NZ Green List — fast-track occupations

Immigration NZ's Green List is a curated list of occupations in critical national shortage. Two tiers offer different speed and certainty: Tier 1 = direct residence on arrival; Tier 2 = 24-month work-to-residence after employment. Both bypass significant chunks of the standard SMC process.

Tier 1

Direct residence — apply from offshore with a job offer

Tier 2

Work to Residence — apply for residence after 24 months

Job offer

Required for both tiers — accredited employer, role-specific pay rate

Tier 1 — Straight to Residence

For the most in-demand occupations. Apply for residence from offshore directly — no time-limited work visa required first. Resident Visa granted on arrival in NZ.

Occupations on Tier 1

Engineering

·Civil engineer
·Electrical / electronics engineer
·Telecommunications engineer
·Engineering professionals (a list of related)

Health

·Medical doctor (GP, specialists)
·Veterinarian
·Audiologist
·Anaesthetic technician

Construction & infrastructure

·Construction project manager
·Quantity surveyor
·Surveyor

ICT (limited)

·ICT security specialist
·Software architect (specific senior roles)

Education

·Secondary school teacher (specific subjects: science, maths, te reo Māori, technology)

Other professional

·Forester / forest scientist
·Some agricultural & primary industry professionals

Subset shown — see immigration.govt.nz/green-list for the authoritative list (~80+ occupations on Tier 1 as of 2026).

Tier 2 — Work to Residence

Get an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in a Tier 2 role, work in NZ for at least 24 months meeting the role's pay-rate threshold, then apply for residence. More accessible than Tier 1 — covers a much broader set of trades and frontline roles.

Occupations on Tier 2

Trades

·Diesel mechanic
·Electrician (general)
·Plumber
·Welder
·Plant mechanic
·Heavy vehicle / commercial vehicle driver (specific licenses)

Healthcare (excluding mental health)

·Registered nurse (medical, surgical, paediatric, perioperative)
·Midwife
·Diagnostic & interventional radiographer
·Sonographer

Education

·Primary school teacher
·Early childhood teacher

Other in-demand

·Crane / hoist operators
·Slaughterer
·Civil construction site supervisor

Tier 1 vs Tier 2 — what's actually different

	Tier 1	Tier 2
Visa granted on arrival	Resident Visa (PR)	AEWV (work visa)
Time to residence	Immediate	~24 months
Apply from offshore	Yes	Yes (AEWV first)
Spouse work rights	Immediate (resident)	Open work visa
Children schooling	Free public	Domestic fees at state schools
Access to public healthcare	Yes (resident)	Yes (work visa 2+ years)

Notes for South African applicants

SA tradies are well-positioned for Tier 2. Diesel mechanics, electricians, welders, and plumbers are in critical shortage. NZ Green List Tier 2 is often the fastest emigration route for these professions.

SA registered nurses qualify under Tier 2. NZ Nursing Council registration is required first — typically 4-6 months from application.

SA software engineersare not on Tier 1 (only ICT security specialists) and not usually on Tier 2. Standard SMC route via AEWV is the typical path. Consider AU 189/190 or CA Express Entry if Green List doesn't apply.

Pay rate thresholds matter. Each Tier 2 role has a minimum hourly rate (typically NZ median wage = NZD 31.61/hr in 2026, with role-specific rates above). Below threshold = no Green List eligibility.

Find an Accredited Employer first. Both tiers require an offer from an INZ-accredited employer. Search the public list at immigration.govt.nz before targeting roles.

Compare NZ to AU and CA

The country comparison shows your eligibility on the Green List and SMC pathways alongside Australia and Canada.

General information only. For advice specific to your situation consult an IAA-licensed adviser or NZ immigration lawyer.