New Zealand has significant skill shortages in a wide range of sectors.
The Green List pathway is designed to attract highly skilled professionals and address identified skill shortages, helping New Zealand businesses fill their roles.
The range of occupations on the Green List includes health workers, veterinarians, engineers, ICT specialists, teachers, and certain trades occupations.
The Green List replaces all former Skill Shortage Lists, previously known as Essential Skills in Demand Lists: the Long Term Skill Shortage List, the Regional Skill Shortage List and the Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List.
If your role is listed on the Green List and you have the required qualifications, professional registration or experience, you may be eligible to obtain residence status immediately or after 2 years of working in New Zealand.
Your fast-track to residence in New Zealand.
You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you currently work, or you have a job offer from an accredited employer, and your role is on Tier 1 of the Green List in-demand.
The Straight to Residence Visa allows you to stay in New Zealand indefinitely. Immigration New Zealand is projecting to process 80% of all Straight to Residence Visa applications within 5 months.
,
Can you qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa?
Read more about the Straight to Residence Visa
Gain residence in New Zealand after two years.
You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you currently work for, or have a job offer from, an accredited employer, and have worked in a Tier 2 Green List in-demand role for 24 months.
Can you qualify for a Work to Residence Visa?
Eligibility for these roles includes meeting specific wage thresholds.
The thresholds are set to ensure that applicants have the necessary experience and qualifications to make significant contributions at a high level in their field.
If your profession is on the Green List, no matter whether Tier 1 or Tier 2 applies to you, you will have a significant advantage for your migration process.
Use your full professional potential and take advantage of the options offered to you via the Green List.
Choose your best way forward towards securing your residence status in New Zealand:
Ask us to find out if your profession is on the Green List, whether Tier 1 or Tier 2 might apply, and what qualifications, registration, or experience you will need to demonstrate to be eligible for these residence category visas.
We can tailor a visa strategy for you and help you find the job that matches the specific Green List visa requirements.
Check if your profession is on the Tier 1 or the Tier 2 list.
"Unlike other consultancies, your company offered a free webinar and assessment, with friendly staff who communicated openly. The webinar was detailed and informative, and I understand that your company is a fee-for-services provider, but that has not been conveyed as a prerequisite during the decision-making process.”
Maj clearly explained the process and introduced me to the New Zealand job market. The Job Search team coached me until I secured a job, and the Visa team ensured I stayed on track with my documents. Highly recommended for anyone looking to move to New Zealand. Thanks to NZIC from my family and me!
NZIC helped me on my way to get a Visa and with my job search. They were always available to talk to and were open to all sorts of questions. No matter how random they were. Very friendly staff. They always stayed professional and up-to-date. I can only say good things and recommend them highly.
Very pleased and satisfied with the service we received from NZIC. They assisted me and my family from start to finish. Always willing to assist, and communicated our progress every step of the way. With their assistance we managed to obtain permanent resident visa status.
Base your move on solid grounds: Ask us for an Assessment of your chances and join our Immigration and Job Seeker Webinar.
Copyright New Zealand Immigration Concepts Ltd 2025
