Immigration Pathways
Work visas, skilled-migrant and Green List residence, partner/dependent visas, parent visas, and New Zealand citizenship.
Covered in this guide:
The routes to living in New Zealand long-term run through Immigration New Zealand (INZ) under the Immigration Act 2009 and INZ's detailed immigration instructions, with citizenship under the Citizenship Act 1977. The common path is a work visa (most often the Accredited Employer Work Visa), then residence (Skilled Migrant Category or Green List), then citizenship. Many settings are tied to the median wage, which rose to $35.00/hour on 9 March 2026.
Immigration settings change frequently — always verify on immigration.govt.nz. INZ: 0508 558 855. Citizenship (DIA): 0800 22 51 51.
Key Laws
Immigration Act 2009
Public Act 2009 No 51 + INZ immigration instructions
Head power for all visa categories; operational detail sits in INZ instructions.
Citizenship Act 1977
Public Act 1977 No 61; ss 7–8
Citizenship by grant (generally after residence) or by descent.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. The process has three checks: the employer must be accredited by INZ, the job must pass a check (including...
Skilled Migrant Category Residence
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is the main points-based residence pathway for skilled workers. You earn points for things like skilled employment in New Zealand, recognised qualifications, and occ...
Green List Residence Pathways
The Green List is INZ's list of high-demand occupations with faster routes to residence. It has two tiers: Tier 1 roles offer a straight-to-residence pathway (you can apply for residence directly with...
Partner of a Worker and Dependent Child Visas
If you hold a work or residence visa, your partner and dependent children can often join you. A partner can usually apply for a visa based on your relationship (some give open work rights, others are...
Parent and Parent Boost Visas
New Zealand has routes for parents of residents and citizens to join their adult children. The Parent Category resident visa lets eligible parents settle permanently (subject to a cap, sponsorship and...
New Zealand Citizenship
New Zealand citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act 1977 and administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). The most common route is citizenship by grant (s 8): you generally need to...