Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Residence pathway for care workers after 24 months in the sector.
Official New Zealand pageWho this route is for
Migrant care workers employed in eligible care workforce roles who want to gain residence after qualifying NZ work experience.
Eligibility requirements
- Work 24 months in New Zealand in an eligible care workforce role
- Be paid at least the care workforce sector rate of NZD $28.25/hour (level 4 of the Support Workers Pay Equity settlement) during the work experience
- Work full-time for an accredited employer (e.g. on an AEWV) across the 24 months
- Meet health, character and English requirements
Requirements reviewed July 2026. They change frequently — confirm the current rules on the official page before relying on them.
Recent changes & caveats
The 24 months can be worked on one or more full-time work visas, including the AEWV and Critical Purpose Work Visa. This is a distinct residence visa, not just a sector wage exemption.
Check your points first
Use the free Skilled Migrant 6-Point Calculator to see if you're likely to qualify before you start.
Other New Zealand routes
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
PermanentPoints-based residence for skilled workers, scored against the NZ median wage.
Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1)
PermanentImmediate residence for people with a Tier 1 Green List job offer.
Work to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 2)
PathwayResidence after 24 months working in a Tier 2 Green List role.
Active Investor Plus Visa
PermanentResidence for high-net-worth investors via a Growth ($5M) or Balanced ($10M) category.