SKILLED WORK EXPERIENCE RESIDENCE VISA

The Skilled Work Experience Residence Visa, effective from 24 August 2026, provides a streamlined pathway to secure New Zealand residence for skilled migrants. Applicants must demonstrate at least 5 years of work experience in occupations listed at ANZSCO Skill Levels 1 to 3, including at least 2 years in New Zealand with an accredited employer at 1.1x the SMC median wage. This visa is not points-based, and applicants do not need a formal university qualification to apply.

Requirements for Skilled Work Experience Pathway

To qualify for residence under this non-points-based pathway, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

Age Limit: Be 55 years of age or under at the time of application.
Accredited Employer Offer: Hold a full-time permanent or 12-month fixed-term job offer or employment with a New Zealand Accredited Employer in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 occupation.
Total Skilled Experience: Have at least 5 years of skilled work experience in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 occupation.
New Zealand Work Experience: At least 2 years of the required 5 years work experience must be completed in New Zealand.
Wage Threshold: Earn at least 1.1 times the SMC median wage ($38.50 NZD per hour) continuously throughout the 2-year NZ work experience period.
Health, Character & English: Satisfy standard INZ health checks, police clearance requirements, and English language competency standards.

Traffic-Light System & Occupation Exclusions

Eligibility under this pathway is regulated by specific occupation lists to balance New Zealand workforce needs:

Green Occupations: Open for direct residence applications under the Skilled Work Experience pathway.
Orange Occupations: Subject to specific sector quotas, capped numbers, or additional conditional criteria.
Red/Excluded Occupations: Certain roles are explicitly excluded from this pathway due to domestic labor market settings.

Work Experience Application Process

The application sequence follows a structured verification route:

Experience Verification: Document 5 total years of skilled work experience (including 2 years in NZ at 1.1x median wage).
Employer Compliance: Ensure your employer holds active INZ accreditation and offers qualifying employment.
Direct Application: Submit your residence application directly with full supporting tax, pay, and reference records.

Skilled Work Experience Application Fees

Government application fees for the Skilled Work Experience Residence Visa vary based on where you lodge your application:

INZ Government Fee: Starting from approximately $6,450 NZD (including international visitor levies and immigration fees).
Additional Expenses: Medical examinations, police clearances, qualification evaluations (NZQA), and English language test fees.

*INZ government fees are subject to change. Contact our licensed adviser for an exact fee breakdown.

Estimated Processing Time

Immigration New Zealand processes Skilled Work Experience Residence applications as decision-ready files:

Average Timeframe: Most decision outcomes are completed within 3 to 6 months for complete applications.
Common Delays: Verification of overseas work history, gaps in NZ tax/wage records during the 2-year period, or medical delays.

Ensuring all 5 years of work history and pay records are completely documented before submission helps avoid processing delays.