Residence From Work

The residence from work pathway is designed for skilled workers who have demonstrated their ability to successfully work and contribute in New Zealand. To qualify, you must have worked in New Zealand for a specified period in skilled employment that meets Immigration New Zealand's requirements.

Key requirements typically include having worked for at least two years in skilled employment, meeting age requirements (usually under 55), demonstrating English language proficiency, and meeting health and character standards. Your employment must be in roles that are considered skilled according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

The pathway also considers factors such as your qualifications, work experience, and the ongoing demand for your skills in New Zealand. Some occupations may have additional requirements or may be prioritised based on skill shortages in specific sectors.

Documenting your employment history is crucial for a successful residence from work application. You'll need to provide comprehensive evidence of your work in New Zealand, including employment contracts, payslips, tax records, and letters from employers confirming your roles and responsibilities.

Immigration New Zealand requires detailed information about each role you've held, including job descriptions, salary details, hours worked, and evidence that the work was genuinely skilled. You must demonstrate that your employment was continuous and that you met all visa conditions during your work period.

For roles that required specific qualifications or professional registration, you'll need to provide evidence of these credentials and any ongoing professional development. The documentation must clearly show that your work experience aligns with the skilled employment requirements for residence applications.

Many residence from work applications require a formal skills assessment to verify that your qualifications and experience meet New Zealand standards. This process involves having your overseas qualifications assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or relevant professional bodies.

The skills assessment examines whether your qualifications are equivalent to New Zealand standards and whether your work experience demonstrates the required level of skill and expertise. Some occupations require registration with professional bodies or completion of additional training to meet New Zealand requirements.

The assessment process can take several months, so it's important to start early. You'll need to provide detailed documentation of your qualifications, including academic transcripts, professional certifications, and evidence of work experience that demonstrates your competency in your field.

Timing your residence from work application strategically can significantly impact your chances of success. You need to ensure you meet all minimum requirements while also considering factors such as policy changes, processing times, and your current visa status.

It's generally advisable to apply as soon as you meet the minimum requirements, as immigration policies can change and may affect your eligibility. However, you should also ensure your application is as strong as possible, with all documentation complete and any potential issues addressed.

Consider your current visa expiry dates and ensure you have sufficient time remaining to complete the residence application process. If your work visa is due to expire, you may need to apply for an extension or interim visa to maintain your legal status while your residence application is processed.

All residence applications require you and your family members to meet health and character requirements. Health requirements involve medical examinations by Immigration New Zealand-approved doctors, while character requirements involve police clearances and disclosure of any criminal history.

Medical examinations must be completed by panel physicians approved by Immigration New Zealand. The extent of medical testing required depends on your age, intended length of stay, and countries you've lived in. Some medical conditions may require additional specialist assessments or may affect your application.

Character requirements involve providing police certificates from every country where you've lived for 12 months or more since turning 17. You must also declare any criminal convictions, charges, or investigations, even if they didn't result in conviction. Some character issues can be addressed through character waivers, but this adds complexity to your application.

You can include your partner and dependent children in your residence from work application, but this significantly increases the complexity and cost of the process. Each family member must meet health and character requirements, and you must demonstrate your ability to support them financially.

Including family members requires additional documentation, including relationship evidence for your partner, birth certificates for children, and proof of dependency. The application fees multiply with each additional family member, making family applications substantially more expensive.

Consider whether it's better to include family members in your initial application or have them join you later through family category applications. While including them initially may be more straightforward, it also increases the risk of the entire application being declined if any family member fails to meet requirements.

The residence from work application process involves multiple stages, from initial preparation through to final decision. The process typically takes several months, and Immigration New Zealand may request additional information or documentation during the assessment.

Your application must be complete and accurate when submitted, as incomplete applications may be returned or declined. This includes all supporting documentation, correct fees, and properly completed forms. Any errors or omissions can delay processing or result in decline.

After submission, Immigration New Zealand will assess your application against the residence requirements. They may request additional information, conduct interviews, or require further documentation. You must respond promptly to any requests, as failure to do so can result in your application being declined.

Residence from work applications face several common challenges that can lead to delays or declines. Understanding these challenges and how to address them proactively can significantly improve your chances of success.

Employment verification issues are common, particularly if employers are uncooperative or if employment records are incomplete. Skills assessment delays can also impact applications, especially if additional training or qualifications are required. Changes in immigration policy during the application process can also affect eligibility or requirements.

Documentation challenges often arise when applicants cannot obtain required documents from overseas, or when documents don't clearly demonstrate the required information. Language barriers can also complicate applications, particularly when translating complex employment or qualification documents.