New Zealand Green List: pathways to residence explained

The Green List is New Zealand’s official list of occupations the country needs skilled workers for, and it is the starting point for two residence pathways. If your job or job offer is on the list as a Tier 1 role, you may be able to apply for a Straight to Residence Visa, which does not require New Zealand work experience first. If your role is Tier 2, the Work to Residence Visa applies, and you must first meet New Zealand work experience requirements. Both pathways carry qualification, registration, or pay requirements that you must check for your specific occupation before you apply. The Green List is not the only route to residence, but it is the most direct one for people in listed occupations.

What the Green List is for

The Green List identifies occupations that are in-demand in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand describes Green List pathways as being “for people with a job or job offer in an occupation that is in-demand in New Zealand.” The list itself is the reference point for deciding which visa pathway may fit you, and it is also used more broadly to show the jobs New Zealand needs people for.

Your skills may include your job or job offer, your pay, your work experience, your qualifications, or your occupational registration. For Green List purposes, the key question is whether your specific occupation appears on the list and at which tier.

The two Green List visa pathways

There are two visas associated with the Green List, and they are distinguished primarily by whether the role is Tier 1 or Tier 2.

Your situation	Pathway	New Zealand work experience needed?
Job or job offer on the Green List as a Tier 1 role	Straight to Residence Visa	No
Job or job offer on the Green List as a Tier 2 role	Work to Residence Visa	Yes

Straight to Residence Visa (Tier 1)

This pathway may fit you if you have a job or job offer in an eligible Green List Tier 1 role. Immigration New Zealand describes these as “some of New Zealand’s most in-demand jobs.” The visa may be worth checking if your job is in an area like health, engineering, education, construction, or information and communications technology.

The key advantage is that no New Zealand work experience is required before you apply. However, you must still meet the Green List role requirements for your occupation, which may include qualification, registration, or pay requirements.

Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2)

This pathway may fit you if you have a job or job offer in an eligible Green List Tier 2 role and you can meet the New Zealand work experience requirements. Immigration New Zealand notes that it may be worth checking this visa if your job is in an area like construction, education, farming, or machinery operation.

Unlike the Tier 1 pathway, Tier 2 requires you to have worked in New Zealand for a period before you can apply for residence. The exact amount of work experience required depends on your occupation, so you must check the Green List role requirements and how much New Zealand work experience you need.

Requirements common to Green List pathways

Most skilled residence visas in New Zealand require you to meet a common set of conditions. Immigration New Zealand lists these as:

• having a job or job offer in New Zealand with an accredited employer
• being paid at least the required amount (which can differ depending on the visa)
• meeting any qualification, registration, or work experience requirements
• being in good health
• passing a character check
• being able to speak and understand English

For Green List roles specifically, you must also check the qualification, registration, or pay requirements attached to your occupation on the Green List itself. These are not uniform across the list — they vary by role, and you must verify them before choosing a visa.

If your job is not on the Green List

The Green List is not the only route to skilled residence. Immigration New Zealand notes that even if your job is not on the list, there are many opportunities in New Zealand for people with skills. The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers alternative pathways that recognise different types of skills.

The SMC has three pathways:

• Points-based pathway — recognises pay, qualifications, or occupational registration. You must check whether you can claim 6 points, and whether you need New Zealand skilled work experience.
• Skilled Work Experience pathway — recognises relevant skilled work experience, including New Zealand skilled work experience. You must check whether your job is eligible, whether your work experience counts, and whether Red or Amber List rules apply.
• Trades and Technician pathway — recognises an eligible trade or technician job with a relevant qualification. You must check whether your job is on the Trades and Technician List and whether your work experience meets the requirements.

There are also dedicated pathways for care workforce and transport sector roles, which require New Zealand work experience — usually around 2 years — in an eligible job. These are separate from the Green List and have their own eligibility criteria.

Other residence pathways worth noting

If you are an Australian citizen, you can normally live, work, and study in New Zealand without applying for a visa before you come. You will usually be given a resident visa on arrival, provided you have a valid Australian passport and meet character requirements. Australian permanent residents normally need an NZeTA before travelling, and will also be given a resident visa on arrival if they meet the conditions.

These Australian-specific arrangements are separate from the Green List and SMC pathways, but they are relevant if you hold Australian citizenship or permanent residence.

What to do next

Start by checking whether your occupation is on the Green List and at which tier. Immigration New Zealand’s Green List roles page is the authoritative reference for this. Once you know your tier, check the specific role requirements — including qualification, registration, and pay requirements — for your occupation.

Then review the detailed visa page for the pathway that matches your situation. Immigration New Zealand notes that it is common for more than one pathway to apply, so if you are unsure, read the summary of each pathway and then check the visa page for the option that sounds closest to your situation.

Finally, verify the current requirements on the official Immigration New Zealand pages before you apply. The Green List, pay thresholds, and work experience requirements can change, and the official pages are the only reliable source for what applies to you today.