The
New Zealand
Green List
To attract and retain highly skilled individuals, the New Zealand government has compiled a list of occupations, known as the Green List.
The Green List consists of two tiers of occupations. Tier 1 category occupations who qualify are able to come to New Zealand via the ‘Straight to Residence’ route and gain immediate New Zealand residency.
Tier 2 occupations who qualify can gain residency after working in New Zealand for two years. This is what’s known as the ‘Work to Residence’ pathway.
Individuals must meet the Green List requirements, such as qualification, registration and remuneration.
We can help you navigate the process, whatever your situation.
Green List tier 1 occupations
Engineering
- Chemical Engineer
- Materials Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
View more tier 1 occupations
- Acoustic Engineer
- Mechatronics Engineer
- Product Design Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Production or Plant Engineer
- Engineering Professionals nec
- Civil Engineering Technician
- Electrical Engineering Technician
- Electronic Engineering Technician
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Telecommunications Network Engineer
Construction
- Construction Project Manager
- Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman)
- Quantity Surveyor
- Surveyor
Health and Social Services
- General Practitioner
- Resident Medical Officer
- Anaesthetist
- Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
- Cardiologist
- Clinical Haematologist
- Medical Oncologist
- Endocrinologist
- Gastroenterologist
- Intensive Care Specialist
- Neurologist
- Paediatrician
- Renal Medicine Specialist
- Rheumatologist
- Thoracic Medicine Specialist
- Specialist Physicians nec
- Psychiatrist
- Surgeon (General)
- Cardiothoracic Surgeon
- Neurosurgeon
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Otorhinolaryngologist
- Paediatric Surgeon
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Urologist
- Vascular Surgeon
- Dermatologist
- Emergency Medicine Specialist
- Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Pathologist
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
- Radiation Oncologist
- Medical Practitioners nec
- Midwife
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
- Registered Nurse (Community Health)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
- Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
- Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
- Registered Nurse (Medical)
- Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
- Registered Nurse (Surgical)
- Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
- Registered Nurses nec
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Educational Psychologist
- Organisational Psychologist
- Psychologists nec
- Psychotherapist
- Physicist (Medical)
- Orthoptist
- Veterinarian
- Anaesthetic Technician
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Diagnostic (Medical Imaging Technologist)
- Medical Radiation Therapist
- Sonographer
- Occupational Therapist
- Podiatrist
- Audiologist
- Addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician
- Audiometrist
- Chiropractor
- Clinical dental technician
- Clinical physiologists (sleep, renal, exercise, respiratory, neurology, and cardiac)
- Counsellor
- Dental specialists
- Dental technician
- Dental therapist
- Dentist
- Dietician
- Dispensing optician
- Drug and alcohol counsellor
- Enrolled nurse
- Genetic counsellor
- Medical laboratory pre-analytical technician
- Medical resonance imaging technologist
- Nuclear medicine technologist
- Nurse practitioner
- Optometrist
- Oral health therapist
- Orthotic and prosthetic technician
- Orthotist/prosthetist
- Osteopath
- Paramedic/emergency medical technician
- Perfusionist (cardiac)
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Play therapist (hospital)
- Social worker
- Speech language therapist
- Sterile processing technician
ICT, Electronics, Telecommunications
- Chief Information Officer
- ICT Project Manager
- ICT Managers nec
- Analyst Programmer
- Developer Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Software Tester
- ICT Security Specialist
- Software and Applications Programmers nec
- Multimedia Specialist
- Database Administrator
- Systems Administrator
Others
- Other Spatial Scientist
- Environmental Research Scientist
- Food Technologist
- Internal Auditor
- External Auditor
- Secondary School Teachers – all specialisations
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Naval Architect / Marine Designer
- Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)
- Sterilisation Technician
Green List tier 2 occupations
Construction
- Civil Construction Supervisors
- Gasfitters
- Drainlayers
- Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator
- Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)
- Backhoe Operator
- Bulldozer Operator
- Excavator Operator
View more tier 2 occupations
- Grader Operator
- Loader Operator
- Motor mechanic – General
- Motorcycle mechanic
Trades
- Automotive Electrician
- Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
- Electrician (General)
- Plumber (General)
Others
- School Principal
- Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Teacher
- Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher
- Primary School Teacher
- Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher
- Special Needs Teacher
- Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
- Teacher of the Sight Impaired
- Special Education Teachers nec
- Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages – if working in a primary, intermediate or secondary school
- Dairy Cattle Farmer (Dairy Cattle Farm Manager) including Dairy Farm Manager, Assistant Dairy Farm Manager and Dairy Herd Manager
- Halal slaughterers
- Corrections Officer
Immigration
strategy
International
recruitment
