How to Move to New Zealand in 2026: AEWV, Green List & Skilled Migrant Category Explained

# How to Move to New Zealand in 2026: AEWV, Green List & Skilled Migrant Category Explained

New Zealand has one of the most structured immigration systems in the world. Unlike the UAE or US, there's no self-sponsorship option and no lottery. Every work and residence pathway starts with a job offer from an accredited employer. That's the filter — and it's non-negotiable.

But once you clear that hurdle, New Zealand offers something most countries don't: a transparent, points-based system where you can see exactly what you need to qualify for permanent residency before you even apply.

This guide breaks down the three main pathways so you can figure out which one fits your situation.

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Best for You If...

→ Green List — Straight to Residence (Tier 1): You're a doctor, engineer, registered nurse, software engineer, or other high-demand professional. You want permanent residency immediately — no waiting period, no points accumulation. You just need a job offer from an accredited employer in a Tier 1 occupation.

→ Green List — Work to Residence (Tier 2): You're in a Tier 2 occupation (trades, technicians, mid-level health/education roles). You're willing to work in New Zealand for 24 months to earn residence. You want a clear, guaranteed pathway — not a maybe.

→ Skilled Migrant Category (SMC): Your occupation isn't on the Green List, but you're skilled. You have a degree, professional registration, or earn well above the median wage. You can accumulate 6 points through qualifications, income, and NZ work experience.

→ Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): You have a job offer but aren't sure about long-term residency yet. You want to get to New Zealand, start working, and figure out your residence pathway once you're there. Up to 5 years.

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The Comparison Table

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What Most People Get Wrong

You can't just apply. You need a job offer first.

Every single NZ work and residence pathway requires an offer from an accredited employer. There is no self-sponsored visa. There is no freelancer visa. There is no digital nomad visa. If someone tells you they "moved to New Zealand and figured it out" — they either had a job offer, a working holiday visa, or a partner visa. That's it.

This is the fundamental difference between New Zealand and destinations like the UAE, Portugal, or Spain. New Zealand's system is employer-led, not applicant-led.

The median wage is NZD $35.00/hr — and it matters more than you think.

As of March 9, 2026, the median wage threshold is NZD $35.00/hr. This number isn't just a benchmark — it's the key that unlocks almost everything in NZ immigration:

• Below $35/hr in a Level 1–3 role → your partner may only get a visitor visa, not a work visa
• At or above $35/hr → Green List eligibility, partner work rights, SMC points access
• At $52.50/hr (1.5×) → Level 4–5 workers qualify for 5-year AEWV and SMC
• At $70/hr (2×) → exempt from advertising requirements and minimum skill thresholds
• At $105/hr (3×) → maximum SMC points from income alone (6 points)

The Green List changes. Regularly.

Occupations are added and removed based on labour market needs. Primary school teachers recently moved from Tier 2 (work to residence) to Tier 1 (straight to residence). If you're planning around a Green List occupation, verify it's still there before you apply. The official search tool is at immigration.govt.nz.

The SMC is getting a major overhaul in August 2026.

Two new pathways are being added: a Skilled Work Experience Pathway (Level 1–3 roles, reduced to 2 years NZ experience) and a Trades & Technician Pathway (Level 4+ qualified trades). The wage lock-in rule is also changing — you'll only need to meet the median wage when you start working, not when you apply for residence. If you're on the fence about SMC, the August 2026 changes may work in your favour.

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The entry point: Which one should you apply for?

Not sure which pathway fits? [Find out which NZ visa you qualify for →](/get-started)

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Green List: The Fastest Path to Residency

The Green List is New Zealand's way of saying "we need you — come now." If your occupation is on it, you get a streamlined path to permanent residency that bypasses the normal points system entirely.

Tier 1 — Straight to Residence

You can apply for residence immediately with a job offer. No NZ work experience required. No points to accumulate. Key sectors: healthcare (GPs, registered nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists, midwives), engineering (civil, structural, electrical), construction (project managers, quantity surveyors), IT (software engineers, ICT security specialists), and education (registered primary and secondary teachers).

You must be 55 or younger, meet health and character requirements, speak English, and be paid at least NZD $35/hr or the role-specific rate.

Processing takes approximately 4 months. Fee is NZD $6,450.

Tier 2 — Work to Residence

Same concept, but you need 24 months of NZ work experience in the role before applying for residence. Covers trades (electricians, plumbers, mechanics), technicians, early childhood teachers, and other mid-level professional roles.

The 24-month clock can count from September 29, 2021 — so if you've already been working in NZ in a Tier 2 role, you may already qualify.

What the Green List doesn't cover

Most business roles. Most finance roles. Most legal roles outside specialist categories. Most marketing, sales, and administrative roles. If your occupation isn't on the list, your path is through the Skilled Migrant Category.

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Skilled Migrant Category: The Points Path

The SMC is New Zealand's main residence pathway for skilled workers whose occupations aren't on the Green List. You need 6 points, a skilled job or job offer, and to be 55 or younger.

How points work (current system — until August 2026)

You claim 3–6 points from ONE skill category, then top up with NZ work experience if needed:

Occupational Registration:

• 6 points → registration requiring 6+ years training
• 4 points → registration requiring 4+ years training
• 3 points → registration requiring 2+ years training

Qualifications:

• 6 points → Doctoral degree (any country) or NZ master's (30+ weeks study)
• 5 points → NZ master's / 4 points → overseas master's
• 4 points → NZ bachelor's / 3 points → overseas bachelor's

Income:

• 6 points → earning 3× median wage (NZD $105/hr)
• 4 points → earning 2× median wage (NZD $70/hr)
• 3 points → earning 1.5× median wage (NZD $52.50/hr)

NZ Work Experience:

• 1 point per year, up to 3 points maximum

So a professional with an overseas bachelor's degree (3 points) + 3 years NZ work experience (3 points) = 6 points. Or someone earning $70/hr (4 points) + 2 years experience (2 points) = 6 points.

The process

Submit a free Expression of Interest (EOI). If you meet the 6-point threshold, you're immediately invited to apply. You then have 4 months to submit your full application with evidence. Fee: NZD $6,450. Processing: 5–14 months.

Coming August 2026

Two new pathways will make SMC more accessible. The Skilled Work Experience Pathway reduces the NZ experience requirement for Level 1–3 roles. The Trades & Technician Pathway opens residence to qualified tradespeople. Wage rules are also being simplified — meet the median when you start, keep it when you apply. No more chasing a rising threshold.

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AEWV: The Starting Point

If you have a job offer but don't qualify for residence yet, the Accredited Employer Work Visa gets you into New Zealand. Think of it as the stepping stone — you work, you earn, you build toward residence through the Green List or SMC.

Key facts

Fee: NZD $1,540. Duration: up to 5 years for Level 1–3 roles, up to 3 years for Level 4–5. Your employer must be accredited by Immigration New Zealand and pass a Job Check (proving the role is genuine and no NZ worker was available).

Processing: 80% of applications decided within 6 weeks.

The catch

After your maximum continuous stay (3 or 5 years), you must leave New Zealand for 12 months before you can get another AEWV — unless you've secured residence in the meantime. This is the "use it or lose it" clock. If you're on an AEWV, your goal should be mapping your residence pathway from day one.

Partner and family

Your wage determines what visa your partner gets:

• Earn $35/hr+ or hold a Green List role → partner gets an open work visa
• Earn $28–$34.99/hr → partner gets employer-specific work visa
• Below $28/hr → partner gets visitor visa only (no work rights)

This matters. If your household needs two incomes to afford NZ's cost of living — and most do — your salary threshold isn't just about your visa. It's about your partner's ability to work.

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The Tax Reality

New Zealand is not a tax haven. Unlike the UAE (0% income tax), NZ has a progressive tax system:

GST is 15% on goods and services. There is no formal capital gains tax (with some exceptions around property). No inheritance tax. No stamp duty.

If you're comparing NZ to other destinations purely on tax, it loses to UAE, Singapore, and Portugal's NHR regime. But if you're comparing on quality of life, safety, English-speaking environment, and a clear path to permanent residency — NZ competes with anywhere.

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No Nationality Restrictions

Like the UAE, New Zealand's immigration system is merit-based, not nationality-based. There are no country caps, no lotteries, and no quotas. If you meet the occupation, qualification, and wage requirements, you can apply regardless of where you're from.

The only nationality-specific programmes are Working Holiday Visas (available to citizens of specific partner countries) and the USMCA/trade-agreement equivalents — but the main work and residence pathways are open to everyone.

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The Decision

Ready to find your New Zealand pathway? [Get My Roadmap — $29 →](/get-started)

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*All data verified from Immigration New Zealand (immigration.govt.nz). Median wage NZD $35.00/hr effective March 9, 2026. Minimum wage NZD $23.95/hr effective April 1, 2026. SMC changes coming August 2026 — details still being finalized. Some elements (e.g., Green List occupations and upcoming policy changes) are dynamic and subject to updates from Immigration New Zealand. Always confirm current requirements on the official INZ website before applying.*