The complete guide to visas, residence permits, and administrative procedures for EU and non-EU nationals looking to settle in New Zealand.
6
Routes covered
6 points
The reformed SMC
Jul. 2026
Updated
Free · Results in 3 minutes
Overview
New Zealand — the employer chain and 6-point residence.
New Zealand has continuously reformed its system since 2023: the AEWV, a three-link chain driven by the accredited employer, is the gateway to work; residence is decided by the SMC — a crystal-clear 6-point base — or through the Green List of shortage occupations. Add to that the overhauled Active Investor Plus (only 21 days of presence in the Growth category) and, for young people, a Working Holiday open to more than 45 nationalities — quota and duration per agreement (up to 23 months for some countries).
3 links
Accreditation · Job Check · visa
6 points
The SMC base toward residence
NZD 35/hr
2026 immigration median
The system rests on two logics. Work goes through the AEWV: accredited employer, Job Check (14-day job ad), then your visa — the median wage threshold was removed in March 2025 in favor of the market rate, but beware, the median (NZD 35/h) is still required for residence. Residence, precisely, is decided by the SMC — 6 points through your degree, income, or professional registration, plus 1 point per year of local experience — or through the Green List, whose Tier 1 opens residence from the job offer. Add to that an overhauled wealth route (Active Investor Plus) and, a notable singularity since January 2025, official permission to work remotely for a foreign employer on a simple visitor visa.
Which route for your situation in New Zealand?
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Available visas and permits
The main visas we support.
Click a permit to see the requirements, required documents, timelines, and practical tips. Each of these visas comes with full guidance in your nomadpass space.
AEWV
AEWV — Accredited Employer Work Visa
The gateway to work · employer chain
3 links5 years (skill levels 1–3)
›
Chain
Accreditation → Job Check (14 days) → visa
Salary
Market rate — the median wage threshold was removed (March 2025)
Duration
5 years (skills 1–3) · 3 years (4–5, then 12 months outside)
English
IELTS 5.0 for levels 3–5 (extended June 2026)
You can't file anything on your own: the chain is driven by the employer. The most effective strategy: target already-accredited employers directly. Since December 2025, original police certificates are required at filing.
SMC
SMC — Skilled Migrant Category
6-point residence · 2023 reform
6 pointsDirect residence
›
Base (non-cumulative)
Degree (3–6 pts) OR income (1.5×/2×/3× = 3/4/6) OR registration
Top-up
NZ experience: 1 pt/year, up to 3
Requirement
Accredited job at the median (NZD 35/h)
Fee / timeline
NZD 6,450 · 5–6 months, no waiting pool
The base categories don't add up — you keep the best one, and only NZ experience is added: that's the number one calculation error. And the median removed from the AEWV is still fully required here. Two new routes open in August 2026.
GL
Green List — Straight to Residence / Work to Residence
Shortage occupations · healthcare, engineering, IT, construction
Tier 1: directTier 2: 24 months
›
Tier 1
Residence from the accredited offer · ≈ 5 months
Tier 2
Residence after 24 months in the occupation
Plan
Full-time, 12 months min., median or specified rate
Fees
NZD 6,450
The exact occupation code is what counts — a similar job title isn't enough. For regulated professions (healthcare, engineering, electrical), New Zealand registration is almost always the critical path: start there, not with the job search.
STU
Student visa + Post-Study Work Visa
Studies, then up to 3 years of unrestricted work
25 hrs/wk1 PSWV per lifetime
›
Student work
25 hrs/wk since Nov. 2025 · full-time during holidays
PSWV
Up to 3 years · NZD 1,670 · 4 weeks
Requirements
Level 7+ degree: any employer · otherwise a job related to your studies
Window
File ≤ 3 months after the student visa expires
The key decision is made before you leave: the program level determines the PSWV — open or restricted. And only one PSWV per lifetime: if you chain two degrees, choose when to trigger it. Safety net in late 2026: a 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa.
The Growth category's 21 days of presence is the lightest requirement on the global market. The heart of the review is fund traceability — a file without gray areas makes the difference between 10 weeks and long months. Philanthropy ≤ 20% in Growth since June 2026.
PVT
Working Holiday Visa
12 months (up to 23 depending on the agreement) · 45+ nationalities
Ages 18–30/3545+ agreements
›
Duration
12 months, multi-entry · once in a lifetime
Funds
NZD 4,200 + return ticket
Fees
≈ NZD 770 (2026), online filing
Rights
Any employer (no permanent position) · 6 months of study
One of the most open Working Holidays in the world: 45+ agreements, each with its own age limit, quota, and duration (some countries have no quota and year-round filing · others have limited places to be filed on opening day). And the best springboard to settling there is — local experience opens the AEWV, and each qualified year on the ground earns 1 SMC point.
This list presents the main residence permits, which cover the vast majority of relocation situations. It is not exhaustive: other specific visas exist for particular situations, available from the country's official authorities.
Not sure which permit to choose?
Our assessment identifies the right visa in 3 minutes
Competent authorities
The official bodies for your procedure.
The competent authorities vary depending on your nationality and your project.
6 visas and permits are covered for New Zealand, including AEWV — Accredited Employer Work Visa · SMC — Skilled Migrant Category (points-based residence) · Green List — Straight to Residence / Work to Residence. The free assessment identifies the one that fits your situation in 3 minutes.
How long does it take to get a visa for New Zealand?
From 20 days to about 7 months depending on the visa. For example, AEWV — Accredited Employer Work Visa: A three-link chain: the accreditation, the Job Check (a 14-day ad), then the visa — allow 1 to 3 months.
How much does a visa for New Zealand cost?
Official fees depend on the visa. For example, AEWV — Accredited Employer Work Visa: ≈ NZD 1,540 (the visa) — the accreditation and the Job Check at the employer's expense.
Is the information on New Zealand up to date?
Yes: every sheet cites its official sources (INZ — The AEWV reform: the median threshold scrapped (March 10, 2025), experience cut to 2 years, a 3-year duration for levels 4-5, INZ — AEWV: the accreditation, the Job Check, English extended to level 3 (June 2026), the NOL's 47 occupations (March 2026), INZ — The reformed SMC: a 6-point base (degree / income / registration) + NZ experience, an accredited job at the median) and carries a verification date. Last verified: 2026-10-06.
