Compare the residence frameworks
Skilled Migration to New Zealand
Your occupation is only one part of a skilled migration assessment. The job you hold or have been offered, qualifications, registration, pay, work history and the requirements of the particular category all matter.
Enquire About Skilled Migration
Skilled Migrant Category
The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa provides a skilled residence framework with points-based and specified work-experience pathways. Immigration New Zealand's 24 August 2026 changes must be considered rather than relying on older summaries alone.
Keep qualification, registration and employment evidence separate so the relevant pathway can be assessed. Do not combine points or periods of experience simply because they all appear relevant to your career.
Green List Tier 1 and Tier 2
Straight to Residence is linked to qualifying Tier 1 employment. Work to Residence generally requires qualifying New Zealand work in a Tier 2 occupation. Each occupation can have specific registration, qualification or pay conditions.
Use the actual Green List entry, not a broad industry label. Working in healthcare, education, engineering or construction does not automatically establish that every role in the industry qualifies.
Temporary work is a separate question
An Accredited Employer Work Visa may provide permission for an eligible job while a person considers longer-term plans. It is not a resident visa and does not remove the need to meet a later residence category's requirements.
Some care workers may instead need to examine the separate Care Workforce Work to Residence category.
Prepare a useful skills profile
Start with a concise CV showing qualifications, work dates and duties. Identify whether you hold New Zealand occupational registration or need to apply for it. Record the details of any New Zealand offer and the evidence available from previous employers.
Keep a list of questions that remain unanswered: whether a qualification needs assessment, which employment periods count and how family members' plans fit with the main application. A clear profile is more useful than an unverified online score.
Common questions
Does New Zealand use Australia's 189, 190 or 491 visas?
No. Those are Australian categories. New Zealand skilled residence uses its own employment, skills and category requirements.
Will a shortage occupation guarantee an invitation or visa?
No. The applicant and employment must satisfy the applicable requirements. A shortage label alone is not an approval.
Can I plan residence before moving?
You can research and assess possible pathways before committing to a move. Whether an application can be made offshore depends on the specific category and your circumstances.
General information checked 18 September 2026. See the linked category guides and their official sources. Primary references: SMC, Straight to Residence and Work to Residence.