NZ Work Visa to PR 2026: How to Get Permanent Residence

✓ SMC fees, Green List occupations, and median wage NZD $29.66/hour verified April 2026 · All figures from immigration.govt.nz · Last reviewed April 2026 · Green List occupations and salary thresholds reviewed annually — verify before applying · Not legal advice

⚠ Important Disclaimer This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Green List occupations, salary thresholds, the median wage, and SMC fees are reviewed annually and change without advance notice — always verify current requirements at immigration.govt.nz before making any employment or application decisions. Permanent residence is not automatic after holding an AEWV — it requires a separate application. Applicants with complex circumstances should seek advice from a Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA) before applying.

📋 In This Guide

Two pathways from work visa to permanent residence
Which pathway applies to you?
Pathway 1: The standard AEWV to SMC route — step by step
SMC points optimisation — what to build during your AEWV
Pathway 2: Green List Tier 1 — straight to residence
Green List Tier 2 — work to residence
Complete timeline — work visa to permanent residence
Fees — complete breakdown
What happens after permanent residence
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Frequently asked questions

Two Pathways From Work Visa to Permanent Residence

New Zealand offers two distinct pathways from a work visa to permanent residence — the standard pathway through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) after 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand on an AEWV, and the accelerated Green List pathway where Tier 1 occupation holders can apply directly for a resident visa without needing to hold an AEWV at all. Which pathway applies depends on your occupation and salary.

Three things are critical to understand before planning. The SMC is not automatic — holding an AEWV for 2 years does not trigger permanent residence; the applicant must proactively submit an SMC Expression of Interest and be invited to apply, and building the right type of work experience in the right occupation at the right salary throughout the AEWV period is planning that must start on day one. The Green List advantage is widely underused — workers in Green List Tier 1 occupations (registered nurses, certain engineers, secondary teachers, electricians) can apply directly for permanent residence in 6–12 months rather than 3–5 years, without needing an AEWV first. And the regional bonus of 30 SMC points for working outside Auckland is the most underused and most accessible points strategy available to AEWV holders.

📌 NZ Work Visa to Permanent Residence — Quick Answer 2026

Standard pathway (AEWV → SMC): Work in NZ for 2 years in a skilled role at or above NZD $29.66/hour; then submit SMC EOI and apply for resident visa. Total: approximately 3–5 years
Green List Tier 1 (direct residence): Apply directly for resident visa with a qualifying job offer — no AEWV required. Total: approximately 6–12 months
SMC application fee: NZD $4,240
Permanent resident visa fee (after 2 years on resident visa): NZD $520

Source: immigration.govt.nz

This guide covers the standard AEWV-to-SMC pathway in detail, the Green List direct residence pathway, SMC points optimisation strategy, the complete timeline from work visa to PR, fees, and what happens after receiving permanent residence. All residence pathway requirements, fees, and processing times are verified from immigration.govt.nz — last reviewed April 2026.

Which Pathway Applies to You?

Feature	Standard AEWV → SMC	Green List Tier 1 → Direct Residence
Occupation requirement	Any skilled occupation at or above median wage	Must be on Green List Tier 1 specifically
AEWV required first	Yes — minimum 2 years	No — apply directly for resident visa
Minimum NZ work experience	2 years before SMC EOI	Not required before applying
EOI pool required	Yes — must submit SMC EOI and be invited	No — apply directly without pool wait
Time to resident visa	3–5 years total	Approximately 6–12 months
SMC application fee	NZD $4,240	NZD $4,240

Your situation	Pathway
Your occupation is on Green List Tier 1 at the required salary	Green List direct residence — apply now
Your occupation is on Green List Tier 2	AEWV (Work to Residence stream) then SMC after 2 years
Your occupation is not on the Green List	Standard AEWV then SMC after 2 years
You have been on an AEWV for 2+ years	Submit SMC EOI now
You have been on an AEWV for less than 2 years	Continue building experience — plan SMC submission date

Pathway 1: The Standard AEWV to SMC Route — Step by Step

Build 2 years of qualifying NZ work experience on the AEWV

Your AEWV work must be in a skilled occupation at or above the NZD $29.66/hour median wage. The 2 years should be continuous — gaps may reduce work experience points. Track employment from day one: keep payslips, employment agreements, and reference letters from every employer. During this period, deliberately build additional SMC point-earning factors (see Section 4).

Confirm SMC minimum eligibility

You must score at least 180 SMC points — with 2 years of NZ skilled work experience and current employment at or above median wage, most AEWV holders score well above 180. Confirm your English language evidence is current (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent; or UK/Irish/South African/Australian/Canadian nationality exemption). Confirm your age — you must be under 56 at EOI submission.

Submit your SMC Expression of Interest (EOI)

Log in to Immigration Online at immigration.govt.nz and submit your SMC EOI. Claim all points accurately — only claim points you can fully evidence; overclaiming is treated as fraud. Select your ANZSCO code carefully — it must match your skills assessment and actual work duties.

Receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA)

INZ runs regular selection rounds from the SMC EOI pool — higher-scoring EOIs are selected first. With 2 years of NZ work experience at or above median wage, most AEWV holders score 190–220+ points — invitations typically arrive within 1–3 months for scores above 190. You have 4 months from the ITA date to lodge your complete resident visa application — this deadline is firm.

Lodge your SMC resident visa application within 4 months

Submit the complete resident visa application including all supporting documents within the 4-month ITA window. Pay the NZD $4,240 application fee. Processing takes approximately 6–12 months from a complete application.

SMC Points Optimisation — What to Build During Your AEWV

Your SMC baseline score after 2 years on AEWV

Factor	Points	Notes
Current skilled employment at or above median wage	160	The most important single factor — earned from day one of the AEWV
2 years NZ work experience	30	Earned after 2 continuous years of NZ skilled work
Overseas qualifications (bachelor's degree)	50	If degree is recognised by NZQA
Baseline total	240 points	Well above the 180-point minimum

Additional points you can earn during the AEWV period

Factor	Points	How to achieve it during AEWV
Employment outside Auckland	30	Accept an AEWV role in a regional area — Canterbury, Waikato, Otago, Bay of Plenty earn the full 30 points
Partner's skilled employment in NZ	20	If your partner also works in a skilled NZ role at or above median wage
Partner's NZ qualification at Level 4+	20	If your partner studies and completes an NZ qualification during the AEWV period
3–4 years NZ work experience	40	Extending the AEWV to 3+ years before applying for SMC earns 10 additional work experience points
5+ years NZ work experience	50	Further extension earns maximum work experience points

⚠ The Regional Bonus — 30 Points for Working Outside Auckland Christchurch (Canterbury), Hamilton (Waikato), Tauranga (Bay of Plenty), Dunedin (Otago), and all NZ cities and regions outside Auckland qualify for the 30-point regional bonus. For AEWV holders with flexibility about location, choosing a regional employer rather than an Auckland employer adds 30 points — potentially the difference between a competitive and non-competitive EOI. This is the most underused and most accessible point-earning strategy available during the AEWV period.

Pathway 2: Green List Tier 1 — Straight to Residence

Workers in Green List Tier 1 occupations can apply directly for an SMC resident visa with just a qualifying job offer — without holding an AEWV first and without the 2-year waiting period. The job offer must meet the salary threshold specified for the specific Tier 1 occupation, and the applicant must hold the required qualifications and registration.

Green List Tier 1 occupation	Minimum salary for direct residence (April 2026)
Registered Nurse	NZD $31.96/hour
Midwife	NZD $31.96/hour
Secondary School Teacher	NZD $31.96/hour
Civil Engineer	NZD $41.44/hour
Software Engineer / Developer	NZD $41.44/hour
Construction Project Manager	NZD $41.44/hour
General Practitioner (Doctor)	NZD $60.00/hour
Electrician	NZD $29.66/hour
Plumber	NZD $29.66/hour
Quantity Surveyor	NZD $41.44/hour

🚨 Green List Occupations and Salary Thresholds Change — Always Verify Before Applying Verify the current Green List and salary thresholds at immigration.govt.nz/green-list before making any application or employment decisions. An occupation that qualifies today may have been removed or had its salary threshold changed at the next review.

Step by step — Green List Tier 1 direct residence

Confirm your occupation on the current Green List Tier 1

Verify at immigration.govt.nz/green-list — check both that your specific occupation is on Tier 1 and that the salary threshold matches what your employer will offer.

Obtain a qualifying job offer and confirm qualifications/registration

The job offer must meet the Tier 1 salary threshold. Confirm you hold the required professional registration — Registered Nurses must hold current nursing council registration; Engineers must have qualifications assessed by the relevant NZ body.

Submit SMC EOI and receive ITA

Submit an SMC EOI claiming 160 points for skilled employment — Green List Tier 1 applicants are exempt from the local recruitment requirement. Invitations typically arrive quickly as these applicants score above most others without NZ work experience.

Lodge SMC resident visa application within 4 months

Pay NZD $4,240. Processing takes approximately 6–12 months. Prepare all documents — passports, medicals, police clearances — before the EOI so you can lodge immediately after the ITA arrives.

Green List Tier 2 — Work to Residence

Workers in Green List Tier 2 occupations receive an AEWV through a streamlined process, and after 2 years of working in New Zealand in that Tier 2 role, become eligible for the SMC under the Work to Residence stream. Tier 2 does not offer straight-to-residence — it is a faster AEWV with a guaranteed pathway to SMC after 2 years.

Green List Tier 2 occupation examples	Pathway
Aged care nurse	Work to Residence — SMC eligible after 2 years
Automotive electrician	Work to Residence
Chef (skilled)	Work to Residence
Dairy farm manager	Work to Residence
Early childhood teacher	Work to Residence
Veterinarian	Work to Residence

Complete Timeline — Work Visa to Permanent Residence

Stage	Standard AEWV → SMC	Green List Tier 2 → SMC	Green List Tier 1 → Direct Residence
Initial visa / job offer	AEWV application: 8–10 weeks	AEWV (streamlined): 4–6 weeks	Job offer obtained
Building NZ work experience	2 years minimum	2 years minimum	Not required
SMC EOI submission	After 2 years	After 2 years	After job offer obtained
ITA received	1–3 months in pool	1–3 months in pool	Typically very fast — high score
SMC resident visa processing	6–12 months	6–12 months	6–12 months
Permanent resident visa	After 2 years on resident visa	After 2 years on resident visa	After 2 years on resident visa
Citizenship eligibility	After 5 years total lawful residence including 1,350 days in NZ	After 5 years	After 5 years
Total time — work visa to resident visa	Approximately 3–5 years	Approximately 3–4 years	Approximately 6–12 months

Fees — Complete Breakdown 2026

Stage	Fee	Paid by
AEWV worker visa application	NZD $750	Worker
SMC EOI submission	Free	Worker
SMC resident visa application	NZD $4,240	Worker
Permanent resident visa application (after 2 years on resident visa)	NZD $520	Worker
Medical examinations — per person (approximate)	NZD $200–$400	Worker
Skills assessment (if required)	NZD $300–$1,000+	Worker
English language test (if required)	NZD $350–$410	Worker
Total estimated — single applicant (AEWV to permanent resident)	NZD $6,000–$7,500+	Worker
Total estimated — family of three	NZD $10,000–$14,000+	Worker (multiple visa fees)

All fees verified from immigration.govt.nz, April 2026. Fees are reviewed annually — verify current amounts before applying or making financial plans.

What Happens After Permanent Residence

Status	What it allows	When eligible
Resident visa (SMC granted)	Live, work, and study in NZ indefinitely; travel conditions apply for 2 years from grant date — re-entry permitted during this window	On SMC approval
Permanent resident visa	Full PR — all travel conditions removed; international travel unrestricted; this is true permanent residence	After 2 years on the resident visa
New Zealand citizenship	NZ passport; right to vote; all citizenship rights; visa-free access to approximately 185 countries	After 1,350 days physical presence within 5 years (at least 240 days each year); permanent resident visa required

⚠ Resident Visa ≠ Permanent Resident Visa — An Important Distinction The SMC grants a resident visa, not a permanent resident visa. The resident visa travel conditions expire 2 years after grant — if you travel outside New Zealand after the travel conditions expire without first obtaining a permanent resident visa, you may not be permitted to re-enter. Apply for the permanent resident visa before your travel conditions expire.

Common Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them

Mistake	How to avoid it
Working in a below-median-wage role and assuming it counts toward SMC	Only work at or above NZD $29.66/hour counts for SMC employment points. A worker who accepts a below-median role during the AEWV period earns zero employment points for that period — confirm the exact hourly rate before accepting any role.
Not checking the Green List before applying for an AEWV	Workers in Green List Tier 1 occupations who apply for an AEWV and wait 2 years are adding years to their PR timeline unnecessarily. Always check the Green List first — checking takes 5 minutes and could save 2–4 years.
Letting the AEWV expire before submitting the SMC EOI	If the AEWV expires before the SMC is granted, the worker may need to leave New Zealand. Plan the SMC EOI submission approximately 12 months before the AEWV expiry date to allow time for ITA and application processing.
Claiming more work experience points than can be evidenced	SMC points are self-declared but fully verified at the resident visa application stage. Overclaiming results in refusal. Keep detailed employment records — payslips, agreements, reference letters — from day one of the AEWV.
Missing the 4-month ITA application deadline	The 4-month window from ITA to resident visa application is firm. Prepare all documents — passports, medicals, police clearances, qualifications — before submitting the EOI so they are ready immediately after the ITA arrives.
Not pursuing the regional bonus points	Taking an AEWV role in Auckland when a regional alternative exists forfeits 30 bonus SMC points. Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin — all qualify. These 30 points can be the difference between waiting months or receiving an invitation in the next round.

Frequently Asked Questions

The standard pathway takes approximately 3–5 years total — 2 years of work on the AEWV, then an SMC EOI and resident visa application taking a further 12–18 months, then 2 years on the resident visa before the permanent resident visa. Workers in Green List Tier 1 occupations can achieve resident visa status in approximately 6–12 months from a qualifying job offer — the fastest pathway to NZ PR available. Source: immigration.govt.nz.

No — the SMC assesses the total period of skilled work experience in New Zealand, not your tenure with any single employer. You can change employers during the AEWV period (though each change requires a new AEWV) and the cumulative skilled work experience counts toward the SMC. What matters is that each role was at or above the median wage in a skilled occupation.

Yes — you can and should submit your SMC EOI before your AEWV expires. Most immigration advisers recommend submitting approximately 12 months before the AEWV expiry date — this provides time for the EOI pool, ITA, and resident visa application before the AEWV expires. If the AEWV expires during SMC processing, you may need to renew the AEWV or apply for a temporary visa to remain in New Zealand.

Yes — the SMC counts total New Zealand skilled work experience regardless of how many employers it was with, provided each role was at or above the median wage in a skilled occupation (ANZSCO). Keep reference letters, payslips, and employment agreements from every employer to evidence the full work experience period at the SMC application stage.

The SMC grants a resident visa — this allows you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely but includes travel conditions that expire 2 years after the grant date. After 2 years on a resident visa, you apply for a permanent resident visa which removes all travel conditions permanently. The permanent resident visa is true permanent residence — you can travel freely internationally without any conditions or expiry. Citizenship requires the permanent resident visa and the 1,350-day physical presence requirement.

Yes — your partner and dependent children can be included in your SMC resident visa application as secondary applicants. They receive the same resident visa and have full rights to live, work, and study in New Zealand. Each secondary applicant pays a separate additional fee and must meet health and character requirements. After 2 years on the resident visa, they can also apply for the permanent resident visa alongside you.

It depends on your occupation. For the 160 employment points (current skilled employment), a skills assessment is not always required — INZ accepts evidence of employment and qualifications directly. However, if you are claiming qualification points based on an overseas degree, an NZQA assessment may be required to confirm the NZ equivalent level. Check the specific requirements for your ANZSCO code at immigration.govt.nz before submitting your EOI.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Three things to carry forward. Always check the Green List before planning your AEWV pathway — Tier 1 workers can achieve resident visa status in 6–12 months without a 2-year wait; identifying this before accepting a job offer is the most valuable planning step you can take. The regional bonus of 30 SMC points for working outside Auckland is the most underused and most accessible points boost — Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Dunedin all qualify. And prepare all SMC documents from day one of the AEWV so you can lodge the resident visa application immediately after receiving the ITA — the 4-month deadline is firm.

The standard AEWV-to-SMC pathway takes 3–5 years to permanent residence — those who start with Green List Tier 1 occupations achieve PR in a fraction of that time. Identifying which pathway applies to your occupation before accepting a job offer is the most valuable planning step you can take.

All residence pathway requirements, Green List occupations, fees, and processing times are verified from immigration.govt.nz — April 2026. Green List occupations and salary thresholds are reviewed annually — always verify current figures before making employment or application decisions.

🏛 Official Sources Used in This Guide

immigration.govt.nz — Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa immigration.govt.nz — Green List Occupations and Salary Thresholds immigration.govt.nz — Permanent Resident Visa immigration.govt.nz — Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) immigration.govt.nz — SMC Points Breakdown immigration.govt.nz — Current Median Wage nzqa.govt.nz — NZQA Qualification Assessment dia.govt.nz — New Zealand Citizenship immigration.govt.nz — Visa Processing Times