Green List Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2)
Work 24 months in a Tier 2 Green List occupation, then apply for residence. NZD 6,450. Covers registered nurses, teachers, electricians, plumbers, and more.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the New Zealand visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
NZ work and residence categories (AEWV, Skilled Migrant, Green List, Parent) require ongoing engagement with NZ employers' accreditation, Job Check approvals, occupation-specific registration, and NZQA qualification assessments. NZ law also requires paid immigration advice (other than for student visas) to come from Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) licensed advisers or NZ-qualified lawyers. SureshotVisa specialises in short-stay visit, business, and student visa applications — please consult an IAA-licensed NZ immigration adviser or lawyer for these categories.
New Zealand for Indian applicants — handled by SureshotVisa
Three NZ rules every Indian applicant gets wrong. We don't.
India is not NZeTA-eligible. There's no Working Holiday Scheme with NZ. And the Funds Transfer Scheme — open to only four countries including India — is a legitimate edge for student cases. We file NZ Student, Pathway & English-course visas end-to-end from India — the categories NZ law lets an offshore consultancy handle. For visitor and other short-stay categories we prepare you with honest information and point you to an IAA-licensed adviser for the filing itself. Most India-based decisions are made by INZ Mumbai branch — timelines we know down to the week.
Govt-licensed
Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 — issued by the DM Patiala, verifiable.
Indian-licensed
Brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd — registered, accountable, end-to-end handling in India.
FTS for students
We lodge with INZ's Funds Transfer Scheme so student living-cost evidence is bank-grade.
Refusal recovery
Refused before? We rebuild the file with India-specific evidence INZ actually accepts.
Three NZ rules Indians keep getting wrong (and we navigate every week)
- NO NZeTA for Indians. The visa-waiver list does NOT include India. You need a full visitor / student / work visa — never an eTA.
- NO Working Holiday Scheme. India and NZ don't have a bilateral agreement. Don't waste weeks researching this — work routes for Indians are AEWV, Specific Purpose, or Care Workforce W2R, all handled by IAA-licensed NZ advisers.
- FTS works in your favour for students. India is one of only four countries on INZ's Funds Transfer Scheme — a secure, INZ-endorsed way to transfer student living costs. Used correctly, it's the strongest financial-evidence move on Student / Pathway / English visas.
Note: New Zealand law allows an offshore consultancy to advise on student-category visas only — so our end-to-end filing covers Student, Pathway and English-course visas. For every other NZ category (Visitor, Business, Medical, Transit, AEWV, Skilled Migrant, Green List, Parent, Investor) these pages are information, and the filing itself needs an Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) licensed adviser — we'll point you to a trusted one if that's your case.
Processing
Varies by visa category
Stay Duration
Permanent
Starting Fee
NZD 1,540
Apply At
12 VFS centres
Who Can Apply
- 24 months continuous NZ work in Green List Tier 2 occupation on AEWV
- Occupational registration (for regulated roles)
- Good health, character, English
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to New Zealand / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | NZD 1,540 |
| Partner of NZ Citizen/Resident Work Visa | NZD 1,630 |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | NZD 6,450 |
| Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1) | NZD 6,450 |
| Work to Residence (Green List Tier 2) | NZD 6,450 |
| Partnership Resident Visa | NZD 5,810 |
| Parent Resident Visa | NZD 4,290 |
| Active Investor Plus Visa | NZD 28,000 |
All NZ visa fees are set in NZD by Immigration New Zealand and paid online at apply.immigration.govt.nz. The INR amount depends on NZD/INR exchange rate on payment day. Additional costs: medical/TB X-ray at INZ Panel Physician (₹6,000-12,000), Police Clearance Certificate (free from PSK but courier/apostille extra), NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (NZD 746 if below-bachelor), translation, biometrics, and Immigration Levy (separate from base fee). Non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What New Zealand actually requires — and what it does not.
New Zealand assesses genuine temporary intent — the bookings matter less than the reason you are coming back.
0 of 4 are compulsory for New Zealand
Flight reservation
A confirmed ticket is not required for the visitor stream. An indicative itinerary matching your approved leave is sufficient.
Where people slip: Applying with open-ended dates. "Genuine temporary entrant" is the test, and open dates argue against you.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Show where you are staying for the main part of the trip, or give the host's details if you are visiting family.
Where people slip: Listing a family address with no evidence of who lives there.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Not required for a visitor visa. Sometimes requested for older applicants, or where a health condition is declared.
Where people slip: Skipping it entirely at 65 or over. If a medical examination is triggered, cover strengthens the file.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A plan tied to a real reason — a wedding, a graduation, a sporting season. Specific reasons pass; general tourism is examined harder.
Where people slip: An itinerary longer than the leave your employer approved in writing.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your New Zealand file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Overview — for informational reference only
3 items- Valid Indian passportRequired
All Australian visas require a valid passport for the duration of stay.
- Complete document checklist via the Document Checklist ToolRequired
Visit immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — the tool generates a visa-specific, country-specific checklist.
- Sponsorship / nomination / relationship evidence (as applicable)Required
Exact evidence varies by category — always confirm with a MARA agent.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
4 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Get AEWV job offer in Green List Tier 2 occupation
Work in this role for 24 months.
- 02
Apply for Work to Residence after 24 months
Online at apply.immigration.govt.nz.
- 03
Pay NZD 6,450 + evidence of 24-month work + registration
Full package.
- 04
Decision 6-12 months
Resident Visa granted.
Download official forms
Each link opens the official New Zealand page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
Immigration NZ Online Application Portal
Create a RealMe account or Immigration Online account. All NZ visas for Indian applicants are lodged here online.
Immigration New Zealand — Official Visa Information
Authoritative source for all NZ visa categories, fee updates, and occupation/wage thresholds (which change frequently).
VFS Global NZ — Biometrics & Document Submission (India)
Where Indian applicants submit biometrics, book appointments, and track passport delivery.
INZ Panel Physicians — Medical Examination (India)
Only INZ Panel Physicians' medical reports are accepted — e-medical system. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and others.
NZQA International Qualifications Assessment
Required for below-bachelor foreign qualifications applying for work/residence visas. NZD 746 fee.
Green List Occupations (current)
Check if your occupation is Tier 1 (straight to residence) or Tier 2 (work to residence). Updated frequently — verify before applying.
Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) Register
Check if your advisor is IAA-licensed BEFORE paying for immigration advice. Critical for avoiding scams.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Green List Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2) is a 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Every case here is different
Tell us your situation and we will tell you what can be done.
There is no honest standard answer for New Zealand green list work to residence visa (tier 2) — the route depends on who is sponsoring you, what the employer has already started, and which region is processing it. So rather than publish generic answers that may not fit your case, we would rather read your actual situation. Send us what you have: an offer letter, an email from the employer, or just the facts as they stand. A licensed consultant will tell you straight what is possible, what is not, and what it would take.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
This page is for information only
New Zealand work and residence categories need a New Zealand–licensed (IAA) adviser, so we don't file them. For the New Zealand routes we do handle — student, visitor and family — see the related visa types below.
Other New Zealand Visa Types
Visitor Visa (Tourism / Family Visit)
The main tourism and family-visit visa for Indian citizens. Up to 6 months multi-entry or 9 months single-entry. NZD 441. 80% decided in 2 weeks.
View guideBusiness Visitor Visa
For Indian professionals visiting NZ for business meetings, negotiations, conferences, or consultations. NZD 341. Up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Cannot take up NZ employment.
View guideMedical Treatment Visitor Visa
For Indian patients travelling to NZ for private medical treatment or consultation. NZD 441. Requires NZ hospital/specialist letter + funds for treatment + stay.
View guideTransit Visa
For Indian travellers passing through Auckland airport en route to a third country for up to 24 hours. Free or nominal fee.
View guideCulturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa
For Indian citizens coming to NZ to marry their NZ citizen/resident fiancé(e) in an arranged marriage — within 3 months of arrival. Pathway to Partnership Resident Visa.
View guideFee Paying Student Visa
Main study visa for Indian students pursuing full-time courses at approved NZ education providers. NZD 850. Up to 4 years per visa. Work rights up to 25 hrs/week during term. Gateway to PR.
View guidePathway Student Visa
A single visa covering up to 3 consecutive study programmes (e.g. English → Foundation → Bachelor's). Valid up to 5 years. NZD 850. Saves money vs 3 separate student visas.
View guidePost Study Work Visa
Critical bridge visa after completing qualifying NZ course. Up to 3 years open work rights. NZD 1,670. Only one PSWV per lifetime. Gateway to AEWV and PR.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global New Zealand website and Embassy of New Zealand. Last verified 2026-04-19. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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Ready?
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Share your travel purpose, employment/business profile and funds. We'll tell you honestly where your file stands.