New Zealand Straight to Residence Visa 2026: Who Qualifies for Tier 1
Tier 1 of the Green List lets you apply for residence directly, with no stand-down period — if your occupation is on it and you have a job offer from an accredited employer. Here is how to check.
New Zealand's Green List splits in-demand occupations into two tiers. Tier 2 (Work to Residence) means you work in the role for a set period first, then apply for residence. Tier 1 (Straight to Residence) means you can apply for residence immediately on securing a qualifying job offer — no temporary-visa stand-down.
If your occupation is on Tier 1, this is one of the fastest skilled routes to permanent residence in any of the four countries we cover. This guide explains who qualifies and how to check.
What "Straight to Residence" actually means
You do not have to hold a New Zealand work visa for two years first. You do not have to accumulate points. If you meet the criteria, you apply for a resident visa directly. In practice that means:
- Your occupation is on Green List Tier 1 at the time you apply.
- You have a full-time job offer (generally 30+ hours a week) from a New Zealand accredited employer, for a role that genuinely matches the listed occupation.
- You meet any occupational registration requirement — for example, nursing, medicine, engineering, or teaching registration with the relevant New Zealand body.
- You meet the pay threshold that applies to your occupation. New Zealand's median wage rose to NZD 35.00 an hour in March 2026, and several Green List roles are pegged to a multiple of it or to a specific rate.
- You meet health, character, and English requirements.
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The occupations most likely to qualify
Tier 1 targets the shortages New Zealand considers most acute. The strongest clusters are:
- Healthcare: registered nurses, midwives, many medical specialists, some allied health and aged-care roles.
- Engineering: civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical, and several others.
- Construction and infrastructure: project managers, quantity surveyors, surveyors.
- ICT: software engineers, developer programmers, ICT security specialists.
- Education: most primary and secondary teachers now sit on the Straight to Residence pathway.
The list is reviewed and changed periodically, and roles move between tiers. Do not rely on a screenshot from last year or a forum thread.
How to check your occupation properly
The mistake people make is matching by job title. New Zealand matches by occupation and actual duties (ANZSCO), against your job offer and job description. A "Senior Developer" title means nothing if the duties on the job check do not match a Tier 1 code.
Start by searching your role in our [occupations catalog](/occupations) to find the closest matching code and its demand signal, then confirm the current tier and requirements on the [Green List / Work to Residence visa page](/countries/nz/visas/work-to-residence-visa-green-list) and read our [Green List overview](/blog/nz-green-list-2026-guide). If your occupation is not 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 does not carry a guaranteed residence pathway.
To see how your whole profile scores for New Zealand residence — not just one occupation — run a free [Evaluation](/evaluation).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to work in New Zealand before applying for a Straight to Residence visa?+
No. That is the point of Tier 1 — you can apply for residence directly once you have a qualifying accredited-employer job offer. Tier 2 roles do require a work period first.
What is an "accredited employer" in New Zealand?+
An employer that Immigration New Zealand has approved to hire migrant workers. Your offer letter should state the employer's accreditation. If they are not accredited, the offer will not support this visa.
My occupation is on Tier 2, not Tier 1. What does that mean?+
You take the Work to Residence path: hold a qualifying work visa (usually an AEWV tied to a Green List Tier 2 role), work continuously in it for the required period, then apply for residence. See our [Work to Residence guide](/blog/work-to-residence-visa-nz-explained-2026).
Does the Green List guarantee me a visa?+
No. It changes which residence pathway is available to your occupation. You still need a genuine job offer, an accredited employer, registration where required, and to meet health, character, pay, and English rules.
How often does the Green List change?+
Immigration New Zealand reviews it periodically and has added new pathways in 2026 (including a Skilled Work Experience Pathway). Always check the current list before you build a plan around it. --- *ImmigraPath is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm everything against the official government page for your visa, or with a licensed adviser, before you apply.*
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