THE New Zealand GREEN LIST
New Zealand is committed to welcoming skilled professionals looking for work-life balance in our beautiful, progressive country.
The Immigration New Zealand Green List seeks to fast-track residency pathways for certain occupations, and consists of two tiers as follows:
- Tier 1 occupations – granted immediate New Zealand residency via the ‘Straight to Residence’ pathway*
- Tier 2 occupations – granted New Zealand residency after working for two years via the ‘Work to Residence’ pathway*
*View below to see if your occupation is included on the Green List. If you have the qualifications and experience required, you could get New Zealand residency immediately or after just 2 years of working in New Zealand!
There’s never been a better time to move and we can help you navigate the process, whatever your situation.
Green list tier 1 occupations
Engineering
- Chemical Engineer
- Materials Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
View more Tier 1 occupations
- Industrial Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Production or Plant Engineer
- Engineering Professionals nec
- Civil Engineering Technician
- Electrical Engineering Technician
- Electronic Engineering Technician
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Telecommunications Network Engineer
Construction
- Construction Project Manager
- Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman)
- Quantity Surveyor
- Surveyor
Health and Social Services
- General Practitioner
- Resident Medical Officer
- Anaesthetist
- Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
- Cardiologist
- Clinical Haematologist
- Medical Oncologist
- Endocrinologist
- Gastroenterologist
- Intensive Care Specialist
- Neurologist
- Paediatrician
- Renal Medicine Specialist
- Rheumatologist
- Thoracic Medicine Specialist
- Specialist Physicians nec
- Psychiatrist
- Surgeon (General)
- Cardiothoracic Surgeon
- Neurosurgeon
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Otorhinolaryngologist
- Paediatric Surgeon
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Urologist
- Vascular Surgeon
- Dermatologist
- Emergency Medicine Specialist
- Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Pathologist
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
- Radiation Oncologist
- Medical Practitioners nec
- Midwife
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
- Registered Nurse (Community Health)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
- Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
- Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
- Registered Nurse (Medical)
- Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
- Registered Nurse (Surgical)
- Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
- Registered Nurses nec
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Educational Psychologist
- Organisational Psychologist
- Psychologists nec
- Psychotherapist
- Physicist (Medical)
- Orthoptist
- Veterinarian
- Anaesthetic Technician
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Diagnostic (Medical Imaging Technologist)
- Medical Radiation Therapist
- Sonographer
- Occupational Therapist
- Podiatrist
- Audiologist
- Addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician
- Audiometrist
- Chiropractor
- Clinical dental technician
- Clinical physiologists (sleep, renal, exercise, respiratory, neurology, and cardiac)
- Counsellor
- Dental specialists
- Dental technician
- Dental therapist
- Dentist
- Dietician
- Dispensing optician
- Drug and alcohol counsellor
- Enrolled nurse
- Genetic counsellor
- Medical laboratory pre-analytical technician
- Medical resonance imaging technologist
- Nuclear medicine technologist
- Nurse practitioner
- Optometrist
- Oral health therapist
- Orthotic and prosthetic technician
- Orthotist/prosthetist
- Osteopath
- Paramedic/emergency medical technician
- Perfusionist (cardiac)
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Play therapist (hospital)
- Social worker
- Speech language therapist
- Sterile processing technician
ICT, Electronics, Telecommunications
- Chief Information Officer
- ICT Project Manager
- ICT Managers nec
- Analyst Programmer
- Developer Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Software Tester
- ICT Security Specialist
- Software and Applications Programmers nec
- Multimedia Specialist
Others
- Other Spatial Scientist
- Environmental Research Scientist
- Food Technologist
- Internal Auditor
- External Auditor
Green List tier 2 occupations
Construction
- Civil Construction Supervisors
- Gasfitters
- Drainlayers
- Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator
- Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)
- Backhoe Operator
- Bulldozer Operator
- Excavator Operator
View more Tier 2 occupations
- Grader Operator
- Loader Operator
- Motor mechanic – General
- Motorcycle mechanic
Trades
- Automotive Electrician
- Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
- Electrician (General)
- Plumber (General)
Others
- School Principal
- Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Teacher
- Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher
- Primary School Teacher
- Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher
- Secondary School Teachers – all specialisations
- Special Needs Teacher
- Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
- Teacher of the Sight Impaired
- Special Education Teachers nec
- Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages – if working in a primary, intermediate or secondary school
- Dairy Cattle Farmer (Dairy Cattle Farm Manager) including Dairy Farm Manager, Assistant Dairy Farm Manager and Dairy Herd Manager
- Halal slaughterers
Announcement – new roles being added in 2024
In late September 2023, it was announced that a further 17 roles will be added to the Green List on either the ‘Straight to Residence’ or ‘Work to Residence’ pathway in March 2024. Whether each role falls under the ‘Straight to Residence’ or ‘Work to Residence’ pathway will be released closer to date.
Occupations to be added March 2024:
Engineering
- Aviation Engineer (Avionics, Aeronautical, Aerospace Engineer)
- Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Construction
- Metal Fabricator
- Pressure Welder
- Welder
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
ICT, Electronics, Telecommunications
- ICT Database and System Administrator
Others
-
- Naval Architects (aka Marine Designer)
- Road Roller Operator
- Paving Plant Operator
- Corrections Officer
- Panel Beater
- Vehicle Painter
Engineering
- Aviation Engineer (Avionics, Aeronautical, Aerospace Engineer)
- Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Construction
- Metal Fabricator
- Pressure Welder
- Welder
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
ICT, Electronics, Telecommunications
- ICT Database and System Administrator
Other
- Naval Architects (aka Marine Designer)
- Road Roller Operator
- Paving Plant Operator
- Corrections Officer
- Panel Beater
- Vehicle Painter
Take the first step toward a life in New Zealand with our free online eligibility appraisal.
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