For adult Chinese primary applicants with qualifying New Zealand work history. This is a residence application after eligibility is met, not an initial offshore work or job-search visa. Excludes dependants and other sector residence schemes.
These are separate applications, not automatic upgrades. Employment, role, personal eligibility and work history matter. A Resident Visa is also distinct from a Permanent Resident Visa.
Eligible Tier 1 employment may support Straight to Residence; an AEWV is not necessarily a prerequisite.
Official requirementsQualifying NZ work periods, role, pay and visa history are required for Tier 2 residence; this is not an initial work visa.
Official requirementsBe 55 or younger; check at least 24 months of qualifying work in the preceding 30 months, qualifying visa history, current Tier 2 employment, accredited employer, role/pay requirements, English, health and character.
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Check lawful work status, count qualifying experience under applicable wage rules, verify current employment and personal eligibility, then apply for residence and follow grant conditions.
Work must have been authorised; this residence application does not replace the earlier work permission. Official guidance
Audit dates, role, pay and any grace rules within the 30-month window. Official guidance
Check the applicable current role, employer, personal eligibility and residence evidence. Official guidance
Apply once eligible and follow travel conditions if granted; Permanent Resident Visa is a later, separate application. Official guidance
Introductory preparation summary, not a complete checklist, individual advice or a visa guarantee. Follow official pages and individual notices. Reviewed: 2026-10-24
Not any two years of New Zealand work qualify. Pay rules depend on dates, role and applicable grace arrangements; one current wage figure cannot assess the entire history. Resident and Permanent Resident visas are separate.
Check qualifying work and pay period by period; do not automatically count part-time or otherwise ineligible periods. Official guidance
Green List Tier 2, care and transport schemes have distinct criteria; similar names do not make experience interchangeable. Official guidance
Download a blank English PDF checklist to print and mark offline. This is not an exhaustive lodgement checklist; official requirements take precedence.