Transport Sector Work to Residence — NZ Eligibility

Maritime occupations for new entrants, plus grandfathered transport roles from before 6 April 2024.

About Transport Sector Work to Residence (SR7)

The Transport Sector Work to Residence visa covers a small number of maritime occupations — Ship's Master and Deck Hand — for new applicants from 7 April 2024 onwards. Several other transport roles, including Bus Driver, Truck Driver, Aircraft Refueller, Furniture Removalist, Tanker Driver and Tow Truck Driver, were removed from the list on that date but remain available to people who had a visa application or signed job offer in place before 6 April 2024.

Like other Work to Residence pathways, the maritime route requires 24 months of qualifying work within a 30-month rolling window, paid at or above the median wage and worked while you hold a valid NZ work visa for an Accredited Employer. The required maritime Certificate of Competency or Proficiency must be in place at the time of the residence application — not necessarily during the qualifying work itself.

The grandfathering rule for the removed transport roles is one of the most fact-specific parts of the residence instructions. If you held an offer or application pre-6 April 2024, get a Licensed Immigration Adviser to confirm the evidence before filing — small documentary gaps can sink an otherwise solid case.