Routes to New Zealand: skilled tradesperson

Open to applicants with a full-time job offer from an accredited employer with an approved job check, but it is employer-, job- and location-specific and the current wage threshold was not confirmed.

Who this is for

• ·Tradespeople and skilled workers with an offer from an accredited NZ employer

You must have every one of these

• ·Employer must be accredited and hold an approved job check for the role.
• ·Job offer must be full-time (at least 30 hours a week) and paid at least the required rate for the job.
• ·Skill evidence: roughly two or more years' relevant experience or a level 4+ qualification (a CV alone is not enough); exemptions exist, for example for Green List jobs.
• ·English test required for ANZSCO skill levels 3 to 5 unless exempt; results must be no more than 2 years old.
• ·Good health (chest X-ray for stays over 6 months if the TB-incidence rule applies) and good character (police certificate if 17+ and staying 24 months or more).

Source: Immigration New Zealand — Accredited Employer Work Visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Immigration New Zealand — How we calculate pay rates for the AEWV (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Immigration New Zealand — Pause on the median wage rate increase for the AEWV (published 21 Dec 2023; may be superseded) (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2023-12-21; Government or public body)

Residence after 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job, but only for roles on the current list (not confirmed here) with an accredited employer and a wage at the required rate.

Who this is for

• ·Workers in a Green List Tier 2 role who already have 24 months of qualifying full-time NZ work

You must have every one of these

• ·Aged 55 or younger when applying.
• ·24 months in a Tier 2 job within the 30 months before applying, full-time and paid at the required rate.
• ·Current full-time job or offer in a Tier 2 role with an accredited employer, permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months from application.
• ·Speak and understand English (citizenship, study, qualification or a test no more than 2 years old).
• ·Health and police certificates; each Green List role may add its own qualification, registration or pay rule.

Source: Immigration New Zealand — Work to Residence Visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Immigration New Zealand — Green List roles (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Immigration New Zealand Operations Manual — Appendix 13 Green List (ARCHIVED edition effective 26/03/2025; not confirmed current) (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2025-03-26; Government or public body)

Residence pathway for people with a level 4+ qualification plus post-qualification experience and skilled NZ work; the page states the experience requirement in two different ways, so confirm it on the live page.

Who this is for

• ·Qualified tradespeople and technicians already working in New Zealand in a skilled job

You must have every one of these

• ·Aged 55 or younger when applying.
• ·Skilled job or offer from an accredited employer, at least 30 hours a week.
• ·Level 4+ relevant qualification and post-qualification experience including time in New Zealand (the page gives two figures; NOT VERIFIED which is current).
• ·Medical exam and chest X-ray (15+) and police certificates (17+); must speak and understand English.

Source: Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)

Costs are shown in NZD as the cited source states them, with the unit the source gives. We do not convert currencies. A line with no stated unit or date is marked as such and is not an exact official charge.

Timeline not published by the authority

AEWV: INZ states 80% of applications decided within 5 weeks. Immigration New Zealand publishes processing statements as a share of applications decided within a period (stated per route), not an end-to-end timeline; employer accreditation, job check, document gathering and travel are not given a published duration.