What is the Green List?
The Green List is being introduced to replace the existing skills shortage list. The Green List is more focused than the existing skills shortage lists but has guaranteed residency pathways for those eligible.
The Green List contains a small number of highly skilled roles in high demand globally and in ongoing shortage in New Zealand.
Employers won’t need to provide proof of advertising for these occupations when progressing an accredited employer work visa job check application.
What are the residency pathways?
The Green List provides two pathways for residence: a fast track; or work to residence path. Partners will also have open work rights. Both residence pathways will be limited to migrants 55 years or younger just like the Skilled Migrant requirements.
The fast track to residency pathway allows migrants who apply for their visa from the 4of July will be able to apply for residency as early as September. In contrast, the work to residency pathway will allow migrants to apply for residency after 2 years.
The roles will have registration, qualification or experience requirements. More detail on these is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.
Fast Track to Residency Roles:
- Construction Project Manager
- Project builder
- Quantity Surveyor
- Surveyor
- Chemical Engineer
- Civil Engineering Technician
- Civil Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Electrical Engineering Technician
- Environmental Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Materials Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Production or Plant Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Telecommunications Engineers
- Telecommunications Network Engineers
- General Engineers not otherwise specified
- General Practitioner
- Anaesthetist
- Psychiatrist
- Specialist Physicians not otherwise specified
- Surgeons
- Other Medical Practitioners
- Ophthalmologist Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist and Radiation
- Resident Medical Officer
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Clinical psychologists and Psychologists
- Physicist (medical)
- Orthoptist
- Veterinarian
- Environmental Research Scientist
- Food Technologist
- ICT Managers
- Software Engineer
- ICT Security Specialist
- Multimedia Specialist
Work to Residency Roles:
- Anaesthetic Technician
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Imaging Technologist
- Medical Radiation Therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Sonographer
- Podiatrist
- Audiologist
- All Registered Nurses (including Aged Care)
- Midwife
- Teachers (secondary with specialisations and registered ECE)
- Automotive Electrician
- Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Dairy Farm Managers
If you want check if you qualify for the fast track to residency, we recommend checking your exact profession on the INZ website, especially if you’re working in engineering or healthcare where there is a broad range of roles that can gain this.
There is also a pathway for eligible migrants working in these occupations or who are paid twice the median wage.
What’s the point of the Green List?
The Green List aims to attract globally in-demand workers, but it is not the only pathway to residence available. Other employers will still be able to access skilled migrants, and many of them will also have a pathway to residency through the Skilled Migrant Category.
