The Green List
New Zealand’s Green List plays a central role in the country’s immigration system, offering streamlined pathways for skilled professionals to live and work here. For employers, it helps fill critical skill shortages; for migrants, it can provide a faster and more secure route to residence.
What Is the Green List?
The Green List is a curated list of occupations that are in high demand across New Zealand, where there are recognised shortages of local talent. It includes a wide range of roles — from engineers, health professionals, and IT specialists to construction managers and teachers.
Workers in these roles may be eligible for simplified visa processes and, in many cases, a direct or fast-tracked pathway to residence.
Two Tiers of the Green List
The list is divided into two main tiers, each with different residence options:
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
Applicants who secure a job offer in a Tier 1 occupation can apply for residence immediately after arriving in New Zealand (or even from offshore). Examples include doctors, engineers, ICT specialists, and certain construction professionals.Tier 2 – Work to Residence:
Applicants in Tier 2 roles must work in New Zealand for 24 months in a qualifying position before becoming eligible to apply for residence. This category covers occupations such as teachers, registered nurses, and social workers.
Benefits of Being on the Green List
The Green List offers significant advantages, including:
Priority processing of work visa applications through the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme.
Clear residence pathways, giving migrants confidence about their long-term future.
Simplified skill verification, with standardised qualification and experience criteria published by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
For employers, it also provides a clear framework for recruitment, making it easier to understand which roles can be filled by offshore talent and what evidence is required.
Changes and Updates
The Green List is not static. INZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) review it regularly to ensure it reflects New Zealand’s current labour market needs. Occupations can be added, removed, or reclassified, depending on sector demand and policy priorities.
This means both employers and migrants should check the latest version before applying — eligibility today doesn’t necessarily guarantee eligibility in the future.
Is the Green List the Only Pathway?
While the Green List provides a clear route for many skilled migrants, it’s not the only pathway to residence. Other options, such as the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and the Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway, may be suitable for applicants whose roles are not listed but who still have valuable skills and qualifications.
How We Can Help
Our immigration specialists can help you determine whether your role or job offer meets the Green List criteria, and guide you through the process of securing a visa or residence. We also assist employers in understanding their obligations under the Accredited Employer Work Visa system.
If you’d like to explore whether the Green List applies to your situation — or to discuss alternative residence options — our team can provide clear, tailored advice to help you move forward with confidence.
