One of the top choices for international students for their study abroad is to study in New Zealand and also for skilled individuals who are looking to work abroad. This country’s strong economic sector and easy immigration process aid in this rising interest in New Zealand for more career opportunities. One of the avenues for this is the Work to Residence visa which can be granted by working in roles specified by the Green List in New Zealand. Through this blog, we will look at the qualifications necessary in order to be eligible for this visa in New Zealand.
Work to Residence Visa in New Zealand
The Green List in New Zealand includes a list of all the job roles that New Zealand feels lack skilled workers. This means that their own country does not have enough skilled workers who are eligible for these roles but they need more skilled people for those roles. Due to this reason, it becomes easier for international workers to come work here and turn their temporary residence permit into a permanent one. They have introduced this pathway of work to residence visa which makes it easier for skilled workers from other countries to immigrate to New Zealand easily and use their skills to work there. If you meet the required qualifications, you can work or study in New Zealand indefinitely. You can also include your family that is, your spouse and dependent children during the visa application.
Work to Residence Green List Roles in New Zealand Requirements
Work Experience
You should have a full-time work experience of at least 24 months of working in a Tier 2 Green List role in New Zealand. During the time you have applied for the work-to-residence visa, you should either continue to be employed in the same role or have a new job offer from an accredited employer. The documents that need to be submitted would include your work contract along with a description of your job or a letter from your employer that specifies your salary, working hours, etc. You also need to include proof that your role meets the list requirements. In order to prove that you have been getting paid for this job, you may also be asked to submit bank statements as evidence.
English Language Requirement and Proof of Age
This country prioritizes that all international candidates who come in either to study in New Zealand or work should meet the minimum English language requirements set by the country. Due to this reason, they may be asked to submit evidence of tests like IELTS. These scores cannot be older than 2 years from the time of applying for this visa. A candidate can only apply for this visa in New Zealand if they are aged 55 or younger. To substantiate this claim, the New Zealand authorities would be checking your passport.
Health Certificate and Character Certificate
Any candidate applying for this visa needs to submit an X-ray and medical examination certificate if you have not submitted them for any work visa before. This health certificate should have been issued within three months from the time of applying for this visa in New Zealand. You would be required to submit a police clearance form providing evidence of your good character. It could be from you the country you are a citizen of or if you have been staying in some other country for the past year or more, you need to get police clearance from that country.
Qualifications Necessary for Your Family
If you are planning to bring your spouse and dependent children who are aged 24 and younger, you have to provide proof of a genuine relationship with them. You and your partner would need to submit marriage certificates or other proofs of relationship. Both your partner and children would also need to meet some minimum English language requirements.
Green List Work to Residence Job Roles in New Zealand
In order to be eligible for this visa in New Zealand, you need to be working in a Tier 2 role on the Green List. There is a list of Tier 2 eligible job roles that is updated regularly. In the agriculture industry, the roles that fall in Tier 2 are assistant dairy farm manager, dairy cattle farm manager, dairy cattle farmer, dairy farm manager, and dairy herd manager. Automotive electrician, diesel motor mechanic (including heavy vehicle inspector), drainlayer, gasfitter, motor mechanic (general), motorcycle mechanic, plumber (general), and electrician (general) are Tier 2 roles in the trading sector. Various roles like building associate (building construction supervisor) and crane operator in the construction sector; corrections officer in the protective service industry and telecommunications technician in the telecommunications industry also fall in Tier 2 of the Green List. The civil machinery operator roles which are considered Tier 2 are backhoe operator, bulldozer operator, earthmoving plant operator (general), excavator operator, grader operator and loader operator. The health and social services industry has the following roles in Tier 2:
- Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher – registered
- Māori-medium Primary School Teacher
- Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher
- Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher
- Primary School Teacher
- School Principal
- Special Education Teachers
- Special Needs Teacher
- Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Teacher of the hearing-impaired
- Teacher of the Sight Impaired
Advantages of Work to Residence Visa in New Zealand
One of the biggest benefits of this visa is to be able to apply for permanent residence in New Zealand. This visa will give Indian skilled workers a chance to stay and get a permanent residence permit for New Zealand. The skilled workers have no restrictions on the kind of job role they take up as long as it is from an accredited employer in New Zealand. This gives them the freedom to choose an opportunity that fits them, as long as it meets the requirements of this visa. New Zealand is known for its excellent healthcare and educational facilities. The holders of this visa and their families can enjoy these benefits and be a part of the community as well.
West Highlander Immigration – Trusted New Zealand Work Visa Consultants
One of West Highlander’s directors, Ms. Parwinder Kaur, is a Chandigarh-based LIA—Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand. The Immigration Adviser Authority New Zealand has granted her a full license. She has worked with clients to help them obtain New Zealand visas for the past 19 years. The Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) of the New Zealand government has certified her as a Licensed Immigration Adviser. The number on her license is 201002008. So reach out to West Highlander to resolve any queries regarding New Zealand work visa, dependent spouse work visa, dependent child visa, New Zealand study visa and its requirements, funds requirements for New Zealand student visa and more.