Most overseas workers coming to New Zealand start on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which is temporary. But a specific set of occupations sits on what Immigration New Zealand calls the Green List — roles considered in genuine, sustained shortage, where the government has built a faster pathway to residence directly into the visa settings. If your occupation is on this list, it can significantly change your long-term plans.
What the Green List Actually Is
The Green List is a government-maintained list of occupations facing sustained skills shortages in New Zealand. It’s split into two tiers, and which tier your occupation falls into determines how quickly you can move toward residence:
- Tier 1 (straight to residence): highly skilled roles where, if you meet the occupation’s registration and experience requirements, you may be able to apply for residence directly, without first needing to hold a work visa for a set period.
- Tier 2 (work to residence): roles where you work in New Zealand on a qualifying visa for a set period (generally around 24 months) and, if you’re still working in an eligible role at the end of that period, become eligible to apply for residence.
Examples of Occupations on the Green List
The list spans healthcare, engineering, trades, agriculture, and technology. Categories that regularly appear include:
- Healthcare: registered nurses, midwives, medical specialists, and various allied health professionals
- Engineering: civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, particularly those with Chartered status or equivalent
- Trades: certain registered trades including electricians and some construction-related roles, depending on qualification level
- ICT: select senior software, network and cybersecurity roles
- Agriculture and primary industries: some specialist roles such as agricultural/horticultural scientists and senior farm management positions
- Education: certain secondary school teachers in shortage subject areas
The exact list, tier placement, and qualification/registration requirements for each occupation change periodically as Immigration New Zealand reviews labour market needs — always check the current official Green List and its specific requirements for your occupation before making plans, since inclusion and tier placement are not guaranteed to stay the same year to year.
What You Need Besides Being on the List
Simply having a job title that matches a Green List occupation isn’t enough on its own. You typically also need to meet:
- Qualification requirements — often a relevant degree or recognised trade qualification, sometimes with a minimum number of years of experience as an alternative pathway.
- Registration requirements — many Green List roles (nursing, engineering, electrical trades) require registration with the relevant New Zealand professional or trade body before you can work in the occupation.
- A genuine job offer from a New Zealand employer, at the pay and conditions the role requires.
- English language requirements where applicable to the visa category you’re applying under.
Why This Matters for Your Career Planning
If you’re deciding between similar job offers, checking whether the occupation sits on the Green List — and which tier — can meaningfully change your migration timeline. A Tier 2 role gives you a defined 24-month path to residence eligibility as long as you remain employed in a qualifying role; a standard AEWV role without Green List status generally doesn’t carry that built-in pathway, though renewal and other residence routes may still exist depending on your situation.
How to Check If Your Occupation Qualifies
- Search for your specific job title and ANZSCO occupation code against Immigration New Zealand’s current Green List.
- Confirm which tier it sits in, and read the specific qualification and registration requirements listed for that occupation.
- If registration is required, start that process early, since it can take longer than the visa application itself.
- Speak with a licensed immigration adviser if your situation is complex or your occupation sits close to the qualification threshold.
Final Word
The Green List is one of the more valuable pieces of information an overseas jobseeker can act on before accepting an offer — it can turn a temporary work stint into a genuine pathway to residence. Always verify current settings directly with Immigration New Zealand, since the list and its requirements are reviewed periodically.