Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Visa type	Resident visa
Status	Applications are open
Stay	Indefinite
Cost	NZD $6,450
Age limit	55 or younger
Eligibility timing	24 months within 30 months
Work rights	Any job, any employer
Study	Any course, any duration
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple travel for two years
Citizenship	May be possible after five years
Family sponsorship	Include partner and dependent children
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Processing time	Not stated in the source

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Purpose

This resident visa is for care workforce workers who have completed qualifying work in New Zealand and have a current care workforce job or job offer from an accredited employer.

It allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be aged 55 or younger when you apply.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Speak and understand English.
• Have worked in New Zealand’s care workforce for at least 24 months in the 30 months immediately before applying.
• Have held a work visa, eligible Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, or qualifying Interim Visa for the required work period.
• Have a current care workforce job or job offer with an accredited employer when you apply or when the visa is decided.
• Have a full-time job that is permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
• Be paid at least the applicable care workforce sector wage rate.

Eligible care workforce jobs

Your qualifying work must be in one of these roles:

• Māori Health Assistant — Kaiawhina (Hauora)
• Disabilities Services Officer
• Residential Care Officer
• Aged or Disabled Carer
• Nursing Support Worker
• Personal Care Assistant
• Therapy Aide
• Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
• Diversional Therapist

If your role is removed from the list after you begin qualifying work, that time may still count if you remain in the job and continue receiving the required wage rate.

Counting work experience

The 24 months may include:

• Annual, bereavement or other legally entitled leave.
• Parental leave.
• Separate periods of qualifying work.
• Some time in a Tier 2 Green List role, transport sector role, or job paid at least twice the median wage.

English requirements

You can show English ability through:

• Citizenship, study and qualifications, or
• English-language test results.

English test results must meet the required score and be no more than 2 years old when you apply.

Your partner and dependent children aged 16 or older must speak English or pay for English-language lessons in New Zealand.

Family provisions

You can include:

• Your partner.
• Dependent children aged 24 or younger.

You must show you have a genuine relationship with included family members. If family members already hold, or are applying for, a temporary visa based on their relationship to you, they must be included in your residence application.

Health and character

You and included family members must meet health and character requirements.

Medical evidence

Applicants aged 15 or older must complete a medical examination and chest X-ray.

For dependent children:

• Age 10 or younger: medical examination required; X-ray only if requested.
• Ages 11 to 14: medical examination and chest X-ray required.

Medical and X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

Police certificates

Applicants aged 17 or older must provide police certificates less than 6 months old when applying.

Certificates are required from:

• Countries where you are a citizen.
• Countries where you have spent 12 months or more during the last 10 years.

Non-English police certificates must include English translations.

Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity copy.
• One acceptable photo.
• Medical examination and chest X-ray evidence.
• Police certificates, if required.
• English-language evidence.
• Evidence of 24 months’ qualifying care workforce work.
• Evidence of your current care workforce job or job offer.
• Certified English translations and original-document copies for non-English documents.

Employment evidence

Evidence should show:

• Work performed.
• Pay received.
• Employment dates.
• Average weekly hours.
• Work locations.
• Employer contact details.

Useful documents include:

• Employment agreements.
• Fixed-term contracts.
• Job offer letters.
• Payslips.
• Job descriptions.
• Inland Revenue Department summary of earnings confirming 24 months’ work.

Employer documents should be on official company letterhead and signed by an authorised person.

Applicants from Hong Kong or Macao applying there must also provide an identity card copy. Thai citizens unable to provide a birth certificate may provide an identity card.

Cost

The stated visa cost is NZD $6,450.

Country-specific payment and processing information is shown through the online application system after entering passport nationality details.

How to apply

1. Gather identity, health, character, English, employment and family documents.
2. Obtain certified English translations where needed.
3. Apply online through the Immigration New Zealand account system.
4. Upload documents and pay applicable fees.
5. Respond to any request for further information.
6. Check application status online.

If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa.

Rights and conditions

Work

You can work in any job for any employer in New Zealand.

Study

You can study anywhere in New Zealand for any length of time.

Travel

You can travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you wish while travel conditions remain valid.

Travel conditions expire 2 years after:

• Your first arrival in New Zealand as a resident, or
• Visa issue, if you are already in New Zealand.

After travel conditions expire, obtain a Permanent Resident Visa or extend travel conditions before travelling.

Important: If you are outside New Zealand when travel conditions expire, your resident visa also expires.

Permanent residence and citizenship

After holding this visa for 2 consecutive years, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

A Permanent Resident Visa allows indefinite travel in and out of New Zealand, provided it remains in a valid passport.

For most people, New Zealand citizenship may be possible after 5 years living in New Zealand as a resident. A Permanent Resident Visa is not required first.

Important warnings

• Keep a valid visa while waiting for a residence decision.
• Consider applying for a temporary visa if your current visa may expire.
• Identity details must exactly match your passport or certificate of identity.
• Incorrect identity details may delay, decline or affect entry.
• Immigration New Zealand may request original passports, bank statements, payslips or additional English evidence.
• Transfer your visa to a new passport before travelling if your passport expires.