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 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.
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.
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Can you qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa?
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.
For Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, and Machinist roles listed above, visa applicants must be earning at least $43.63 an hour (or $90,750 a year based on a 40-hour week)
For Paving Plant Operators, Panel Beaters, and Vehicle Painters, visa applicants must be earning at least $38.59 an hour (or $80,267 a year).
Good news announced by the New Zealand Government on 13.6.2025:
The Government is expanding the Green List to help address shortages in the skilled trades workforce.
On 18 August 2025, 10 skilled trades occupations will be added to the Green List Work to Residence pathway, allowing them to apply for residence after working in New Zealand after a period of two years.
Metal Fabricator
Pressure Welder
Welder
Fitter (General)
Fitter and Turner
Fitter-Welder
Metal Machinist (First Class)
Panel Beater
Vehicle Painter
Paving Plant Operator
Work to Residence Visa applicants must meet the skills, work experience and wage requirements.
Standard health, character, language and age requirements also apply.
Please note: the median wage thresholds for skilled residence visas will be updated in August.
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.
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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.
Ask us for an Assessment of your chances and join our Immigration and Job Hunt Webinar.
