Straight to Residence Visa - New Zealand

New Zealand's Straight to Residence Visa provides a direct route to residency for skilled workers in critical shortage occupations, bypassing temporary work visas. This pathway targets Tier 1 Green List roles where immediate contributions are needed, such as in healthcare, engineering, and IT. Approved applicants gain indefinite rights to live, work, and study in New Zealand, with eligibility for a Permanent Resident Visa after two years of holding the visa and meeting travel conditions.

This guide draws from official Immigration New Zealand (INZ) sources as of January 2026, outlining eligibility, processes, and pitfalls. It aims to inform serious applicants while highlighting why many fail—over 25% of resident visa applications are declined due to avoidable errors like mismatched jobs or incomplete evidence. If your profile doesn't align precisely, consider alternatives like the Work to Residence Visa or Skilled Migrant Category.

What is the Straight to Residence Visa?

The Straight to Residence Visa is a resident visa granting indefinite stay in New Zealand for work, living, and study purposes. It applies exclusively to Tier 1 Green List occupations, allowing direct residency applications from offshore or onshore (if on a valid visa). Unlike temporary options, it offers immediate stability without a probationary work period.

Key features:

• Indefinite rights: No expiration on stay, work, or study permissions.
• Family inclusion: Partners and dependent children (under 25) can apply together, subject to their own criteria.
• Pathway to permanence: After two years, transition to a Permanent Resident Visa for unrestricted travel.
• No prior NZ experience: Eligibility hinges on a qualifying job offer, not local work history.

This visa addresses acute shortages but enforces strict matching to role descriptions, with no appeals for policy misinterpretations.

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Who is Eligible? (Green List Tier 1 Only)

Only Tier 1 Green List roles qualify—no exceptions for other occupations or tiers. You must satisfy every criterion below at application time.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 55 or younger.
• Job Offer: Full-time (30+ hours/week) in a Tier 1 role from an accredited employer. Must be permanent, fixed-term (12+ months), or contracts totaling 6+ months without gaps.
• Qualifications/Registration: Exact match to role-specific standards (e.g., degree level, professional registration like Medical Council of NZ).
• English Proficiency: For principal and dependents 16+: Evidence via citizenship, NZ/English-medium study, or tests (IELTS 6.5 overall, no band <6; max 2 years old). Partners/dependents can opt for English classes with proof of enrollment.
• Health: Good health standard; full medical and chest X-ray for those 15+ (under 3 months old). Children under 15 may need limited checks.
• Character: Good character; police certificates (under 6 months old) from citizenship countries and any residence of 12+ months in last 10 years, disclosing all convictions.

Family Eligibility

• Partners: Prove genuine/stable relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, joint finances, 12+ months cohabitation).
• Dependents: Under 25, financially reliant, unmarried/single. They must meet health/character; English for 16+.

Failure in any area results in outright rejection - self-assess via INZ's Green List tool before investing.

Salary & Job Offer Reality

A job offer is mandatory but insufficient alone; it must be genuine, verifiable, and compliant. INZ scrutinizes for exploitation or fabrication, declining ~15% of cases on employment grounds.

It is mandatory to assure:

• Accredited Employer Required: Verify via INZ's public list—non-accredited offers are invalid.
• Salary Threshold: At least the role-specific rate or median wage (NZD $33.56/hour as of 2025; expected ~$35/hour in 2026 with inflation). Annual equivalent: ~$69,800 full-time. Contractors need 10+ years experience and equivalent pay.
• Evidence Needed: Signed contract detailing duties, hours, pay, and duration. Duties must substantially match ANZSCO/Green List codes.
• Common Pitfalls: Low/inflated pay raises red flags; part-time or short-term roles don't qualify. Overseas applicants often overlook NZ market alignment.

Tier 1 salaries typically exceed thresholds (e.g., $90,000+ for engineers), but mismatches like "similar" titles (e.g., developer vs. specified ICT role) lead to denials.

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What is NZ's Green List?

The Green List identifies shortage occupations with streamlined visas, updated biannually by INZ and MBIE. It's tiered by shortage severity—no broad interpretations; roles demand precise qualification matches.

Tier Overview

Tier	Pathway	Requirements	Examples (2026)
Tier 1	Straight to Residence	Immediate residency; specific quals/registration; no NZ experience.	Anaesthetists, Civil Engineers, General Practitioners, ICT Project Managers, Psychologists, Surveyors. (~25 roles total)
Tier 2	Work to Residence	24 months NZ work first; mid-level shortages.	Electricians, Registered Nurses, Welders.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Applying for the Straight to Residence Visa is done online via the RealMe/INZ portal and typically requires 20-30 hours of preparation. At Peerless Immigration Services, we know incomplete submissions can lead to delays or outright failure—that's why our expert team guides you every step of the way to ensure a smooth, error-free process. With our 15+ years of NZ immigration expertise, we handle the complexities so you can focus on your move to New Zealand.

1. Eligibility:Confirm is your occupations is in Tier 1 Green List and employer accreditation. We first do eligibility assessment and provides a personalized report, spotting gaps before you invest time or money.
2. Secure Offer: Finalize your employment contract and obtain an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if required (processing takes 4-6 weeks). How we help: We connect you with accredited employers in high-demand sectors and review your offer for compliance, boosting your approval chances.
3. Gather/Prepare Docs: Translate/certify non-English; book medicals/police certs.
4. Create Account & Apply: Log in at immigration.govt.nz; select Straight to Residence; upload scans (PDF/JPG, <10MB each).
5. Pay & Submit: Fees non-refundable; get acknowledgment. Include family details.
6. Respond to INZ: Address any Requests for Information (RFIs) within 10-30 days.
7. Decision & Activation: eVisa issued; activate on first NZ entry. Track via portal.

Onshore applicants: Apply for Interim Visa to bridge gaps.

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Documents Checklist

INZ requires certified originals/scans; validity strict (e.g., medicals <3 months). Omissions cause 30% of declines.

Core Documents

• Identity: Passport (6+ months validity post-arrival); birth certs.
• Employment: Signed offer/contract; employer accreditation proof; detailed duties.
• Quals/Experience: Degrees/transcripts; IQA; references (last 5-10 years); registration certs.
• English: Test scores (e.g., IELTS/TRF) or exemption letter.
• Health: eMedical referral code; X-ray results.
• Character: Police certs (all relevant countries).
• Family: Relationship proofs (marriage/birth certs, joint docs); dependent English evidence.

Processing Time: Realistic Ranges

No fixed timeline; depends on volume, completeness, and checks (e.g., security). As of 2026:

• Median: 3-6 months for 50% of cases.
• 80% Within: 9 months.
• Complex/Delays: 12+ months (health verifications, RFIs).

Peak periods (e.g., Q1) add 1-2 months. Monitor via INZ account; incomplete apps reset clocks.

Government Fees & Total Cost

Fees updated annually; non-refundable even on decline. 2026 onshore/offshore similar.

Category	Fee (NZD)
Principal Applicant	4,500
Partner	2,250
Dependent Child	1,125
Immigration Levy	200/person
IVL (if applicable)	100/person

Totals: Solo ~$4,800; family of 4 ~$10,000+. Add-ons: Medicals ($400-700/person), police certs ($100-200/country), English tests ($400), IQA ($750), translations ($200+). Full prep: $2,000-4,000 extra.

Common Rejection Reasons

~25% of resident visas fail; STR sees high rates from employment/evidence gaps.

1. Job/Employer Mismatch: Non-Tier 1 role, unaccredited employer, or duties not aligning (40% of STR declines).
2. Document Issues: Incomplete, expired, or inconsistent (e.g., no IQA, old police certs).
3. Health/Character Failures: Unmet standards or undisclosed issues (e.g., costs >$41,000 lifetime).
4. English/Quals Shortfalls: Low scores or unproven equivalence.
5. Family Proof Gaps: Unverified relationships or dependent ineligibility.

Reapply fixes cost extra fees; prevention via pre-checks saves 50%+ in losses.

Who Should NOT Apply

This visa filters rigorously—avoid if:

• Age >55: No waivers.
• Tier 2/Unlisted Role: Use Work to Residence instead.
• No Solid Offer: "Potential" jobs don't count; secure accredited first.
• Health/Character Risks: Chronic conditions or records without clear waivers.
• Family Complications: Dependents failing criteria inflate risks/costs.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Seeking flexibility or low-skill entry.

Opt for Skilled Migrant (points-based, opens Aug 2026) or partner visas if mismatched.

  Check Your Eligibility Now!

How Peerless Immigration Services Assesses Eligibility (CTA)

Peerless Immigration Services, with 15+ years in NZ pathways, conducts evidence-based audits to confirm Tier 1 fit before commitment. Our process:

• Role Mapping: Cross-check duties/quals against Green List/ANZSCO; flag IQA needs.
• Offer Validation: Review employer status, salary structure, and genuineness.
• Risk Scan: Evaluate health/character/English; estimate timelines/costs (e.g., 4-8 months processing).
• Family Integration: Verify inclusions to avoid partial approvals.

95% of our clients avoid RFIs through upfront fixes. Enroll now for a free eligibility report: Upload your CV/job details at peerlessimmigration.com/assess or WhatsApp +64-21-123-4567. Get your roadmap in 48 hours—secure your spot before 2026 quotas tighten. Don't risk a $5,000 decline; start with facts.