Green list Work to residence

The Green List: Work to Residence Visa is designed for people working in hard-to-fill, nationally important skilled roles in New Zealand. If you’ve worked in a Tier 2 Green List occupation for at least 24 months, you may be eligible for residency.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, you must:

• Be 55 years old or younger
• Meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements
• Meet the English language requirement, or pre-purchase ESOL tuition
• Be working full-time (30+ hours/week)
• Hold a valid work visa or a critical purpose visitor visa with work conditions
• Have worked for at least 24 months in a Tier 2 Green List role
• Have an accredited employer (still accredited at time of decision)

 What is a Tier 2 Green List Role?

These are specific occupations that are:

• Hard to fill in New Zealand
• Recognised for their national importance
• Listed in Tier 2 of Appendix 13 on Immigration NZ’s Green List

Examples include crane operators, building associates, telecommunication technicians, civil machinery operators, and more.

What You Need to Provide

To show you meet the Green List requirements, you must submit:

1. Proof of Qualification
   • NZ qualification or IQA (International Qualification Assessment) if your qualification is from overseas.
2. Occupational Registration (if required)
   • For roles like electricians or nurses, proof of professional registration.
3. Employment Evidence
   • Employment agreement & job description showing role, hours (30+), and pay.
   • Summary of earnings from Inland Revenue (IRD).
   • If details changed since your last visa (e.g. pay), include updated documents.
4. Remuneration (Pay) Proof
   • Your job must meet the specific pay rate for your occupation. This may be:
     • A % above the median wage
     • Or at least $31.61/hour (as of Feb 2024), depending on the role.

24 Months of Work Requirement – Explained

You must have worked:

• In NZ for at least 24 months in a Tier 2 Green List occupation
• After 29 September 2021
• Full-time (30+ hours/week)
• On an eligible visa (work visa, critical purpose visa with work rights, or interim visa with work rights)
• Within the last 30 months before applying

These 24 months don’t have to be continuous – breaks between jobs are okay.

What counts as eligible work?

• You met your job’s qualification/registration/pay requirements during that time
• Your pay met the required rate (some roles require 1.15x, 1.3x, or 1.5x median wage)
• You didn’t change to a lower-paid role or lose your visa status

Even if your role was later removed from the Green List, you can still apply if you stayed in the same job and met the original criteria.

What if You Didn’t Work in a Green List Role for the Full 24 Months?

You may still qualify **if the balance of your work was in a role that paid at least twice the median wage.

• Current rate: $63.22/hour (as of 28 Feb 2024)
• Evidence required: IRD summary and/or employment contract
• Must still meet all other visa and employment conditions

Like the Green List route, the 24 months can be split across multiple periods or roles – e.g. 6 months in a Green List role + 18 months at double the median wage.

Wage Rates at a Glance

 Your work must meet the rate that was current at the time you were employed.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the Immigration NZ website using the official form.

Make sure your employer is still accredited and your documents are up to date. Immigration Officers may also look at your past visa applications, so it’s important your information is consistent.

 Family Included

You can include your partner and dependent children in your application if they meet health, character, and relationship requirements.

Need Help?

Applying for the Green List Work to Residence Visa can be complex – especially if you’ve changed roles, pay rates, or visa types over time.

Let JD Immigration help you check your eligibility and guide your application – from documentation to submission.