Transport sector

Overview

The Transport Sector: Work to Residence Visa is a residency pathway for people who have worked in eligible transport-related occupations in New Zealand for at least 24 months. This category recognises the importance of transport roles in keeping New Zealand moving — from driving heavy vehicles to working in maritime transport.

Who Is This For?

This visa is for individuals who:

• Have worked full-time (30+ hours/week) in a qualifying transport occupation for 24 months,
• Are paid at least the minimum required hourly rate,
• Are 55 years old or younger, and
• Meet health, character, and English language requirements.

Eligible Occupations & Requirements

Here are the occupations currently eligible under this visa pathway, along with the specific conditions that apply:

You must be working for an accredited employer and in a role that is genuine and full-time (minimum 30 hours/week).
Your job must be either permanent or a fixed-term contract of at least 12 months.

Work Experience Requirement

To qualify, you must have:

• Worked 24 months in New Zealand in one or more eligible transport sector roles since 29 September 2021,
• Been paid the required wage rate during those 24 months,
• Held a valid visa (e.g., work visa, critical purpose visitor visa with work rights, or interim visa) during the entire work period.

The 24 months:

• Can be non-consecutive (e.g., two 12-month periods with a break in between),
• Can include time in different eligible transport roles,
• Can include parental or sick leave (as covered by NZ law).

Example: You can combine 6 months as a Deckhand and 18 months as a Ship’s Master if all conditions are met.

Wage Requirements by Date

Wage thresholds depend on when the work was completed. Below is the required median wage for Transport roles over time:

You can continue counting work experience at the lower wage if you stay in the same job and your income does not decrease below your original approved wage rate.

What Documents You’ll Need

To prove your eligibility, you'll need to provide:

• Employment agreements and job descriptions (past and present),
• Evidence of pay (IRD earnings summary, payslips, or bank statements),
• Licences or certificates relevant to your role (e.g., CoC, DWR, driver’s licence),
• Evidence of qualification if applicable (e.g., maritime certification),
• Proof your employer is accredited with Immigration NZ.

What If You Changed Occupations or Mixed Work?

If you haven't worked 24 full months in a transport occupation, you may combine time from these other eligible categories:

• Green List – Work to Residence
• Care Workforce – Work to Residence
• Roles paid at least twice the median wage

As long as your total adds up to 24 months in the last 30 months, you may still qualify.

Genuine Employment Rules

• Your job must be genuine and not secured through payment to an employer or agent.
• Immigration NZ may check if your role matches the ANZSCO occupation description (called a substantial match assessment) to confirm eligibility.

Special Notes About Occupation Removal

If your role was removed from the transport sector list, you can still count work done after removal if:

• You started counting work before the removal date, or
• You applied for an AEWV on or before 6 April 2024, or
• You held a non-AEWV visa with a signed job offer by 6 April 2024 and started work within 4 weeks.

Need Expert Help?

Navigating the Transport Sector residence pathway can be complex. At JD Immigration Services, we’re experienced in supporting transport professionals from all backgrounds — bus drivers, truck drivers, deckhands, and maritime officers — through the Work to Residence process.

Book your consultation today. Let’s get you on the road to residence.