Green list straight to residence

New Zealand is looking for highly skilled professionals to fill critical job shortages in areas of national importance. If you work in a role listed on the Tier 1 Green List, you may be eligible to apply directly for New Zealand residence without needing to wait or hold a visa for 2 years first.

What is the Green List: Straight to Residence Visa?

This visa allows qualified workers with a job offer or current employment in a Tier 1 Green List occupation to apply for residency immediately. You do not need to complete 2 years of work in New Zealand like other pathways.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify, you must meet the following general and job-specific requirements:

 General Requirements for All Applicants:

• Must be 55 years old or younger at the time of applying.
• Must meet health and character requirements (see INZ A4 and A5).
• Must meet the English language requirement:
  • Either pass an English test, or
  • Pre-purchase ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tuition, where permitted.

Employment Requirements (Principal Applicant Only):

You must have:

• A full-time job (30+ hours/week) or offer of employment in a Tier 1 Green List role,
• Employment that is permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months,
• A job with an accredited New Zealand employer,
• A genuine job offer (not offered in exchange for payment),
• Pay that meets or exceeds the specified wage for your occupation (see wage thresholds below or in Appendix 13),
• Employment that meets all criteria listed for your occupation in the Green List (Tier 1).

 Evidence You Need to Provide

You must submit documents to prove you meet all criteria. These may include:

1. Qualifications

• If required for your Green List role, you must provide:
  • NZ qualification, or
  • Overseas qualification + IQA (International Qualification Assessment) from NZQA showing NZQF equivalency.

2. Registration or Membership

• If your job requires it, include proof of:
  • Professional registration (e.g. Medical Council, Engineering NZ), or
  • Membership with a relevant professional body.

3. Employment Documents

• Job offer letter or employment agreement.
• Job description showing duties match your Green List occupation.
• Evidence of wage rate, hours, and permanent/full-time nature.

4. Remuneration Evidence

• Pay must meet the minimum rate listed for your occupation.
• Provide:
  • Employment agreement
  • IRD earnings summary (if already working in NZ)
  • Payslips or bank statements if requested

 If anything has changed since your last visa (e.g. wage increase), you must submit updated documents showing these changes.

What Counts as Acceptable Employment?

Your job (or job offer) must meet all of the following:

• Be in a Tier 1 Green List occupation (see full list below)
• Be with an accredited employer (not suspended)
• Be permanent or fixed-term (12+ months)
• Be full-time (30+ hours/week)
• Be genuine, not created for immigration purposes
• Meet wage and qualification criteria listed in Appendix 13

Contractors (self-employed or on contract for service) can qualify if:

• The contract(s) are for 6 months or more in total, and
• You meet any extra requirements listed for that job in Appendix 13 (e.g. wage + experience)

Green List Tier 1 Occupations – Examples

Here are some of the most common Tier 1 roles (full list is in Appendix 13):

Construction & Engineering

• Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Electrical Engineer
• Quantity Surveyor, Construction Project Manager, Civil Engineering Technician
• Project Builder / Site Foreman

ICT & Digital

• Software Developer, Cybersecurity Specialist, CIO, ICT Project Manager
• Minimum pay thresholds: $63.22/hour or higher

Health & Medical

• Doctors, Surgeons, Dentists, Nurses, Midwives
• Physiotherapists, Psychiatrists, Radiologists
• Must have registration with relevant NZ professional bodies

Education

• Primary and Secondary School Teachers (with NZ Teaching Council registration)
• Special Education and Early Childhood Teachers

Agriculture & Food Science

• Dairy Farm Managers
• Food Technologists, Environmental Scientists

View the complete and detailed Tier 1 list with job codes, qualifications, and registration requirements here [link to Appendix 13 or INZ].

Wage Thresholds – Important!

Your job must meet either:

• The specific hourly wage listed for your occupation in Appendix 13, or
• If no specific rate: the NZ median wage of $31.61/hour

Some examples:

Substantial Match Assessment (for non-registered roles)

If your job title is slightly different from the Green List role, an immigration officer may do a “substantial match assessment” to confirm your job duties match the occupation listed.

Application Process

• You must apply online via the official Immigration NZ platform.
• All evidence must be clear, complete and up to date.
• An immigration officer may refer to your previous work visa documents to assess your case.

What If I'm On a Contract?

If you're working as a contractor (not a traditional employee), you can still apply if:

• You hold contracts lasting at least 6 months, AND
• You meet the extra wage/experience criteria listed for contract workers (e.g. ICT roles must earn $79.02+/hr and show 10+ years' experience)

Who Can’t Apply?

You may not be eligible if:

• Your job is not on Tier 1 Green List
• You don’t meet the wage, qualification, or registration requirements
• You’re working for a non-accredited employer
• You’re over 55 when you apply
• Your job offer is not genuine or full-time

Need Help? Let Us Guide You!

At JD Immigration, we’re licensed immigration advisers who can:

• Check if your job qualifies
• Help you gather the right evidence
• Submit a complete, accurate application
• Speed up your residency journey

Book your consultation today
Based in Auckland, New Zealand