New Zealand visa guide 2026: skilled migrant, work to residence and more

New Zealand overhauled its immigration system in 2022, replacing most old visa categories with a streamlined employer-based and points system. Here is the current picture for people wanting to live in New Zealand long-term in 2026.

New Zealand’s main immigration routes

The Green List — New Zealand’s fast track for shortage occupations

New Zealand’s Green List was introduced in 2022 and targets occupations in critical shortage. Tier 1 occupations (including medical specialists, certain engineers, senior ICT managers, and teachers) can apply directly for permanent residency without needing to work temporarily first. Tier 2 occupations (a broader range including nurses, construction tradespeople, and other skilled workers) get a 2-year work visa that converts to residency after 2 years of employment in the relevant occupation.

Check the current Green List on Immigration New Zealand’s website — the list is updated periodically as labour market conditions change. Getting on the Green List is the fastest current pathway to New Zealand permanent residency for most skilled workers.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

The AEWV is now the main temporary work visa for New Zealand. It requires: a job offer from an Immigration New Zealand accredited employer, a salary meeting the relevant median wage threshold (NZD 29.66/hour as of mid-2026 — the median wage, which employers must pay for most roles), and that the employer has completed a Job Check demonstrating New Zealand workers were genuinely unavailable for the role.

The AEWV is granted for the duration of the job offer, up to 5 years. It allows the holder to bring a partner and dependent children, who can also get open work rights. After working on an AEWV for the required time (typically 2 years for most occupations), the pathway to the Skilled Migrant Category or residency opens.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

The SMC uses a points-based Expression of Interest (EOI) process followed by an Invitation to Apply. Points are awarded for: skilled employment (50 points for a skilled job in NZ, more for areas of absolute skills shortage), qualifications (50 points for a master’s or doctorate relevant to employment), age (30 points for 20-39, declining thereafter), work experience, partner’s skilled employment, and qualification in shortage areas.

Candidates need a minimum of 160 points to submit an EOI and be competitive for selection. INZ draws from the pool periodically — historically every 2 weeks, though draw frequency varies. Once selected and invited, applicants submit a full PR application with evidence for all claimed points. Processing after invitation: approximately 6 to 9 months.

Working Holiday — the try-before-you-commit route

New Zealand has Working Holiday agreements with the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Germany, France, and many others. The UK Working Holiday allows 35 years olds and under 1 or 2 years (depending on the current bilateral arrangement — check the current agreement as terms change). The USA Working Holiday allows age 18-35 for 12 months. Working Holiday holders can work for any employer, study for up to 6 months, and travel freely. Many people use Working Holidays to find an employer willing to support a work visa or accreditation pathway.

The 2021 Residence 2021 amnesty aftermath

New Zealand’s Residence 2021 programme, which offered residency to approximately 165,000 temporary migrants who were stuck in the country due to COVID-19 border closures, was completed in 2023. The programme significantly changed the composition of New Zealand’s permanent resident population and created a backlog in Immigration New Zealand’s processing capacity that persisted into 2025. Processing times for SMC and other residency applications remain longer than pre-COVID averages — plan for 9 to 18 months from application to decision.

Healthcare as a New Zealand resident

New Zealand’s publicly funded health system (provided by Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand) is available to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and most work visa holders. Publicly-funded GP visits are subsidised but not free for adults — a standard GP appointment costs NZD 15 to 45 after the government subsidy. Hospital care for residents is free. Many residents take out private health insurance for faster specialist access — comprehensive coverage for a healthy adult costs NZD 100 to 200 per month.