The Green List is New Zealand's priority pathway for occupations in critical shortage. If your occupation is on this list, you access a faster and more certain route to residence than through the standard skilled migrant system.
There are two tiers.
You apply for a resident visa directly, without needing to work in New Zealand first. You can even apply from India before you arrive. You need a job offer from an accredited NZ employer, meet the role-specific qualifications and registration requirements, and be 55 years old or younger.
Current Tier 1 roles include:
Tier 1 application fees start from NZD 6,450.
You come to New Zealand on an AEWV, work in your qualifying role for two years, then apply for residence. Tier 2 was expanded in 2025 to include ten additional trades: Metal Fabricators, Welders, Fitters, Panel Beaters, Vehicle Painters, and Paving Plant Operators among them.
Salary requirements: Both tiers carry minimum salary requirements pegged to multiples of the median wage. These are updated when the median wage changes. As of March 2026, the immigration median wage is NZD 35.00/hour (NZD 72,800/year). Always verify current salary thresholds on INZ's Green List page before negotiating any job offer.
The current full Green List is published and regularly updated at that same link. Search your occupation before assuming anything.
