New Zealand•OceaniaTransport Work to Residence Visa
At a Glance
4 months
NZD $6,450
2 years
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
Job offer required
Work
Remote not required
Overview
Indefinite NZ residence pathway for transport workers aged 55 or younger with 24 months of approved transport work for an accredited employer.
Skilled residence pathway for transport workers in New Zealand, run by Immigration New Zealand. Open to applicants aged 55 or younger with 24 months of qualifying work in an approved transport role (Ship's Master, Deck Hand, bus driver, or truck driver) for an accredited employer in the 30 months before applying.
Grants indefinite residence — live, work and study without time limit, with a Permanent Resident Visa available after 2 consecutive years. The fee is NZD 6,450 inclusive of the immigration levy. A current job or 12-month job offer with an accredited employer is required at NZD 35.00/hour or more (lower for bus and truck drivers). Partners and children aged 24 or younger may be included.
This visa is ideal for experienced transport professionals already working in New Zealand under an accredited employer who want to convert two years of qualifying work into lifelong residence.
Cost Breakdown
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Must have completed at least 24 months of skilled work in New Zealand in an approved transport role (Ship's Master, Deck Hand, bus driver, or truck driver) within the 30 months immediately before applying.
Must currently be working in, or hold a job offer for, an approved transport job with an accredited employer; the role must be permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months.
Must meet the minimum pay rate: NZD 35.00/hour (median wage); bus drivers at least NZD 28.00/hour; truck drivers at least NZD 31.61/hour.
Must be aged 55 or younger at the time of application.
Must speak and understand English (meet the standard English language requirement).
Must meet health and character requirements for residence.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Valid passport or acceptable photo ID.
Employment agreement, fixed-term contract or written job offer from an accredited employer describing the job, hours, length of employment and pay rate.
Evidence of 24 months of skilled work in an approved NZ transport role within the last 30 months — payslips, Inland Revenue earnings summary, and employer letters on official letterhead signed by an authorised person.
Role-specific qualification evidence where required (e.g. Skipper Restricted Limits CoC with 500GT/3000GT endorsement or STCW certificate for Ship's Master; Qualified Deck Crew CoP or DWR CoP for Deck Hand).
Chest X-ray / medical examination evidence (less than 6 months old where required).
Police certificates from countries you have lived in (less than 6 months old where required).
English language evidence meeting the INZ residence English standard.
Relationship and dependency evidence if including a partner or dependent children aged 24 or younger.
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Indefinite residence from grant — live, work and study in New Zealand without time limit.
- Direct pathway to a Permanent Resident Visa after 2 consecutive years on the visa.
- Includes partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger in a single application.
- Wage-rate exceptions recognise bus drivers (NZD 28/hr) and truck drivers (NZD 31.61/hr) below the median wage.
- Single flat application fee (NZD 6,450) covers application and immigration levy.
- Recognises NZ work experience directly — no points test or separate skilled-migrant assessment required.
Worth Knowing
- Requires 24 months of qualifying NZ work in an approved transport role within the previous 30 months.
- Current job or job offer must be with an accredited employer and run for at least 12 months.
- Maritime roles (Ship's Master, Deck Hand) require NZ-recognised qualifications such as STCW or Deck Crew CoP.
- Applicants must meet INZ English language, health and character standards for residence.
- The full NZD 6,450 fee is payable up front and is non-refundable if declined.
- Applicants aged 56 or older at the time of application are not qualifying.
- Under 24 months of skilled work in an approved NZ transport role for an accredited employer disqualifies the applicant.
Application Process
Confirm your profile appears to address qualification
aged 55 or younger, 24 months of skilled work in an approved transport role in NZ within the last 30 months, and a current job or job offer with an accredited employer.
Gather evidence of your approved transport job — employment agreement, fixed-term contract or job-offer letter showing job description, hours, length and pay (and any required qualification, e.g. Skipper Restricted Limits CoC or STCW for Ship's Master, or Qualified Deck Crew CoP for Deck Hand).
Compile evidence of 24 months of NZ work history
payslips, Inland Revenue earnings summary, employer letters on official letterhead, and employment agreements covering the full period.
Gather identity, health and character documents — passport copy, chest X-ray / medical certificate and police certificates (less than 6 months old), plus English language evidence.
Create or sign in to a RealMe / Immigration Online account at immigration.govt.nz and complete the online residence application, adding partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger if including them.
Pay the NZD 6,450 application fee (inclusive of the immigration levy) and submit the application.
Related visas
More visas in New Zealand
Work visas in other countries
- Skilled Worker Visa
United Kingdom
- Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)
Australia
- Filmmaker Visa
Papua New Guinea
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