Green List Care Worker Visa Immigration Pathway to New Zealand 2024.

If you are working or planning to work in healthcare role in New Zealand, it is crucial to understand the visa options available for you and your family. As New Zealand’s population ages, the demand for elderly residential care is expected to rise significantly over the next decade. The elderly care sector is already heavily reliant on foreign workers, and the government has implemented visa regulations designed to attract and retain care workforce workers by including it in the green list making it a pathway to residency in New Zealand.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Anyone working in New Zealand must have a visa that permits such work, and the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is the primary visa for care workforce personnel.Also other work visa types include partnership, post-study, and working holiday visas, which allow people to work in various jobs.

The AEWV application requires:

1. A completed online application form.

2. A signed employment agreement, including the job description.

3. Evidence of required credentials, such as work experience or other qualifications.

4. All required health documents.

AEWV pay rate must be at least the median salary: $29.66/hour, increasing to $31.61/hour on February 27, 2024. The Care Workforce Sector Agreement allows for lower pay rates for certain roles, including:

• Kaiāwhina (Māori Health Assistant)
• Disabilities Service Officer
• Residential Care Officer
• Aged or Disabled Carer
• Nursing Support Worker
• Personal Care Assistant
• Therapy Aide
• Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
• Diversional Therapist

Employers can pay these roles at least the Level 3 carer rate: $26.16 per hour from July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. The AEWV for these roles is valid for two years, increasing to three years after November 27th.

For roles paid at or above the Level 4 caregiver pay rate, currently $28.25 per hour, the AEWV will be issued for three years. However, the maximum continuous stay in New Zealand for these workers will be five years.

Registered and enrolled nurses are covered under the separate Green List. Must have nursing registration and median pay to apply for AEWV, Green List, or straight-to-residence visa.

 Family Visas

If an AEWV holder is paid at the median wage ($29.66 per hour) or higher, their partner can be issued a partnership-based work visa, allowing them to work for any accredited employer as long as they are paid at or above the median wage. Additionally, if the AEWV holder earns an annual income of NZ$43,322.76, their dependent children can be eligible for student visas to study as domestic students up to the completion of secondary school.

 Work Visa to Permanent Residency

It is possible to acquire permanent residency (PR) if you meet the following requirements:

• Held a qualifying work or other visa allowing work.
• Worked in New Zealand for 24 months in specified roles after September 29, 2021, within 30 months before the residence application.
• Paid at or above Level 4 rate when applying for residence and during the 24-month work period.

The 24-month employment period begins when the applicant’s pay rate first reached the current Level 4 pay rate. The rate was $27/hour from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and $28.25/hour from July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. Applicants do not need to obtain the Level 4 Certificate but must receive payment at the Level 4 rate.

Eligible non-care jobs on the Green List or Transport Sector, or roles with double median pay, can count toward 24-months. The main residence applicant must satisfy the English language requirement before lodging their residence application. Requires a valid English test score within two years (e.g., IELTS 6.5, PTE 58, TOEFL iBT 79).

This revised version is more organized and concise, making it easier to understand the visa pathways for care workers in New Zealand.

Conclusion :

Navigating the care worker visa immigration pathway to New Zealand involves understanding a range of visa options tailored to meet the growing demand in the elderly care sector. As New Zealand’s population ages, the need for skilled care workforce personnel continues to rise, making it an opportune time for foreign workers to contribute and settle. Whether through the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), family visas, or pathways to permanent residency, the government’s initiatives aim to attract and retain skilled professionals.