The New Zealand Green List is a special list of in-demand occupations that offers streamlined pathways to residency for qualified overseas workers. Introduced in 2022, the New Zealand Green List 2026 continues to attract highly skilled professionals in critical shortage areas. It replaced the country’s former “Essential Skills in Demand” lists, including the Immediate Skill Shortage List and others, consolidating them into one updated list of priority occupations.
The range of roles on the Green List spans numerous sectors, reflecting where New Zealand has skill gaps that local workers cannot fill. Key sectors covered include:
- Healthcare and Medical – e.g. doctors, nurses, medical specialists (high demand in hospitals and clinics).
- Engineering and Infrastructure – civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, and technicians for significant projects.
- Information & Communication Technology (ICT) – software engineers, ICT managers, telecommunications specialists.
- Education and Social Services – teachers (including special education teachers) and certain social service roles.
- Primary Industries and Science – veterinarians, agricultural/horticultural scientists, etc.
- Skilled Trades – select construction, automotive, and electrical tradespersons with advanced qualifications.
These are just examples – the Green List, in fact, includes dozens of specific occupations, from health workers and engineers to ICT experts, educators, and specialised trades. What they have in common is that New Zealand urgently needs these skills and is offering expedited residency to attract people who have them.
Key Takeaways:
- The New Zealand Green List highlights jobs in critical shortage areas across the country.
- It replaced the Immediate Skill Shortage List, Regional Skill Shortage List, and Long Term Skill Shortage List in 2022.
- There are two Green List visa pathways: Tier 1 Straight to Residence and Tier 2 Work to Residence.
- Applicants must be 55 years old or younger, have a full-time job offer from an Accredited Employer, and meet role-specific requirements.
- Wage thresholds apply to ensure jobs are genuinely skilled and fairly paid. As of the 9th March 2026, that general threshold is NZD $35.00 per hour.
- Key sectors include healthcare, engineering, IT, education, construction, skilled trades, and primary industries.
- Job demand varies by region, with cities offering more IT and engineering roles, and rural areas focusing on healthcare, teaching, and agriculture.
How the Green List Replaced Previous Shortage Lists
Before the Green List, New Zealand used multiple “Essential Skills in Demand” shortage lists to identify needed occupations – including the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL), Regional Skill Shortage Lists (RSSL) and the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL). The older skill shortage lists were last updated in 2019 and then began to be phased out.
By mid-2022, New Zealand introduced a major immigration system overhaul and officially replaced all of those lists with the single Green List. The aim was to simplify and clarify the process, so instead of juggling multiple lists, there is now a single, focused list of priority occupations. If a role appeared on the older shortage lists but is not on the Green List, it no longer qualifies for the Green List residence pathway. That does not necessarily mean there is no visa option at all, as applicants may still be eligible under other work or skilled residence routes depending on their circumstances.
New Zealand Green List Visa Pathways: Tier 1 and Tier 2
The Green List provides two clear pathways to residency for eligible skilled migrants:
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence Visa:
If you work in a Tier 1 Green List occupation, you can apply for residency immediately (this is a fast-track process). In practice, this means that applicants with a job offer (or current employment) in a Tier 1 role can often seek residence as soon as they arrive in New Zealand, without a prolonged waiting period.
Tier 2 – Work to Residence Visa:
If you work in a Tier 2 Green List occupation, you can apply for residence after completing 24 months of eligible full-time work in that role in New Zealand. This does not strictly mean you must hold one single “Work to Residence visa” for the full period. Immigration New Zealand allows the 24 months to be built while holding eligible work permission, including one or more work visas, certain Critical Purpose Visitor Visas that allowed work, and some Interim Visa periods.
What Are the Green List Requirements?
To qualify for either Tier 1 or Tier 2 Green List visa pathways, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Listed occupation: The role must be one of the occupations on the official Green List.
Age limit: You must be 55 years old or younger at the time of your residence visa application.
Job offer: You need a full-time job or a valid job offer from an Accredited Employer (an employer approved by Immigration New Zealand to hire overseas workers).
Employment terms: Tier 2 jobs must be full-time and either permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months. Tier 1 roles are usually the same, though some contract-for-services roles can also qualify.
Specific job requirements: You must meet any extra criteria for the role, which may include:
- Holding a relevant qualification
- Having professional registration in New Zealand
- Demonstrating a minimum level of work experience
Examples: architects and teachers usually need NZ registration, while engineers and health professionals often require specific degrees or licences.
Wage thresholds: Green List roles must meet either the specific pay rate set for that occupation or, where no occupation-specific rate applies, the current median wage. As of the 9th March 2026, the general median wage threshold used here is NZD $35.00 per hour. Some occupations, particularly specialist roles, have their own higher thresholds.
Standard visa conditions: You must also meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements. Partners and dependent children can usually be included in your residence application, provided they meet age and support criteria.
New Zealand Green List 2026 Key Sectors and Occupations
The Green List covers a range of key sectors where New Zealand has acute skill shortages. Below are some examples of eligible occupations (Tier 1 and Tier 2) in each sector, along with their ANZSCO codes. (Note: Only occupations on the Green List’s Tier 1 or Tier 2 pathways are listed – lower-paid roles covered by sector agreements or other visa schemes are excluded.)
Healthcare and Medical Jobs on the Green List
New Zealand’s healthcare sector heavily relies on overseas talent for many specialised roles. The Green List includes a broad array of medical professions to address chronic shortages in hospitals and clinics nationwide:
- General Practitioner (Family Physician) – ANZSCO 253111 (Tier 1)
- Registered Nurse (e.g. Medical or Surgical Nurse) – ANZSCO 254418 (Tier 1)
- Midwife – ANZSCO 254111 (Tier 1)
- Clinical Psychologist – ANZSCO 272311 (Tier 1)
- Orthopaedic Surgeon – ANZSCO 253514 (Tier 1)
Healthcare Note: Nearly all core health occupations are in Tier 1 (Straight to Residence) due to critical workforce needs. For example, all registered nurses and midwives were moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in late 2022 to boost recruitment immediately. Some allied health roles (like sonographers, medical laboratory scientists, and radiographers) also qualify for fast-track residency under Tier 1, reflecting the demand across the health system. Some lower-paid care roles are not part of the Green List itself, but they may still lead to residence through New Zealand’s separate Care Workforce Work to Residence pathway.
Engineering Occupations on the Green List
Engineering skills are in high demand for New Zealand’s infrastructure and development projects. The Green List prioritises a wide range of engineering disciplines, especially those requiring advanced qualifications and offering substantial experience:
- Civil Engineer – ANZSCO 233211 (Tier 1)
- Mechanical Engineer – ANZSCO 233512 (Tier 1)
- Electrical Engineer – ANZSCO 233311 (Tier 1)
- Structural Engineer – ANZSCO 233214 (Tier 1)
- Telecommunications Network Engineer – ANZSCO 263312 (Tier 1)
Engineering Note: Virtually all engineering roles on the Green List are Tier 1, meaning a qualified engineer with an accredited employer job offer can go directly to a residence application. New Zealand seeks engineers in fields like civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, environmental, and geotechnical engineering. Engineering technologist and technician roles (e.g. Electrical Engineering Technician, ANZSCO 312312) are also included, but may require certain credential levels to ensure they meet skilled standards.
Construction and Skilled Trade Roles
The construction industry and skilled trades are another focus of the Green List, given the country’s ongoing housing, infrastructure, and earthquake-rebuilding needs. The list features both professional construction roles and certified tradespeople:
- Construction Project Manager – ANZSCO 133111 (Tier 1)
- Quantity Surveyor – ANZSCO 233213 (Tier 1)
- Electrician (General) – ANZSCO 341111 (Tier 2)
- Plumber (General) – ANZSCO 334111 (Tier 2)
- Diesel Motor Mechanic (Heavy Vehicle Technician) – ANZSCO 321212 (Tier 2)
Construction/Trades Note: Tier 1 in this sector includes highly skilled roles like project managers and surveyors, who can gain residence immediately. By contrast, many hands-on trade roles are Tier 2 – experienced trades such as electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and welders must work in New Zealand for two years before becoming eligible for residency. All these trades require proper NZ registration or certification. There is a persistent demand for licensed tradespeople across regions, so placing these roles on the Green List helps employers fill essential vacancies in construction, automotive, and utilities.
The Green List was also expanded in 2025 to include 10 more trades on the Work to Residence pathway, including roles such as Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, and Paving Plant Operator.
Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications Jobs
New Zealand’s tech sector is growing, and there is competition globally for IT professionals. The Green List targets certain high-level IT occupations, especially those involving advanced software development, cybersecurity, and telecommunications:
- Software Engineer – ANZSCO 261313 (Tier 1)
- ICT Security Specialist – ANZSCO 262112 (Tier 1)
- Database Administrator – ANZSCO 262111 (Tier 1)
- Telecommunications Technician – ANZSCO 342414 (Tier 2)
IT Note: Many IT roles on Tier 1 come with an additional requirement of a high salary threshold to ensure the roles are truly specialist positions (for example, a Software Engineer or IT Security Specialist may need to be paid well above the median wage to qualify). If those conditions are met, these tech professionals can apply for residence upon securing the job. Roles like Telecommunications Technician, on the other hand, are classified under Tier 2 – these technicians can obtain a work visa and, after two years of skilled work, transition to residency. Overall, the Green List helps Kiwi tech firms and telecom operators attract skilled talent (developers, cyber experts, network engineers, etc.) to fill critical skill gaps.
Education Roles on the Green List
To address shortages in education, several teaching roles feature on the Green List. New Zealand has especially needed educators in the sciences, maths, and for specific age groups or special needs. The Green List pathways can expedite bringing in qualified teachers and educational leaders:
- Secondary School Teacher – ANZSCO 241411 (Tier 1)
- Primary School Teacher – ANZSCO 241213 (Tier 1)
- Early Childhood (Pre-Primary) Teacher – ANZSCO 241111 (Tier 2)
- Special Needs Teacher – ANZSCO 241511 (Tier 2)
Education Note: Policy adjustments in late 2022 and 2023 have increasingly recognised teacher shortages. Most primary and secondary teachers are now on the Straight to Residence (Tier 1) pathway, meaning qualified teachers (with New Zealand teacher registration) can apply for residency without a wait if they secure a job in the country.
Some education roles remain Tier 2 – for example, early childhood educators and special education teachers must work for 2 years before applying for residence, reflecting a work-to-residence approach. New Zealand particularly encourages teachers in specialised or high-demand subject areas, as well as those willing to work in rural or Māori-medium schools, through these streamlined visa pathways.
Do Green List Job Opportunities Vary by Region?
The Green List is a national framework, which means the same occupations are recognised across the whole of New Zealand. However, the availability of jobs can vary by region.
- Cities such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch tend to have more opportunities in sectors like IT, finance, and engineering.
- Regional and rural areas often face shortages in healthcare, teaching, and primary industries, so employers outside the main centres may be especially eager to hire overseas workers.
- Some regional employers offer relocation incentives such as moving support or bonuses to attract skilled workers from abroad.
For migrants, this means that being open to different regions can increase your chances of securing a job offer and moving more quickly through the Green List pathways.
Start Your New Zealand Journey with Visa Bureau
New Zealand’s Green List makes it easier for people with in-demand skills to gain residency. It replaced the older skill shortage lists and now sets out two straightforward options: Straight to Residence for Tier 1 roles and Work to Residence for Tier 2. The list covers a wide range of areas, from healthcare and engineering to education, IT and the trades, and it shows where the most significant opportunities are across the country.
If you are considering a move, the Green List New Zealand 2026 can be your gateway to living and working in New Zealand.
Check if your skills are on the Green List today. Visa Bureau can guide you through the visa process and help make your move to New Zealand a reality.