Care Worker Jobs in New Zealand With a Pathway to Residence

Care worker jobs in New Zealand can provide more than employment opportunities for some overseas workers. Selected care workforce occupations have a dedicated pathway that can allow eligible workers to apply for New Zealand residence after completing the required period of qualifying work.

The route is known as the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa. It covers specific occupations rather than every job in healthcare or social care.

To qualify for residence through this pathway, you generally need to complete at least 24 months of eligible care workforce employment in New Zealand and satisfy the other immigration requirements.

What Is the Care Workforce Work to Residence Pathway?

New Zealand created a specific residence pathway for workers employed in selected care workforce occupations.

The pathway allows qualifying workers to apply for a resident visa after gaining the required New Zealand work experience.

You normally need to work in New Zealand for at least 24 months in an approved care workforce occupation while meeting the applicable wage requirements.

You must also be working for, or have an eligible job offer from, an accredited employer when applying for residence.

Which Care Worker Jobs Can Qualify?

Immigration New Zealand currently identifies the following occupations for the Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway:

• Māori Health Assistant – Kaiawhina (Hauora).
• Disabilities Services Officer.
• Residential Care Officer.
• Aged or Disabled Carer.
• Nursing Support Worker.
• Personal Care Assistant.
• Therapy Aide.
• Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant.
• Diversional Therapist.

This list is important because simply working somewhere in the care industry does not automatically make your employment eligible.

Your actual occupation and duties need to correspond with an approved care workforce job.

Do You Get Permanent Residence Immediately?

No. This is one of the most important things to understand about care worker jobs in New Zealand.

The Care Workforce route is a Work to Residence pathway rather than a Straight to Residence pathway.

You generally need to complete 24 months of qualifying employment in New Zealand before applying for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa.

This differs from certain Tier 1 Green List occupations, where eligible applicants may be able to apply directly for residence once they satisfy the requirements.

How Do You Get the Required 24 Months of Experience?

You need legal permission to work in New Zealand while accumulating your qualifying work experience.

One potential option is the Accredited Employer Work Visa, commonly known as the AEWV, although other qualifying work visas may also count.

Your 24 months of qualifying employment generally need to fall within the 30 months immediately before your residence application.

The employment does not necessarily have to be one uninterrupted 24-month period. Immigration New Zealand allows qualifying periods to be accumulated within the relevant 30-month window.

How Much Must Care Workers Earn?

Pay is an important part of the residence pathway.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that care workforce applicants need qualifying employment paid at least NZD $28.25 per hour, or the equivalent salary, under the care workforce sector wage requirements.

You also need to satisfy the wage conditions throughout the qualifying work period where required.

Immigration rules concerning wage calculations can change, so always check the applicable rate for the period in which you are working.

Important Wage Rule Changes

New Zealand has announced changes affecting the way wage requirements are assessed for Work to Residence visas from 24 August 2026.

The changes are intended to provide greater certainty about which wage threshold applies while a migrant accumulates the work experience needed for residence.

Because wage rules can depend on when you started accumulating qualifying employment, applicants should check the current Immigration New Zealand guidance rather than relying on an old salary figure.

What Is an Accredited Employer?

An accredited employer is a New Zealand employer that has received approval from Immigration New Zealand to employ migrant workers through the relevant employment visa system.

This matters because your residence application requires you to be working for, or have an eligible offer from, an accredited employer.

An employer advertising a care position is not automatically accredited.

Before relying on a vacancy for immigration purposes, verify the organisation’s accreditation status.

How to Find Care Worker Jobs in New Zealand

If your goal is eventually to qualify for residence, your job search should focus on positions that satisfy the immigration requirements rather than simply searching for any care vacancy.

A sensible approach is:

1. Identify the eligible occupation: Compare your experience with the approved care workforce roles.
2. Prepare your CV: Highlight relevant care qualifications, experience and responsibilities.
3. Search for genuine vacancies: Look at established New Zealand recruitment platforms and employer career websites.
4. Check accreditation: Confirm that the employer is accredited.
5. Check the occupation: Make sure the duties correspond with an eligible care workforce job.
6. Check the pay: Confirm that the remuneration meets the applicable immigration requirement.
7. Verify the employment conditions: Make sure the hours and duration satisfy the relevant requirements.

What Qualifications Do You Need?

Qualification requirements depend on the particular care job and the visa being used to work in New Zealand.

Your employer may require relevant training, professional experience or specific New Zealand qualifications.

Immigration requirements can also depend on the skill level assigned to your occupation.

Do not assume that previous care experience alone automatically qualifies you for a New Zealand work visa.

Do You Need English?

Yes. English ability is part of the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa requirements.

Immigration New Zealand allows applicants to satisfy its English requirements in different ways depending on their circumstances.

This may include citizenship, recognised qualifications or an approved English language test.

If you are relying on a language examination, make sure you check which tests and scores are currently accepted before booking one.

Age Requirement for Residence

You must generally be 55 years old or younger when applying for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa.

This age requirement applies when you submit the residence application.

Someone considering this pathway should therefore think about the time required to obtain a work visa and complete the necessary 24 months of employment.

Health and Character Requirements

Residence applicants also need to meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements.

Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide:

• A medical examination.
• A chest X-ray.
• Police certificates.
• Identity documents.
• Evidence of your employment.
• Evidence of your English ability.

Immigration New Zealand may request additional documents while assessing your application.

How to Prove Your 24 Months of Care Work

Keeping accurate employment records is extremely important.

Immigration New Zealand may require evidence demonstrating that you actually completed the qualifying employment and received the required pay.

Evidence can include:

• Employment agreements.
• Job contracts.
• Job descriptions.
• Income information from Inland Revenue.
• Payslips where requested.
• Bank statements where requested.

Your employment agreement should clearly show information such as your position, remuneration and employment conditions.

How to Apply for the Care Workforce Residence Visa

The overall pathway can be understood in two stages.

Stage One: Work in New Zealand

1. Find an eligible care workforce job.
2. Confirm that the employer is accredited.
3. Obtain an appropriate New Zealand work visa.
4. Begin qualifying employment.
5. Maintain records of your employment and earnings.
6. Complete at least 24 months of qualifying work.

Stage Two: Apply for Residence

1. Confirm that your 24 months of work qualify.
2. Make sure you have a qualifying current job or job offer.
3. Check the applicable wage requirement.
4. Prepare evidence of your employment history.
5. Prepare your English language evidence.
6. Complete the required health and character documents.
7. Add eligible family members if applicable.
8. Submit your residence application online.

How Much Does the Residence Visa Cost?

The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa currently costs from NZD $6,450.

This is the residence application cost. Your overall immigration expenses can be higher because you may also need to pay for your earlier work visa and supporting requirements.

Other expenses can potentially include:

• Medical examinations.
• Police certificates.
• English tests.
• Qualification assessments.
• Document translations.

Always check current fees before submitting an application.

Can Your Family Be Included?

Eligible applicants can include a partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in their residence application.

You need to provide evidence of your relationship with family members included in the application.

They may also need to satisfy health, character and English requirements depending on their age and circumstances.

What Happens After Your Residence Visa Is Approved?

The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa allows successful applicants to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

Once you receive residence, you are no longer restricted to remaining in the same care workforce occupation forever. Immigration New Zealand states that holders can work in any job for any employer in New Zealand.

After holding the resident visa for two consecutive years, you may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

Care Workforce vs Green List Residence

New Zealand has several skilled residence pathways, so it is important not to confuse them.

Tier 1 Green List occupations can potentially qualify for Straight to Residence.

Tier 2 Green List occupations generally require two years of qualifying New Zealand employment before Work to Residence.

Selected care workforce occupations have their own Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway, which also generally requires 24 months of qualifying employment.

Watch Out for Fake Care Job Offers

Overseas applicants should be particularly cautious about anyone promising guaranteed New Zealand care employment or guaranteed residence.

Warning signs can include:

• A guaranteed visa without assessing your eligibility.
• A job offer without a genuine recruitment process.
• An employer that cannot be independently verified.
• Requests for large payments simply to obtain a job.
• Promises of immediate permanent residence through an ordinary care position.
• Pressure to send money or documents immediately.

Verify employers and immigration information independently before making payments or sharing sensitive documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a care worker get residence in New Zealand?

Yes, potentially. Workers in selected care workforce occupations can apply through the Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway after completing the required qualifying New Zealand employment and meeting the other requirements.

How long do I need to work before applying?

You generally need at least 24 months of qualifying care workforce employment in New Zealand within the relevant 30-month period before applying for residence.

Can I get residence immediately after receiving a care job offer?

No. This is a Work to Residence pathway. A qualifying job offer can help you begin the process, but you normally need to complete the required New Zealand work experience before applying for residence.

What is the age limit?

You must generally be 55 years old or younger when applying for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa.

Can I include my family?

Eligible applicants can include their partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger, subject to the applicable requirements.

Final Thoughts on Care Worker Jobs in New Zealand

Care worker jobs in New Zealand can provide a genuine pathway towards residence for people working in specific eligible occupations.

However, the pathway is not immediate. You generally need to obtain legal permission to work, complete at least 24 months of qualifying New Zealand care employment and satisfy the applicable wage, English, age, health and character requirements.

The best place to start is by determining whether your exact care occupation is included and then concentrating your job search on genuine vacancies with accredited New Zealand employers.

Disclaimer: New Zealand immigration rules, wage requirements, eligible occupations and visa fees can change. Always confirm the current requirements with Immigration New Zealand before applying or making financial decisions.