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New Zealand · Work

New Zealand South Island Contribution Resident Visa

8 facts quoted from the official source

You can apply for New Zealand residence if you have a South Island Contribution Work Visa, and have been employed in the same industry and region for the last 2 years.

Route type
Work
Can bring
dependants, children +1
from the official record
Requirements
3
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

3 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Job offer or appointmentwork, or have a job offer, in the region specified in your work visa for at least 24 months from the date your resident visa is approved
  • Prior immigration or residence statusYou can apply for New Zealand residence if you have a South Island Contribution Work Visa, and have been employed in the same industry and region for the last 2 years.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementIf you want to travel, your visa must be in a valid passport.
Also stated by the source
  • Dependent-family rightsinclude your partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in your application
  • Work rightslive, work and study in the region recorded on your South Island Contribution Work Visa; include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in your application; travel in and out of New Zealand.
Family

Who you can bring

dependantschildrenpartner
  • Dependent-family rightsinclude your partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in your application
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Government feeFrom NZD $6490checked 2026-07-27
Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingLive, work and study indefinitely
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every New Zealand route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to New Zealand?
The official source states: You can apply for New Zealand residence if you have a South Island Contribution Work Visa, and have been employed in the same industry and region for the last 2 years.
02Can I bring my family?
The official record lists: dependants, children, partner.

Every answer is quoted from the official immigration.govt.nz page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 8 points against the official source; 8 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Processing time is not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source immigration.govt.nzLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this New Zealand government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
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Same category, elsewhere

Work routes in other countries

224 other countries publish at least one work route. Nearest first.

Australia43 work routes Canada68 work routes Japan56 work routes Germany40 work routes Denmark30 work routes France30 work routes

Does this route fit your numbers?

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