Your Path to Residency Through the Green List Work to Residence Visa
Why New Zealand Wants You—An Aged Care Nurse Like No Other
If you’re a skilled aged care nurse who wants to build a rewarding career overseas, New Zealand might be the perfect place for you. New Zealand is famous for its stunning scenery and friendly, community-oriented culture. It’s also one of the safest and most gratifying countries to live and work in.
The need for aged care nurses in New Zealand has an influence on the healthcare system more than ever before. As the population ages and elder care quality becomes a priority foreign nurses now play a crucial role. To address this, the New Zealand Government has classified Registered Nurse (Aged Care) as a Tier 1 Green List occupation. This allows skilled nurses to apply for residence after only two years of full-time work under the Work to Residence Visa.
This means your path to permanent life in New Zealand might be closer than you expect.
The Green List Work to Residence Visa – Your Path to a Stable Future
New Zealand’s Green List Work to Residence Visa offers a unique immigration opportunity for skilled experts in key sectors such as healthcare. If you work as an aged care nurse, this visa provides you with a straightforward, assured path to residency, which sets it apart from many other temporary visa options.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Get a nursing degree that matches up to a New Zealand Bachelor of Nursing (Level 7).
- Have worked for at least three years in aged care or geriatric nursing after getting your qualification.
- Sign up with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ).
- Pass English tests (IELTS Academic 7.0 or OET B in all parts).
- Have a full-time job offer from an employer New Zealand approves of.
If you get the green light for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), you can stay and work in New Zealand. After two years of eligible work, you can apply to live there.
For more details check out New Zealand Work to Residence Visa choices.
Why Aged Care Nursing in New Zealand Is Worth It
A job as an aged care nurse in New Zealand offers more than just employment—it provides a purpose that brings stability, respect, and room to grow. You’ll join a health system that puts a high value on caring and understands the emotional and work challenges of helping older adults.
1. High Job Demand and Steady Work
The aged care field stands out as one of the most important and short-staffed areas in New Zealand’s healthcare workforce. Care homes, hospitals, and local health centers across the country need skilled aged care nurses.
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Dunedin stand out as hot spots for aged care jobs. Each city brings its own mix of work chances and way of life.
(You’ll find more details about these places on our upcoming page: Top Cities in New Zealand for Aged Care Nurses.)
2. Good Pay and Perks
Aged care nurses take home between NZD $66,000–$95,000 a year. This amount changes based on how much you’ve worked, what papers you have, and where you live. Many bosses also throw in moving help, keep teaching you new things, and give you ways to move up or become an expert in certain areas.
3. Path to Staying for Good
New Zealand stands out from other nations by granting permanent residency to aged care nurses after just two years of work through the Green List pathway. Your application can also include your partner and dependent children giving your entire family a chance to create a future together in New Zealand.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Move to New Zealand as an Aged Care Nurse
Moving as a nurse involves more than applying for a visa. Here’s how the process unfolds from beginning to end:
1. Nursing Registration
First, you need to sign up with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ). This process involves checking your nursing credentials proving you can speak English well, and maybe finishing a Competence Assessment Programme (CAP) if your qualifications come from a country they don’t recognize.
You can find more details here: International Registration for Nurses – NCNZ
2. Getting a Job Offer
You’ll need to get a job offer from an approved employer in New Zealand. Companies in the aged care field often look to hire nurses from other countries those who have worked with older adults people with dementia, or in end-of-life care.
3. Applying for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
After receiving your job offer, you can submit an application for the AEWV. This visa allows you to reside and work in New Zealand for up to three years. You become eligible to apply for residence after working in a qualifying Green List position for two years.
4. Submitting a Residence Application
The Work to Residence Visa opens a clear path to residency. This grants you and your family members the right to live in New Zealand.
How Ezy Immigration Can Help You Succeed
At Ezy Immigration, we make the entire migration process easier for overseas nurses. Our team of skilled visa advisors and trusted recruitment partners help turn your dream into reality by:
- Free Eligibility Assessment – Check if you qualify for visa and registration needs.
- Recruitment Connections – Meet certified employers in New Zealand’s aged care field.
- CV and Interview Support – We customize your resume to fit New Zealand’s healthcare norms and help you get ready for job talks.
- Complete Visa Help – From job checks to work and residence visa filing, we take care of everything for you and your loved ones.
- Ongoing Support – We keep helping you even after you land in New Zealand, to make sure you settle well into your new job and community.
To start a personalized consultation, check out Ezy Immigration’s official website.
Start Your New Zealand Nursing Career Today
New Zealand gives you more than job security—it provides a way of life where work-life balance, health, and social connections are as important as your job. If you’re prepared to move towards a secure well-regarded, and family-oriented future, it’s time to make your move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aged care nurses have high demand in New Zealand. The country’s Tier 1 Green List includes them giving a straight path to residency.
You must have a nursing degree equal to a New Zealand Bachelor of Nursing. You also need to register as a nurse with the NCNZ. On top of that, you should have worked in aged care before.
The pay ranges from NZD $66,000 to $95,000 a year. Your exact salary depends on your experience and where you work.
Aged care nurses on the Green List can apply to become permanent residents after working for two years under the Work to Residence Visa.
Overseas nurses must pass one of two English tests: IELTS (with a score of 7.0 in each band) or OET (with a Grade B in all components).
Your partner and dependent children can join you on your visa and residence applications.
