The NZ Green List Visa Pathway (2026): Why There Is No Such Visa, and What There Actually Is

Thousands of people search for a 'NZ Green List Visa' every month. Officially, Immigration New Zealand does not issue one. Here is the real pathway, the two actual visas behind the name, and how to know which one fits your case.

Quick answer: There is no visa called the 'Green List Visa'. The Green List is a published list of in-demand occupations. If your job is on it, you can apply for one of two real residence visas: the Straight to Residence Visa (Tier 1 jobs) or the Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2 jobs, after 24 months of qualifying NZ work). Most Tier 2 candidates use an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) to get on shore first.

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Verify current rules at immigration.govt.nz before applying.

What Is the NZ Green List?

The Green List is an official list of occupations that New Zealand has not been able to fill from its domestic workforce. Immigration New Zealand introduced it in 2022 to attract skilled migrants in critical sectors: healthcare, engineering, construction, education, science, and tech.

Each occupation on the Green List sits in one of two tiers based on skill level and shortage severity:

  • Tier 1 (highest skill, fastest pathway): includes many medical specialists, registered nurses, midwives, civil and structural engineers, ICT security specialists, and similar roles. Tier 1 lets you apply for residence directly, without needing to live in NZ first.
  • Tier 2 (also in demand, slightly longer pathway): covers a broader set of trades, sciences, and education roles. Tier 2 requires 24 months of qualifying NZ work experience before you can apply for residence. As of August 2025, ten additional trades occupations were added to Tier 2, broadening the pathway for skilled trades migrants.

The list is reviewed regularly. Occupations have been added (and occasionally removed) in past cycles, so a version you read about two years ago may already look different. Always verify the current list at immigration.govt.nz before relying on it for an application.

The Two Real Visas the Green List Leads To

Here is the part most online articles get muddled. The Green List is a list. It opens access to two specific residence visas, depending on which tier your job sits in:

Element Tier 1: Straight to Residence Visa Tier 2: Work to Residence Visa
What you get Residence on arrival. After 2 continuous years on this visa, you can apply for permanent residence. A 2 to 4 year work visa first, then residence after 24 months of qualifying NZ work.
Job offer required Yes, from an accredited NZ employer. Yes, from an accredited NZ employer.
Age limit 55 or younger. 55 or younger.
Pay rate Role specific minimum, set per occupation. Current NZ median wage at time of application.
Apply from offshore Yes. You can apply from outside NZ, or come on a work visa first and then apply. Work visa, yes. Residence application requires 24 months of qualifying work in NZ.
Registration / licence Required where the role is regulated (e.g. Medical Council of NZ, Nursing Council of NZ, Engineering NZ). Required where the role is regulated.

Source: Immigration New Zealand, Straight to Residence Visa and Work to Residence Visa pages, immigration.govt.nz.

A third visa often gets bundled into 'Green List Visa' conversations: the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The AEWV is the temporary work visa most Tier 2 candidates use to enter NZ and start clocking up the 24 months they need before applying for residence. The AEWV itself is not a Green List visa, but most Tier 2 paths run through it.

How to Check If Your Job Is on the Green List

The single most important step is matching your role to its ANZSCO code (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations). Two job titles that sound identical can sit in different tiers, or not be on the list at all, depending on their ANZSCO code and core duties.

  1. Find your ANZSCO code based on actual job duties (not just job title).
  2. Check that exact ANZSCO code on the official Green List page at immigration.govt.nz.
  3. Confirm the tier (Tier 1 or Tier 2) and any qualification, registration, or pay requirements attached to that code.
  4. If anything is unclear, get a licensed immigration adviser to confirm before relying on it.

Mismatching a job title to the wrong ANZSCO code is one of the most common reasons Green List applications get returned or declined. Investing time in this step early often saves months later.

Official Green List search tool: immigration.govt.nz Green List roles.

Step by Step: From Job Offer to NZ Residence via the Green List

Both pathways follow the same first three steps. The split happens at step 4.

  1. Confirm your ANZSCO code and tier. Use the section above. Get this right before doing anything else.
  2. Check qualification, registration, and pay requirements for your specific occupation on the official Green List page.
  3. Get a job offer from an accredited employer. Your employer must hold accreditation under the AEWV system. You can verify accreditation status with INZ before signing the offer.
  4. Pick your pathway:
    • Tier 1: apply directly for the Straight to Residence Visa, either from offshore or while in NZ on a temporary visa.
    • Tier 2: apply for an AEWV first, work in NZ for 24 months at the qualifying pay rate, then apply for the Work to Residence Visa.
  5. Submit a complete application with proof of identity, the job offer, qualifications, registration (where required), and your pay rate.
  6. Hold the resident visa for 2 continuous years to become eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa.

Processing times, salary thresholds, and accreditation rules change regularly. Verify current numbers at immigration.govt.nz before applying.

Recent Changes to the Green List

The Green List is not static. Immigration NZ adjusts it as the labour market shifts. Recent published changes worth knowing about:

  • August 2025: ten additional trades occupations were added to the Tier 2 Work to Residence pathway, broadening access for skilled trades migrants.
  • Earlier reviews: occupations have been added and removed in earlier cycles, so a version you saw two years ago may already look different.

If you began researching months or years ago, recheck the list before committing to an employer or visa pathway. A change in tier (or a removal) can shift your timeline by years.

Source: Immigration New Zealand news centre, immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really no 'Green List Visa' in New Zealand?

What is the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2?

How do I check if my job is on the Green List?

Do I need a job offer to use the Green List pathway?

Can I apply for the Straight to Residence Visa from overseas?

How long does the Tier 2 Work to Residence pathway take?

Is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) a Green List visa?

Can my partner and children come with me on the Green List pathway?

What if my occupation is not on the Green List?

How often does the Green List change?

Not sure which pathway fits your case?

The Green List looks simple from the outside, but small details (your exact ANZSCO code, tier, registration, and pay rate) decide whether you get residence in months or years. Kiwifern has guided immigrants to NZ for over 20 years. Book a paid 30 minute case review and we will tell you exactly which pathway fits your situation.

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