Green List Tier 1 vs Tier 2: Fast Paths to NZ Residence

The Green List is Immigration New Zealand’s list of in-demand occupations — the roles New Zealand cannot fill locally. If your job is on it, you get a faster, more predictable route to residence than the general Skilled Migrant Category. The list has two tiers, and the tier decides everything about your pathway.

As of the current version (9 March 2026), the list contains 198 occupations: 161 on Tier 1 and 37 on Tier 2. Check yours with our Green List Checker, which mirrors INZ’s official Appendix 13.

Tier 1 — Straight to Residence

Tier 1 roles can apply for the Straight to Residence Visa immediately. You do not need to work in New Zealand first — you can apply from overseas or while here on a work visa.

You need:

• a job, or a job offer, in a Tier 1 occupation with an accredited employer
• to meet the occupation’s specific Green List requirement — a qualification, professional registration, or a pay rate (for example, ICT managers must be paid at least $72.80/hour)
• to be paid at least the rate specified for your role, or the median wage ($35.00/hour) if no rate is specified
• to be 55 or younger, and meet health, character and English requirements

Tier 1 is heavily weighted toward health (doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health), engineering, ICT, and teaching.

Tier 2 — Work to Residence

Tier 2 roles lead to the Work to Residence Visa. The deal: work in New Zealand in the role for 24 months, then apply for residence.

• The 24 months can be built up on one or more work visas (including the Accredited Employer Work Visa)
• Wage requirements apply during the qualifying period — several trades must be paid at 1.15×, 1.3× or 1.5× the median wage
• When you apply for residence, you must still be working in (or have an offer for) the Tier 2 role and be paid at the required rate

Tier 2 covers many trades (electricians, plumbers, welders, diesel mechanics), civil machinery operators, some teachers, and corrections officers.

Upcoming change: INZ has announced that on 24 August 2026 the rules for calculating wage rates for work-to-residence visas will change. If you are mid-way through a Tier 2 qualifying period, check INZ’s announcement before you apply.

Side by side

	Tier 1 — Straight to Residence	Tier 2 — Work to Residence
NZ work needed first	None	24 months in the role
Occupations (03/2026)	161	37
Typical fields	Health, engineering, ICT, teaching	Trades, machinery operators
Apply from overseas	Yes	No (need NZ work first)
Median processing time*	~37 working days	~42 working days

*INZ processing data, last 4 weeks as of August 2026 — see our visa processing times guide.

Every occupation has its own fine print

Being “on the list” is not enough by itself. Each occupation carries its own requirement — registration with a New Zealand body (nurses, electricians), a specific qualification (engineers), or a pay threshold (ICT roles, some trades). Two occupations with similar titles can have different requirements, so always check the exact wording for your ANZSCO code in the Green List Checker.