Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1)
The Straight to Residence Visa is immediate residence for people in a Green List Tier 1 role with an accredited employer. Immigration New Zealand describes it this way: “Apply for this visa if you have a job or job offer with an accredited employer, and your job is on Tier 1 of the Green List of in-demand jobs.” It costs from NZD $6,450. INZ publishes a processing time of 80% within 3 months.
Checked against immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15
What Immigration New Zealand publishes
- Length of stay
- Live, work and study
- indefinitely
- Cost
- From
- NZD $6450
- Processing time
- 80% within
- 3 months
- Age range
- 55 years or younger
Copied from the Straight to Residence Visa page at immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15. Figures change without notice.
To apply you must
- be aged 55 or younger when you apply
- be working for an accredited employer, or have a job offer from one
- have or be offered a Green List Tier 1 job that is full-time
- speak and understand English
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
This visa lets you
- live, work and study in New Zealand
- include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
Where to apply
You apply to Immigration New Zealand, not to us. The Straight to Residence Visa page carries the application link, the full requirements and the current fee.
Questions about the Straight to Residence Visa
What does the Straight to Residence Visa cost?
Immigration New Zealand publishes a cost of NZD $6,450 for this visa, as the "from" figure — the lowest published amount. Medicals, police certificates, translations and any adviser's fee are separate. Checked on 2026-09-15; confirm on the INZ page.
How long does the Straight to Residence Visa take?
Immigration New Zealand publishes 80% within 3 months for this visa. That is a published average, not a promise about any one application. Checked on 2026-09-15; the current figure is on the INZ page.
Who can apply for the Straight to Residence Visa?
INZ's own summary is: "Apply for this visa if you have a job or job offer with an accredited employer, and your job is on Tier 1 of the Green List of in-demand jobs." The published criteria are listed above, word for word. Whether any particular person meets them is a question for Immigration New Zealand, or for a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer — not for this site.
Where do I apply?
On Immigration New Zealand's own website. Start at Straight to Residence Visa. Applying through this site is not possible: we are an information site and we cannot lodge or handle an application.
Can NZ Visas tell me whether I qualify?
No, and we would be breaking the law if we did. Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, telling somebody how the rules apply to their own immigration matter is licensed work. We republish the published rules and stop there. More on where that line sits.
Sources
Read on 2026-09-15. Immigration rules change: if this page and the source disagree, the source is right.
Once you have a decision
Getting the visa is one job; landing here is another. Our settling-in guides cover the IRD number, a bank account, a rental, schools, a doctor and a driver licence — all free, and all separate from anything to do with your visa.