Eligible skilled migrants can now apply for residence

Eligible skilled migrants with a job or a job offer in specific roles on the “Straight to Residence” pathway will be able to apply for residence, both from on shore and overseas from today.

Applicants must meet the specified requirements. Employment must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week), genuine, and permanent, or be at least a 12-month fixed term contract. Under certain circumstances independent contractors are also eligible.

“The Straight to Residence pathway provides an incentive for migrants who have skills in hard-to-fill, nationally significant roles that New Zealand needs to speed up our economic growth,” Michael Wood said. 

“This new pathway offers potential migrants, like health practitioners, engineers, construction and infrastructure workers, and IT professionals more certainty.

The streamlined process makes it easier for employers to attract and hire people that will help address shortages in these highly skilled areas.

This is one of three new residence pathways introduced as part of the Government’s immigration rebalance.

Skilled migrants on the ‘Work to Residence’ and ‘Highly Paid’ resident pathways will be able to apply from 29 September 2023, once they have obtained 24 months of acceptable work in New Zealand,” Michael Wood said.

More information on the Straight to Residence visa and application process can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website: Green List and highly paid skilled residence categories | Immigration New Zealand.