Residence for eligible care workers
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
This is a specific residence pathway for eligible people with qualifying New Zealand employment in selected care workforce occupations. It should not be confused with general Green List residence or a promise that every care job leads to residence.
Enquire About Care Workforce Residence
The core requirements
Applicants generally need 24 months of qualifying work, paid at the required care workforce rate, within the applicable assessment period. They must also have qualifying current employment or an offer from an accredited employer and meet age, English, health, character and other requirements.
The official occupation list includes roles such as Aged or Disabled Carer, Nursing Support Worker and Personal Care Assistant. The actual role and employment conditions must match; a broad healthcare job title is not enough.
Check which periods may count
Record the start and end dates of each role, the work performed, hours and pay changes. Retain employment agreements, payslips and tax records. Identify gaps, time overseas and any change in immigration status so these can be assessed under the correct rules.
Do not simply count two calendar years from your first day in New Zealand. The occupation, pay, permitted work and relevant time window all need attention.
Keep job changes and visa conditions aligned
A move to another employer or role may affect both your current work permission and the residence evidence you are building. Review the necessary immigration steps before the change, not only when preparing a future residence application.
Employers should keep the employment agreement and actual duties consistent. Workers should be able to obtain records of their own employment without relying on informal assurances that a future application will be approved.
Compare the correct residence category
Registered nursing and other health professions may be relevant to different Green List entries. The Green List Work to Residence Visa is separate from this care workforce category. The Skilled Migrant Category has its own framework.
Choose the category by the actual requirements and evidence, not by whichever name sounds most familiar.
Common questions
Does overseas care work satisfy the New Zealand work period?
Do not assume so. This category's qualifying work requirements concern New Zealand employment under the specified conditions.
Can I include my family?
Eligible partners and dependent children may be included in the residence application, subject to the relevant family and visa requirements.
What should I provide in an initial enquiry?
State your role, employer accreditation position, approximate employment dates and any visa expiry. Arrange an appropriate channel before sending payroll, identity or medical records.
General information checked 18 September 2026. Official source: INZ: Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa. Personalised advice must come from a licensed or legally exempt person.