Careforce work to residence pathway

The careforce work to residence pathway is an excellent residence pathway for careforce work professionals. There are lower requirements for education qualifications and candidates only need to be suitable qualified for the careforce roles they are employed in.

Roles on the Care Workforce sector occupation list are as follows (with ANZSCO classification codes):
Kaiawhina (Hauora) (Maori Health Assistant) (411512)
Disabilities Services Officer (411712)
Residential Care Officer (411715)
Aged or Disabled Carer (423111)
Nursing Support Worker (423312)
Personal Care Assistant (423313)
Therapy Aide (423314)
Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant (423411)
Diversional Therapist (411311)

To be eligible to apply for this residence visa, applicants must have:

• held a qualifying work or other visa allowing work, and
• worked for 24 months in New Zealand in one of the specified roles (this work must be gained after 29 September 2021, and within the 30-month period immediately before making the residence application), and
• have current employment (or an offer of employment) in one of the specified roles with an INZ accredited employer, and
• been paid at or above the applicable Level 4 payrate at the time of applying for residence, as well as for the duration of the 24-month work period (see below)

Employment roles must be for full time (i.e., minimum of 30 hours per week) employment and be either permanent, or for a fixed term of at least 12 months. In certain circumstances contract for service roles may also be eligible. Immigration New Zealand will consider the main job tasks actually undertaken in its assessment of whether the job is a match for one of the specified roles.

The 24-month work period can be counted from when the applicant’s payrate first achieved the Level 4 payrate in place at the time. This rate was $27.00 per hour from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, and $28.25 per hour from 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2023. Applicants do not have to actually hold the Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing but must be paid at the Level 4 payrate.