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Introduction

The Green List replaces all previous Skill Shortage Lists, including the Long Term Skill Shortage List, the Regional Skill Shortage List, and the Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List.

It comprises occupations eligible for an expedited route to residency or a work-to-residence pathway. The list includes a variety of roles, such as health workers, veterinarians, engineers, and ICT specialists. Some positions require a minimum salary tied to the median wage, with higher thresholds for specific roles. 

How Does the Green List Benefit You?

If your profession is on the Green List and you possess the necessary qualifications, registration, or experience, you may qualify for residence status immediately or after two years of working in New Zealand.

SOL Edu & Migration can help you take full advantage of this opportunity and secure your long-term stay in New Zealand by developing a visa strategy tailored to your background.

Fast-Track Pathways to Residence

To attract skilled migrants, New Zealand offers two fast-track visa pathways through the Green List: the Straight to Residence Visa and the Work to Residence Visa. 

The Straight to Residence Visa 

This visa provides a direct route to permanent residency in New Zealand. You may be eligible if you currently work for, or have a job offer from, an accredited employer and your role is on Tier 1 of the Green List. Key criteria include: 

  • Being 55 or younger. 
  • Having a job offer from an accredited employer. 
  • Meeting the role requirements set out in the Green List. 
  • Including any dependent children under 24 who are single and financially supported by you. 

You can apply for this visa either from within New Zealand or from abroad. Immigration New Zealand aims to process 80% of applications within five months. 

The Work to Residence Visa 

This visa allows you to gain residence after working for two years in a Tier 2 Green List role. Key criteria include: 

  • Having a job offer from an accredited employer. 
  • Working full-time in a permanent or fixed-term role for at least 12 months. 
  • Completing 24 months of work in a Tier 2 Green List role. 
  • Including your partner or children in your application if they have or are applying for visas based on their relationship with you. 

Criteria for the Green List

To qualify for a work visa under the Green List, applicants must have a job offer that aligns with the occupation’s specific description or requirements and demonstrate that their overseas qualifications meet the New Zealand standard for their occupation. Qualifications must be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or be on the list of qualifications exempt from assessment. 

Application Process

Eligible migrants can apply for a work visa if their role is on the direct to residence part of the Green List. Those on the Work to Residence pathway must complete two years of work before seeking residence. Applications are processed online. 

For assistance, SOL Edu & Migration offers services to assess qualifications, job descriptions, and other requirements to ensure eligibility and provide guidance on additional visa options if necessary. 

Application Fees

The application fees and immigration levy range from NZD $4,020 to NZD $4,890, depending on the applicant’s location. These fees include Goods and Services Tax (GST) but exclude the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). 

Finding an Accredited Employer

Only accredited employers can hire migrant workers from overseas. Immigration New Zealand has a dedicated webpage that has all the accredited employers in a list. Please click here to find whether your employer is an accredited employer or not. 

Obtaining a Job Offer

For those seeking to match with an accredited employer, NZ Jobs Search offers services to assess qualifications, ensure they meet the criteria, and connect candidates with employers in need of skilled workers. 

Processing Time

The government aims to process applications within 30 days once an employer is accredited. Employers not yet accredited should allow at least a month to prepare their application. 

Partner Work Rights

Partners of migrants in Green List occupations have open work rights. From April 2023, partners not meeting Green List criteria will only be granted a visitor’s visa, which limits their work opportunities. 

Alternative Visa Options

If not eligible under the Green List, migrants can still apply for an AEWV and seek residence via the Skilled Migrant Category, to see how you may be eligible to obtain PR in New Zealand through Skilled Migrant Category click here. 

Common Issues

Applications may be rejected if qualifications do not meet the New Zealand standard or if the job description does not align with the role as defined by INZ. Employers must ensure job descriptions are accurate to avoid these issues. 

How SOL Edu & Migration Can Assist

SOL Edu & Migration provides expert assistance with visa applications, helping assess qualifications against New Zealand standards and ensuring job offers meet necessary requirements. We offer comprehensive guidance to both employers and applicants, ensuring all criteria are met for successful Green List applications. 

For more information or to start your application, contact SOL Edu & Migration for a detailed assessment and personalised advice.

Green List Tier occupations List

Green List Tier 1 occupations (Straight to Residence)

Engineering 

  • Aviation Engineer (Avionics, Aeronautical, Aerospace Engineer) 
  • Acoustic Engineer 
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician 
  • Mechatronics Engineer 
  • Product Design Engineer 
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineer 
  • Chemical Engineer 
  • Materials Engineer 
  • Civil Engineer 
  • Geotechnical Engineer 
  • Structural Engineer 
  • Electrical Engineer 
  • Electronics Engineer 
  • Environmental Engineer 
  • Industrial Engineer 
  • Mechanical Engineer 
  • Production or Plant Engineer 
  • Engineering Professionals nec 
  • Civil Engineering Technician 
  • Electrical Engineering Technician 
  • Electronic Engineering Technician 
  • Telecommunications Engineer 
  • Telecommunications Network Engineer 

Construction 

  • Construction Project Manager 
  • Quantity Surveyor 
  • Surveyor 
  • Project Builder (inc Building PM and Site Foreman) 

Health and Social Services 

  • General Practitioner 
  • Resident Medical Officer 
  • Anaesthetist 
  • Specialist Physician (General Medicine) 
  • Cardiologist 
  • Clinical Haematologist 
  • Medical Oncologist 
  • Endocrinologist 
  • Gastroenterologist 
  • Intensive Care Specialist 
  • Neurologist 
  • Paediatrician 
  • Renal Medicine Specialist 
  • Rheumatologist 
  • Thoracic Medicine Specialist 
  • Specialist Physicians nec 
  • Psychiatrist 
  • Surgeon (General) 
  • Cardiothoracic Surgeon 
  • Neurosurgeon 
  • Orthopaedic Surgeon 
  • Otorhinolaryngologist 
  • Paediatric Surgeon 
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon 
  • Urologist 
  • Vascular Surgeon 
  • Dermatologist 
  • Emergency Medicine Specialist 
  • Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 
  • Ophthalmologist 
  • Pathologist 
  • Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist 
  • Radiation Oncologist 
  • Medical Practitioners nec 
  • Midwife 
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 
  • Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) 
  • Registered Nurse (Community Health) 
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 
  • Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 
  • Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 
  • Registered Nurse (Medical) 
  • Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) 
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 
  • Registered Nurse (Surgical) 
  • Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) 
  • Registered Nurses nec 
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist 
  • Clinical Psychologist 
  • Educational Psychologist 
  • Organisational Psychologist 
  • Psychologists nec 
  • Psychotherapist 
  • Physicist (Medical) 
  • Orthoptist 
  • Veterinarian 
  • Anaesthetic Technician 
  • Medical Laboratory Technician 
  • Medical Diagnostic (Medical Imaging Technologist) 
  • Medical Radiation Therapist 
  • Sonographer 
  • Occupational Therapist 
  • Podiatrist 
  • Audiologist 
  • Addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician 
  • Audiometrist 
  • Chiropractor 
  • Clinical dental technician 
  • Clinical physiologists (sleep, renal, exercise, respiratory, neurology, and cardiac) 
  • Counsellor 
  • Dental specialists 
  • Dental technician 
  • Dental therapist 
  • Dentist 
  • Dietician 
  • Dispensing optician 
  • Drug and alcohol counsellor 
  • Enrolled nurse 
  • Genetic counsellor 
  • Medical laboratory pre-analytical technician 
  • Medical resonance imaging technologist 
  • Nuclear medicine technologist 
  • Nurse practitioner 
  • Optometrist 
  • Oral health therapist 
  • Orthotic and prosthetic technician 
  • Orthotist/prosthetist 
  • Osteopath 
  • Paramedic/emergency medical technician 
  • Perfusionist (cardiac) 
  • Pharmacist 
  • Physiotherapist 
  • Play therapist (hospital) 
  • Social worker 
  • Speech language therapist 
  • Sterile processing technician 

ICT, Electronics, Communications 

  • Chief Information Officer 
  • ICT Project Manager 
  • ICT Managers nec 
  • ICT Database & Systems Admin 
  • Analyst Programmer 
  • Developer Programmer 
  • Software Engineer 
  • Software Tester 
  • ICT Security Specialist 
  • Software and Applications Programmers nec 
  • Multimedia Specialist 
  • Database Administrator 
  • Systems Administrator 

Others 

  • Other Spatial Scientist 
  • Food Technologist 
  • Internal Auditor 
  • External Auditor 
  • Environmental Research Scientist 
  • Secondary School Teachers – all specialisations 
  • Aeronautical Engineer 
  • Naval Architect / Marine Designerfv 
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician 
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) 
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) 
  • Sterilisation Technician 

Green List Tier 2 occupations (Work to Residency)

Construction 

  • Civil Construction Supervisors 
  • Gasfitters 
  • Drainlayers 
  • Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator 
  • Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) 
  • Backhoe Operator 
  • Bulldozer Operator 
  • Excavator Operator 
  • Grader Operator 
  • Loader Operator 
  • Motor mechanic – General 
  • Motorcycle mechanic 

Trades 

  • Automotive Electrician 
  • Electrician (General) 
  • Plumber (General) 
  • Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector) 

Others 

  • Halal slaughterers 
  • Teacher of the Hearing Impaired 
  • Primary School Teacher 
  • Teacher of the Sight Impaired 
  • Special Education Teachers nec (not elsewhere classified) 
  • School Principal 
  • Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher 
  • Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Teacher 
  • Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher 
  • Special Needs Teacher 
  • Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – if working in a primary, intermediate or secondary school 
  • Dairy Cattle Farmer (Dairy Cattle Farm Manager) including Dairy Farm Manager, Assistant Dairy Farm Manager, and Dairy Herd Manager 
  • Corrections Officer