for General Skills category residence applicants only is:

How Do I Qualify for a Work Visa or Work Permit under Work to Residence Policy? (Top)

All applicants under Work to Residence policy must meet lodgment, bona fide applicant, and health and character requirements. The key requirements under each of the Work to Residence policies are set out below:

1-Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy
You may be eligible under this policy if you:

• Are aged 55 years or under, and
• Have an offer of employment in New Zealand for at least 24 months with an accredited employer and a minimum base salary of New Zealand $45,000 per annum (the salary amount may be waived if you have exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport - see below), and
• Have met, or are able to meet, any of the necessary New Zealand registration requirements if these are required to take up the offer.

Offers of employment from accredited employers must be:

• For employment in New Zealand, and
• For a period of at least 24 months; and
• For full-time employment, (that is it amounts to, on average, at least 30 hours per week), and
• Current at the time the NZIS assesses your application and at the time of issue of the visa and/or grant of the permit, and
• Genuine, and
• For a position with a minimum base salary of NZ$45,000 per annum, and
• Accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, or eligibility for such registration, if full or provisional registration is required by law to take up the offer, and
• Compliant with all relevant employment law in New Zealand.

 
2-Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy
You may be eligible under this policy if you:

• Are aged 55 years or under, and
• Satisfy the NZIS you have exceptional talent in a declared field of art, culture, or sport as described below, and
• Are sponsored by a New Zealand organization of national repute in your declared field

What is considered to be 'exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport'? You will be considered to have exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport if you can satisfy the NZIS:

• You have an international reputation and record of excellence in your declared field, and
• You are still prominent in that field, and
• Your presence in New Zealand will enhance the quality of New Zealand's accomplishments and participation in that field of art, culture, or sport.

What is considered to be an 'organization of national repute’?
A New Zealand organization of national repute is:

• a New Zealand organization that has a nationally recognized record of excellence in a field of art, culture, or sport; or
• a New Zealand organization that has a nationally recognized record of excellence in fostering exceptional talent in a field of art, culture, or sport.

3-Priority Occupations List Work Policy

You may be eligible under this policy if you:

• Have an offer of employment in New Zealand in an occupation that is included on the Priority Occupations List that meets the specifications for that occupation, and also
• Are suitably qualified by training and/or experience to undertake your offer of employment as well as meeting any specific requirements set out in the Priority Occupations List, and
• Have met or are able to meet any of the necessary New Zealand registration requirements if these are required to take up the offer.

Offers of employment under Priority Occupations List Work policy must be:

• For employment in New Zealand, and
• For a period of at least 24 months; and
• For full-time employment, (that is it amounts to, on average, at least 30 hours per week), and
• Current at the time NZIS assesses your application and at the time of issue of the visa and/or grant of the permit, and
• Genuine, and
• Accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, or eligibility for such registration, if full or provisional registration is required by law to take up the offer, and Compliant with all relevant employment law in New Zealand.

4-Long Term Business Visa/Permit

The New Zealand Immigration Service Business Migration Branch assesses all applications lodged under the Long Term Business Visa/Permit category.

The Long Term Business Visa/Permit is a special category of work visa/permit and is not a residence category.

You may apply under this category if you are a potential migrant interested in applying for residence under the Entrepreneur Category

You may also apply under this category If you are interested in establishing a business in New Zealand but do not wish to live permanently in New Zealand.

To apply under the Long Term Business Visa/Permit category, you must:

• Have a satisfactory business plan; and
• Have, in addition to investment capital, sufficient funds for your maintenance and accommodation and that of any non-principal applicants; and
• Satisfy the business immigration specialist that you are genuinely interested in establishing a business in New Zealand.

In addition, you and any family included in your application must meet health and character requirements

a business plan is a proposal to establish a specific business in New Zealand. This plan must include the following information, and be supported by appropriate documentation:

• An outline of your proposed business and its viability; and
• Financial information (forecasts and financing options); and
• Your business experience (including English language ability); and
• Your knowledge of the New Zealand market.

5-Job Search Policy for General Skills Category Residence Applicants

You are only able to apply under this program if you are a principal applicant for residence under the General Skills category who:

• Has a points allocation which is within 5 points of the General Skills category pass mark for the week in which your residence application was made, and
• Have not been awarded points for an offer of employment, and
• Have met residence policy requirements for health, character and English language, and
• Makes an application for a work visa or permit under this policy within one month of the date of the letter from the NZIS advising you are eligible to apply.

How Long Can I Stay Under Work to Residence Policy?

If you are successful in applying under a Work to Residence policy you will be issued with a multiple Work Visa allowing the grant of a Work Permit current for the periods set out below:

Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy 30 months

Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy 30 months

Priority Occupations List Policy 30 months

Business Policy - Long-term business visa/permit category 36 months

Job search policy Up to 6 months

How Do I Qualify for Residence under Work to Residence Policy?
You may be able to qualify for residence if you are the holder of a work visa and permit approved under one of the Work to Residence Policies and can also meet normal residence policy requirements. The key requirements are set out below:

1- Talent (Accredited Employers) Residence Policy

You may be eligible for residence if you:

• Have held a work visa and permit under this policy for at least 24 months, and Have been employed in New Zealand throughout a period of at least 24 months by any accredited employer, or
• Any other employer you obtained approval from the NZIS to work for, and
• Have employment in New Zealand with a minimum base salary of at least NZ$45,000 per annum.

2- Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Residence Policy 

You may be eligible for residence if you:

• Have held a work visa and permit under this policy for at least 24 months, and
• Have been actively engaged in your declared field of art, culture, or sport, and
• Are still prominent in that field of art, culture, or sport, and
• Have sponsorship by an organization of national repute in your declared field see ("What is considered to be an 'organization of national repute'?"), and have not since the grant of your permit under this policy applied for, or been granted welfare assistance under the New Zealand Social Security Act 1964.

3- Priority Occupations List Residence Policy

You may be eligible for residence if you:

• Are aged 55 years or under, and Have held a work visa and permit under this policy for at least 24 months, and
• Have been employed in New Zealand in an occupation included on the Priority Occupations List throughout a period of at least 24 months, and
• Have employment in New Zealand with a minimum base salary of at least NZ$45,000 per annum that is either
  
  a) in the same occupation that enabled you to obtain a work visa and permit under this policy, or
  b) In an occupation on the Priority Occupations List current at the time you apply for residence.

4- Business Policy - Long-Term Business Visa and Permit Category

You may be eligible for residence under Business Policy - Entrepreneur category if you can demonstrate that:

• You have established a business in New Zealand, and
• Your business is benefiting New Zealand in some way.

5- Job Search policy

Your application for residence under Residence - General Skills Category Policy may be approved if within the time required you submit an acceptable offer of employment that can be awarded sufficient points to meet the pass mark for the week in which your residence application was made.

Note: These are only the key requirements for residence.