New Zealand Green List Occupations 2026: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Explained

The New Zealand Green List is the fastest route from a temporary work visa to permanent residence — but it only works if your occupation is actually on it, and if you are paid at the right rate. Many workers arrive in New Zealand believing their role qualifies for residence, only to discover that they missed a wage threshold, chose the wrong ANZSCO code at the Job Check stage, or are in a role that was recently moved off the list entirely.

Understanding the Green List before you accept a job offer — not after — is the decision that separates a clear two-year residency pathway from a three-year dead end.

What the Green List Is

The Green List is a targeted list of occupations that New Zealand has identified as being in critical shortage. Workers in Green List roles bypass the standard Skilled Migrant Category points system. Instead of accumulating six points from qualifications, income, and experience, they can apply for residence through a streamlined pathway.

The list is divided into two tiers with meaningfully different timelines.

Green List Tier 1: Straight to Residence

Tier 1 occupations allow a worker to apply for New Zealand residence immediately upon arrival — provided they have a current job offer from an accredited employer and meet the wage threshold.

Examples of Tier 1 occupations include:

• Software Engineers and Developers
• Registered Nurses (general)
• Midwives
• Specialty Doctors (GP, Surgeon, Psychiatrist, and others)
• Civil, Structural, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineers
• Environmental Scientists
• Most engineering and technical specialists

For these workers, the AEWV and the resident visa application can run in parallel. There is no mandatory period of working in New Zealand first. This is the most direct immigration pathway New Zealand offers to a skilled overseas professional.

The wage threshold for Straight to Residence eligibility varies by occupation. For most Tier 1 roles, workers must meet the occupation-specific wage floor set by INZ, which is updated alongside the annual median wage review. As of March 9, 2026, the general median wage is NZD $35.00 per hour, and the thresholds for Tier 1 occupations are calibrated around this rate.

Green List Tier 2: Work to Residence

Tier 2 occupations require 24 months of full-time work in New Zealand on an AEWV before a worker can apply for residence. The 24-month clock starts from the date the worker first begins working in the qualifying role — not from the date the AEWV was granted.

Examples of Tier 2 occupations include:

• Electricians
• Plumbers and Gasfitters
• Secondary School Teachers (with subject area registration)
• Early Childhood Teachers (with full practising certificate)
• Carpenters and Joiners
• Metal Fabricators, Welders, and Panel Beaters (added in late 2025)
• Fitters and Turners (added in late 2025)
• Various other trades added in the 2025 Green List expansion

The late 2025 expansion was a direct government response to New Zealand's infrastructure and construction crisis. Eight new trades were added to the Work to Residence pathway, meaning workers in these roles now have a defined residency timeline where previously they had none.

The wage trap for trades workers: Adding a role to the Green List does not mean any worker in that role qualifies for residence. You must also meet the wage threshold. For most new trades additions, the threshold is either the median wage ($35.00/hour as of March 2026) or a specific occupational floor. Workers who accept a role at $32/hour may qualify for the AEWV but will not meet the Work to Residence wage requirement. This distinction must be negotiated with the employer before accepting the job offer, not after 24 months of work.

For Care Workforce roles — another significant Work to Residence sector — the specific threshold is NZD $28.25 per hour.

What Changed in March 2026

The March 9, 2026 updates were among the most significant adjustments to the Green List since its 2022 introduction:

• 47 new roles added to the National Occupation List at Levels 1–3: These reclassifications affect which workers receive five-year visas versus three-year visas, and which roles have work rights that make family sponsorship more achievable.
• Median wage updated to $35.00 per hour: This affects the wage thresholds for both the Work to Residence pathway and the family sponsorship rules for partner work visas.
• Role reclassifications: Some roles previously at Level 3 were moved to Level 4 — including nannies and pet groomers — changing their maximum stay from five years to three years and adding an English language requirement.

If you were assessed under the previous NOL classification, it is worth rechecking your role's current level. A reclassification that moves your occupation to Level 4 can materially affect your visa duration, family rights, and residency timeline.

How to Confirm Your Role Qualifies

The National Occupation List (NOL) Search tool on the Immigration New Zealand website is the definitive reference for current skill level classifications. The Green List itself is published on the INZ site and updated when occupations are added or removed.

The process for confirming Green List eligibility:

1. Identify the ANZSCO code for your occupation (the job description in the Job Check must match the duties described under that code)
2. Search the NOL to confirm the skill level assigned to that code
3. Check the Green List to see whether your ANZSCO code appears at Tier 1 or Tier 2
4. Confirm that the proposed wage in your employment agreement meets the occupation-specific threshold

The second step — matching your job description to the correct ANZSCO code — is where many applications fail. An employer who advertises for a "Head Chef" (ANZSCO Skill Level 2, Green List eligible) but describes the duties of a "Cook" (Skill Level 4, not Green List eligible) will see the Job Check assessed against the Cook classification. The migrant may receive the visa but lose their residency pathway entirely.

The Difference Between a Green List Role and a "Dead-End" Role

Roles at ANZSCO Skill Levels 4 and 5 that do not appear on the Green List and are not covered by a sector agreement have no direct pathway to New Zealand residence. Workers in these roles are limited to a three-year maximum continuous stay and must leave New Zealand for 12 months at the end of that period.

This is not a problem that resolves itself during the visa. The pathway must exist before you apply. Common occupations in this category include general retail workers, lower-skilled hospitality roles, and some agricultural positions. Many workers in these categories apply for the AEWV without realising they are on a three-year clock with no extension available.

If your current role falls into this category, the options are:

• Negotiate a role reclassification with your employer (requires genuine change in duties)
• Accumulate experience and qualifications toward a Green List role
• Explore the Skilled Migrant Category six-point system if your income or qualifications support it
• Apply for the new Trades and Technician Pathway launching in August 2026 if you hold a Level 4 qualification and meet the experience requirements

The New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa Guide includes a full occupation lookup guide that maps roles to their NOL level, Green List tier (if applicable), and residency pathway — so you can assess your situation before committing to a visa application.

Green List and the Five-Month Grace Period

One detail that is rarely explained on official guidance: if a migrant begins work within five months of their AEWV being granted, the wage threshold that applied on the day the visa was issued is the threshold used for assessing their Green List Work to Residence eligibility — not the threshold in effect when they eventually apply for residence.

Given that the median wage has increased every year since 2022, this grace period can be meaningful. A worker who receives their visa in March 2026 with the $35.00/hour threshold locked in is protected against a further increase in August 2026 or March 2027, provided they begin work within the five-month window.

Starting work promptly after visa grant — and documenting that start date clearly — is a simple step that protects your residency eligibility against future wage movements.

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