New Zealand Green List 2026: Full Guide to Roles & Residence Pathways
New Zealand's Green List names the occupations facing genuine, ongoing skill shortages — and being on it changes how fast you can get residence. Here's how the two tiers work.
New Zealand's immigration system doesn't treat every job the same. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) keeps a list — the Green List — of occupations it considers to be in genuine, ongoing shortage. If your job is on it, you get access to a residence pathway that most migrant workers don't have. If it isn't, you're not shut out of New Zealand, but you'll be working through the standard Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) route without a guaranteed route to residence attached to your occupation.
The two tiers, in plain terms
The Green List is split into two tiers, and they lead to residence in different ways.
Tier 1 — Straight to Residence. These are roles INZ considers so short-staffed that qualifying workers can apply for residence directly, without first holding a temporary work visa for a stand-down period. This tier tends to cover senior, highly qualified roles — think specialist medical, engineering, and senior technology positions.
Tier 2 — Work to Residence. These roles don't get an immediate residence application. Instead, you first hold a qualifying work visa (usually an AEWV tied to a Green List Tier 2 occupation), work continuously in that role for the required period, and then apply for residence once you've met it. Several care-workforce roles have their own dedicated Work to Residence category that works on the same principle.
What actually gets you on the list — and what doesn't
Being "on the Green List" isn't a status you apply for separately. It's a property of your occupation code (ANZSCO), matched against your actual job offer and duties. Two things commonly trip people up:
- Job title vs. real duties. INZ (and employers) match your role against ANZSCO by what you actually do, not your business card title. A "Senior Developer" title means nothing if the duties on the job check don't match a listed code.
- The list changes. INZ reviews and updates the Green List periodically. A role that qualified a year ago may have moved tiers, or a new role may have been added. Always check the current list rather than relying on an old screenshot or a forum post.
How to check if your occupation qualifies
Search your job title (or the closest matching occupation) in our [occupations catalog](/occupations) to see its current code and demand signal, then cross-reference against the [Work to Residence / Green List visa page](/countries/nz/visas/work-to-residence-visa-green-list) for the tier and route that applies. If your role isn't listed at all, the [Accredited Employer Work Visa](/blog/accredited-employer-work-visa-aewv-guide-2026) is still very likely your way in — it just won't carry a guaranteed residence pathway on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Green List the same as being guaranteed a visa?+
No. Being on the Green List changes what residence pathway is available to your occupation — it doesn't replace the need for a genuine job offer, an accredited employer, or meeting the standard visa requirements.
What's the real difference between the two tiers?+
Tier 1 roles can apply for residence directly, without first holding a stand-down work visa. Tier 2 roles (and the separate Care Workforce category) need to hold a qualifying work visa and work continuously in the role for a set period before applying for residence.
Do I need a job offer to qualify for a Green List pathway?+
Yes. The Green List identifies which occupations get access to a faster or more direct residence route — it doesn't remove the underlying requirement for a genuine, market-rate job offer from an employer.
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