New Zealand’s Green List highlights jobs that are in high demand and hard to fill locally. The list focuses on key areas such as healthcare, engineering, trades, and technology, and education.
There are two tiers on the Green List. Tier 1 roles allow eligible workers the opportunity to apply for a Straight to Residence visa, making the process faster and more straightforward.
Residence Visa Occupations
There a many skilled occupations that allow you to apply for a straight-to-residence visa. Each position has its own requirements that must be met to be eligible. Please see below some of the occupations that are on the Green List Tier 1:
Green List Tier 1 Occupations
Business Professionals:
- External Auditor (221213)
- Internal Auditor (221214)
Construction:
- Construction Project Manager (133111)
- Project Builder (133112)
- Quantity Surveyor (233213)
- Surveyor (232212)
Engineering:
- Chemical Engineer (233111)
- Materials Engineer (233112)
- Civil Engineer (233211)
- Geotechnical Engineer (233212)
- Structural Engineer (233214)
- Electrical Engineer (233311)
- Electronics Engineer (233411)
- Industrial Engineer (233511)
- Mechanical Engineer (233512)
- Production or Plant Engineer (233513)
- Aeronautical (Aerospace/Avionics/Aviation) Engineer (233911)
- Environmental Engineer (233915)
- Naval Architect/Marine Designer (233916)
- Engineering Professionals nec (233999)
- Civil Engineering Technician (312212)
- Electrical Engineering Technician (312312)
- Electronic Engineering Technician (312412)
- Mechanical Engineering Technician (312512)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) (323111)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) (323112)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) (323113)
- Telecommunications Engineer (263311)
- Telecommunications Network Engineer (263312)
Social Services:
- Veterinarian (234711)
- Addiction Practitioner / Alcohol & Drug Clinician (272112)
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor (272112)
- Careers Counsellor (272111)
- Family and Marriage Counsellor (272113)
- Rehabilitation Counsellor (272114)
- Student Counsellor (272115)
- Counsellors NEC (272199)
- Genetic Counsellor (251999)
- Social Worker (272511)
Education Services:
- Secondary School Teacher (241411)
- Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher) (241211)
- Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher) (241212)
- Primary School Teacher (241213)
- Middle School Teacher/Intermediate School Teacher (241311)
Primary Industries and Science Services:
- Environmental Research Scientist (234313)
- Food Technologist (234212)
ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications Services:
- Chief Information Officer (135111)
- ICT Project Manager (135112)
- ICT Managers nec (135199)
- Analyst Programmer (261311)
- Developer Programmer (261312)
- Software Engineer (261313)
- Software Tester (261314)
- ICT Security Specialist (262112)
- Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399)
- Database Administrator (262111)
- Systems Administrator (262113)
- Multimedia Specialist (261211)
Health Services:
- General Practitioner (253111)
- Resident Medical Officer (253112)
- Anaesthetist (253211)
- Midwife (254111)
- Clinical Dental Technician (411212) (Dental Prosthetist)
- Dentist (Dental Practitioner or Dental Surgeon) (252312)
- Dental Specialist (252311)
- Dental Technician (411213)
- Dental Therapist (411214)
- Endodontist (252311)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (252311)
- Oral medicine specialist (2523)
- Oral Pathologist (252311)
- Oral surgery specialist (2523)
- Orthodontist (252311)
- Paedodontist (252311)
- Periodontist (252311)
- Prosthodontist (252311)
- Public health dentistry specialist (2523)
- Restorative dentistry specialist (2523)
- Special needs dentistry specialist (2523)
- Oral Health Therapist (411214)
- Specialist Physician (General Medicine) (253311)
- Cardiologist (253312)
- Clinical Haematologist (253313)
- Medical Oncologist (253314)
- Endocrinologist (253315)
- Gastroenterologist (253316)
- Intensive Care Specialist (253317)
- Neurologist (253318)
- Paediatrician (253321)
- Renal Medicine Specialist (253322)
- Rheumatologist (253323)
- Thoracic Medicine Specialist (253324)
- Specialist Physicians nec (253399)
- Psychiatrist (253411)
- Surgeon (General) (253511),
- Cardiothoracic Surgeon (253512)
- Neurosurgeon (253513)
- Orthopaedic Surgeon (253514)
- Otorhinolaryngologist (253515)
- Paediatric Surgeon (253516)
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon (253517)
- Urologist (253518)
- Vascular Surgeon (253521)
- Nurse Practitioners (254411)
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
- Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (254413)
- Registered Nurse (Community Health) (254414)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
- Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) (254416)
- Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) (254417)
- Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
- Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) (254421)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
- Registered Nurse (Surgical) (254424)
- Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) (254425)
- Registered Nurses nec (254499)
- Enrolled Nurse (Nursing Assistant) (411411)
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611)
- Anaesthetic Technician (311211)
- Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician (311213)
- Medical Laboratory Technician (311213)
- Clinical Psychologist (272311)
- Educational Psychologist (272312)
- Organisational Psychologist (272313)
- Psychologists nec (272399)
- Psychotherapist (272314)
- Physicist (Medical) (234914)
- Orthoptist (251412)
- Addiction Practitioner / Alcohol & Drug Clinician (272112)
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor (272112)
- Audiometrist (311299)
- Chiropractor (252111)
- Clinical Physiologist (234599)
- Dietician (251111)
- Optometrist (251411)
- Dispensing Optician (399913)
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (311299)
- Orthotist/Prosthetist (251912)
- Osteopath (252112)
- Ambulance Paramedic (411112)
- Hospital Pharmacist (251511)
- Industrial Pharmacist (251512)
- Retail Pharmacist (251513)
- Physiotherapist (252511)
- Play Therapist (hospital) (252299)
- Speech Language Therapist (252712)
- Sterilisation Technician (711914)
- Perfusionist (cardiac) (311299)
- Audiologist (252711)
- Medical Imaging Technologist (251211)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist (251211)
- Medical Radiation Therapist (251212)
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist (251213)
- Sonographer (251214)
- Occupational Therapist (252411)
- Podiatrist (252611)
Requirements for occupations
Each role has a unique set of requirements that must be met to be eligible to apply for the straight-to-residence visa. Engineering positions are generally qualification-related, healthcare professionals may require registration, while ICT positions may have a wage threshold. We call these the Green List Requirements.
Contact us today to see if you would meet the requirements for your occupation.
General Requirements
• The principal applicant must be 55 years or younger when the application has been submitted.
• You must have a job, or a job offer in New Zealand with an accredited employer to apply.
• You can include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your residence application.
• You must meet Immigration New Zealand’s character and medical requirements.
• You may be required to provide an acceptable English Language test. Partners and children can also choose to enrol in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course.
• Your role must be paid at a median wage or above ($33.56 NZD an hour) unless a wage threshold applies.
Pathway to permanent residence
This visa gives you the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand. After holding the visa for 2 years you may become eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident.
Thinking about making New Zealand your home?
Immigration rules can feel complicated, but that’s where we come in. Our experienced team is skilled at handling even the most complex requirements, so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed. We’ll take the time to understand your unique situation, answer all your questions, and give you clear, personalised guidance from start to finish.
We’d love to help you get there. Contact us today to talk through your options and start the journey toward residence.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Do I need to have a job to apply for a straight-to-residence visa?
Yes, you must have a job or a job offer in New Zealand to apply. Your employment must be with an accredited employer and either full-time and permanent, for a fixed term of at least 12 months or a contract for services of at least 6 months.
2. My current visa is expiring, can I continue to stay in New Zealand while my residence is being processed?
If you have applied for a Straight to Residence Visa and you have not applied for another type of temporary visa, you will need to make a new temporary visa application before your current visa expires. If you do not apply for a new temporary visa you would become unlawful.
3. Is English required for a straight-to-residence visa?
Yes, you must prove a certain level of English. This can be through your country of citizenship. There are also a range of tests that can be used. Secondary applicants will also need to meet the English requirements, but the levels are set lower.
