The Green List is Immigration New Zealand's list of occupations New Zealand is short of. If your job is on it and you meet the requirements, you have a residence pathway that is faster and more certain than anything else in the system.
This page is the complete current list — every occupation in both tiers, with the qualification, registration and wage requirements that attach to each. It is updated to the current Appendix 13, effective 24 August 2026.
Two things worth knowing before you read the tables.
Being on the list is not the same as qualifying. Nearly every occupation carries conditions — a specific qualification, registration with a New Zealand professional body, a minimum wage rate, or all three. The occupation gets you to the door; the requirements decide whether it opens.
Which tier you are in changes everything about your timeline. Tier 1 is residence now. Tier 2 is residence after two years of work in New Zealand. Same list, very different journeys.
Tier 1 vs Tier 2
Tier 1 — Straight to Residence. You can apply for residence immediately, from offshore or onshore, with a qualifying job or job offer. No waiting period in New Zealand first.
Three requirements apply beyond the occupation itself, and the third catches people out:
- All applicants must meet the health and character requirements for residence, and the applicable minimum standard of English (or pre-purchase ESOL tuition where instructions allow it)
- The principal applicant must meet the acceptable employment requirements for a Tier 1 Green List role
- The principal applicant must be aged 55 or younger when the residence application is made
That age limit applies to Straight to Residence. If you are over 55 and your occupation is Tier 1, this particular route is closed to you — but the Skilled Migrant Category and other pathways are not, and they are worth looking at properly rather than assuming residence is out of reach.
Applications must be made on the approved online form.
Tier 2 — Work to Residence. You work in New Zealand in the occupation for 24 months, then apply. The 24 months must fall within the 30-month period immediately before you lodge, and you must have met the Green List requirements for your occupation throughout.
The 24 months don't have to be consecutive. Two twelve-month periods with a six-month gap is fine. You must have been working full-time — at least 30 hours a week — while holding a work visa, a critical purpose visitor visa with work conditions, or an interim visa granted while you held one of those. Leave taken under section 16 of the Holidays Act, including parental leave and ACC leave, counts.
The Tier 2 wage rule people get wrong
This is the single most misunderstood part of the Green List, so it's worth being precise.
Where your occupation has a remuneration requirement, your clock starts when your pay reaches the rate in effect at that time — and once it's running, a later increase in the required rate doesn't stop it.
INZ's own example: a crane operator needs 1.3× the median. Someone earning $43.63/hr could start counting from 18 August 2025, because that was 1.3× the median then. When the requirement rose to $45.50/hr on 9 March 2026, they keep counting — still a crane operator, still earning $43.63, still accruing.
So the rate is effectively locked at the point you start, provided two things stay true: your income doesn't decrease, and you don't change occupation.
Your clock stops if you stop holding a qualifying visa, if your pay drops below the rate required for your occupation, or if you change occupation into one where your income is below that occupation's required rate.
Where your occupation has no remuneration requirement, the same logic applies against the plain median wage rather than a multiple.
There's also a useful transitional rule: where an occupation has no remuneration requirement, applicants holding or having held a visa applied for before 29 September 2023 aren't required to have been paid at or above the median for work gained on and after 29 September 2021, for the period they held a qualifying visa.
Wage rates across time (SR5.15.1)
| Date range | Median | +15% | +30% | +50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 2021 – 3 Jul 2022 | $27.00 | $31.05 | $35.10 | $40.50 |
| 4 Jul 2022 – 26 Feb 2023 | $27.76 | $31.96 | $35.96 | $41.49 |
| 27 Feb 2023 – 27 Feb 2024 | $29.66 | $34.11 | $38.56 | $44.49 |
| 28 Feb 2024 – 17 Aug 2025 | $31.61 | $36.35 | $41.09 | $47.41 |
| 18 Aug 2025 – 8 Mar 2026 | $33.56 | $38.59 | $43.63 | $50.34 |
| From 9 Mar 2026 | $35.00 | $40.25 | $45.50 | $52.50 |
+15% applies to Telecommunications Technician, Civil Machinery Operators, Panel Beater and Vehicle Painter. +30% applies to Crane Operator, Metal Fabricator, Pressure Welder, Welder, Fitter (General), Fitter and Turner, Fitter-Welder and Metal Machinist (First Class). +50% applies to Building Associate.
Two safety nets worth knowing
If your occupation is removed from Tier 2 after you've started counting, your work can continue to count — provided you stay in the occupation and keep meeting the Green List requirements as they were listed, for the full 24 months.
If you have 24 months of New Zealand work in the last 30 months but didn't hold a Tier 2 Green List role throughout, you may still be considered, if you meet the requirements for work earning at least twice the median wage (SR5.20) for the balance. So 18 months in a Tier 2 role plus six months at twice the median can work.
Tier 1 — Straight to Residence
Business Professionals
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| External Auditor | 221213 | $45.50/hr or above (≈$94,640/yr at 40 hrs) |
| Internal Auditor | 221214 | $45.50/hr or above (≈$94,640/yr at 40 hrs) |
Construction
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Project Manager | 133111 | Engineering or construction qualification (see below), or CPEng/Engineering Technologist registration in civil engineering |
| Project Builder (incl. Building Project Manager, Site Foreman) | 133112 | Bachelor's, Graduate Diploma or Diploma in quantity surveying, construction economics, construction or construction management |
| Quantity Surveyor | 233213 | Bachelor's in quantity surveying or construction economics, or NZIQS membership with an NZIQS-approved overseas degree |
| Surveyor | 232212 | Bachelor of Surveying (L7) or with Honours (L8), or RPSurv registration or associate membership with Survey and Spatial New Zealand |
Construction Project Manager accepts a range of qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (L8), Bachelor of Engineering Technology (L7), Bachelor of Construction (L7), a Level 7 bachelor's with 360 credits including a New Zealand major in construction management, civil engineering or highway engineering, a Level 7 Graduate Diploma in those focus areas, a Level 6 diploma with 240 credits in civil engineering, highway engineering, construction or construction management, a Washington or Sydney Accord accredited civil engineering degree, or a Level 7+ qualification with an Engineering New Zealand letter confirming it meets the benchmark toward Chartered Professional Engineer status.
Engineering
These occupations all require one of: a Washington Accord accredited engineering degree, a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (L8), or a Level 7+ qualification with an Engineering New Zealand letter confirming benchmark requirements toward CPEng status — or NZ registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer.
| Occupation | ANZSCO |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineer | 233111 |
| Materials Engineer | 233112 |
| Civil Engineer | 233211 |
| Geotechnical Engineer | 233212 |
| Structural Engineer | 233214 |
| Electrical Engineer | 233311 |
| Electronics Engineer | 233411 |
| Industrial Engineer | 233511 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 233512 |
| Production or Plant Engineer | 233513 |
| Aeronautical (Aerospace/Avionics/Aviation) Engineer | 233911 |
| Environmental Engineer | 233915 |
| Naval Architect / Marine Designer | 233916 |
| Engineering Professionals nec | 233999 |
Engineering technicians — each has its own discipline-specific qualification list:
| Occupation | ANZSCO |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technician | 312212 |
| Electrical Engineering Technician | 312312 |
| Electronic Engineering Technician | 312412 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technician | 312512 |
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (Avionics 323111, Mechanical 323112, Structures 323113) require an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.
Telecommunications Engineer (263311) and Telecommunications Network Engineer (263312) require a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Network Engineering (L8), Bachelor of Engineering (L7), Bachelor of Engineering Technology (L7), an Accord-accredited degree, an Engineering New Zealand benchmark letter, or CPEng registration.
Health and Social Services
This is the largest group on the list. Almost every role requires registration with the relevant New Zealand professional body — and that registration, not the job offer, is usually the binding constraint.
Dental — registration with the Dental Council of New Zealand: Dentist (252312), Dental Specialist and specialisms including Endodontist, Orthodontist, Periodontist, Prosthodontist, Paedodontist, Oral Pathologist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (all 252311), oral medicine, oral surgery, public health dentistry, restorative dentistry and special needs dentistry specialists (2523), Clinical Dental Technician / Dental Prosthetist (411212), Dental Technician (411213), Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist (411214).
Doctors — NZ provisional general, general, provisional vocational, vocational or special purpose locum tenens registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand. A letter of eligibility for one of these forms of registration is acceptable.
General Practitioner (253111), Resident Medical Officer (253112), Anaesthetist (253211), Specialist Physician (253311), Cardiologist (253312), Clinical Haematologist (253313), Medical Oncologist (253314), Endocrinologist (253315), Gastroenterologist (253316), Intensive Care Specialist (253317), Neurologist (253318), Paediatrician (253321), Renal Medicine Specialist (253322), Rheumatologist (253323), Thoracic Medicine Specialist (253324), Specialist Physicians nec (253399), Psychiatrist (253411).
Surgeons: General (253511), Cardiothoracic (253512), Neurosurgeon (253513), Orthopaedic (253514), Otorhinolaryngologist (253515), Paediatric (253516), Plastic and Reconstructive (253517), Urologist (253518), Vascular (253521).
Also: Dermatologist (253911), Emergency Medicine Specialist (253912), Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (253913), Ophthalmologist (253914), Pathologist (253915), Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist (253917), Radiation Oncologist (253918), Medical Practitioners nec (253999).
Nursing and midwifery — Midwife (254111) requires Midwifery Council registration. Nurse Practitioners (254411), all Registered Nurse specialisms (254412–254499) and Enrolled Nurse (411411) require Nursing Council of New Zealand registration.
Registered Nurse specialisms cover Aged Care, Child and Family Health, Community Health, Critical Care and Emergency, Developmental Disability, Disability and Rehabilitation, Medical, Medical Practice, Mental Health, Perioperative, Surgical, Paediatrics, and Registered Nurses nec.
Allied health and social services:
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Registration required |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | 234611 | Medical Sciences Council of NZ |
| Anaesthetic Technician | 311211 | Medical Sciences Council of NZ |
| Medical Laboratory Technician / Pre-Analytical Technician | 311213 | Medical Sciences Council of NZ |
| Clinical Psychologist | 272311 | Psychologists Board of Aotearoa NZ |
| Educational Psychologist | 272312 | Psychologists Board of Aotearoa NZ |
| Organisational Psychologist | 272313 | Psychologists Board of Aotearoa NZ |
| Psychologists nec | 272399 | Psychologists Board of Aotearoa NZ |
| Psychotherapist | 272314 | Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa NZ |
| Physicist (Medical) | 234914 | ACPSEM certification or listed overseas equivalent |
| Orthoptist | 251412 | NZ Orthoptics Society Inc. membership |
| Veterinarian | 234711 | Veterinary Council of NZ |
| Addiction Practitioner / Alcohol & Drug Clinician | 272112 | Dapaanz |
| Drug and Alcohol Counsellor | 272112 | Dapaanz |
| Audiometrist | 311299 | NZ Audiological Society membership |
| Audiologist | 252711 | NZ Audiological Society membership |
| Chiropractor | 252111 | NZ Chiropractic Board |
| Clinical Physiologist | 234599 | Clinical Physiologists Registration Board of NZ |
| Careers Counsellor | 272111 | NZ Association of Counsellors membership |
| Family and Marriage Counsellor | 272113 | NZ Association of Counsellors membership |
| Rehabilitation Counsellor | 272114 | NZ Association of Counsellors membership |
| Student Counsellor | 272115 | NZ Association of Counsellors membership |
| Counsellors nec | 272199 | NZ Association of Counsellors membership |
| Dietician | 251111 | Dieticians Board of NZ |
| Dispensing Optician | 399913 | Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of NZ |
| Optometrist | 251411 | Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of NZ |
| Genetic Counsellor | 251999 | Human Genetics Society of Australasia |
| Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician | 311299 | NZ Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (associate) |
| Orthotist / Prosthetist | 251912 | NZ Orthotic and Prosthetic Association |
| Osteopath | 252112 | Osteopathic Council of NZ |
| Ambulance Paramedic | 411112 | Paramedic Council |
| Perfusionist (cardiac) | 311299 | ANZ College of Perfusionists membership |
| Hospital Pharmacist | 251511 | Pharmacy Council of NZ |
| Industrial Pharmacist | 251512 | Pharmacy Council of NZ |
| Retail Pharmacist | 251513 | Pharmacy Council of NZ |
| Physiotherapist | 252511 | Physiotherapy Board of NZ |
| Play Therapist (hospital) | 252299 | Hospital Play Specialists Association of Aotearoa NZ |
| Speech Language Therapist | 252712 | NZ Speech-Language Therapists' Association |
| Sterilisation Technician | 711914 | NZ Sterile Sciences Association |
| Social Worker | 272511 | Social Workers Registration Board |
| Medical Imaging Technologist | 251211 | NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board |
| MRI Technologist | 251211 | NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board |
| Medical Radiation Therapist | 251212 | NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 251213 | NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board |
| Sonographer | 251214 | NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board |
| Occupational Therapist | 252411 | Occupational Therapy Board of NZ |
| Podiatrist | 252611 | Podiatrists Board of NZ |
Teachers — Secondary School Teacher (241411), Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (241211), Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (241212), Primary School Teacher (241213) and Middle/Intermediate School Teacher (241311) require Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand registration with a provisional or full practising certificate.
Primary Industries and Science
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Other Spatial Scientist | 232214 | Level 7 bachelor's, 360 credits, with a NZ major in computer science or geography |
| Environmental Research Scientist | 234313 | Level 8+ in environmental studies, environmental management or environmental engineering (credit requirements apply) |
| Food Technologist | 234212 | Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (L8), or L7+ in nutrition, food science, food technology or food engineering (credit requirements apply) |
ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications
This group is wage-gated rather than qualification-gated, and the thresholds are high.
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Wage requirement | Straight to Residence, contract for services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Information Officer | 135111 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs relevant work |
| ICT Project Manager | 135112 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| ICT Managers nec | 135199 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| Analyst Programmer | 261311 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| Developer Programmer | 261312 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| Software Engineer | 261313 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| Software Tester | 261314 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| ICT Security Specialist | 262112 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| Software and Applications Programmers nec | 261399 | $72.80/hr | $109.20/hr + 10 yrs |
| Database Administrator | 262111 | $70.00/hr (≈$145,600/yr) | $87.50/hr (≈$182,000/yr) + 10 yrs |
| Systems Administrator | 262113 | $70.00/hr (≈$145,600/yr) | $87.50/hr (≈$182,000/yr) + 10 yrs |
| Multimedia Specialist | 261211 | $57.75/hr | $86.45/hr + 10 yrs |
The contract-for-services column applies only where you are engaged under a contract for services rather than an employment agreement, and only for Straight to Residence. It requires both the higher rate and ten years in a relevant role.
Tier 2 — Work to Residence (24 months)
Tier 2 requires 24 months of work in New Zealand in the occupation, within the 30 months before you apply. Where a wage multiple applies, see the rate table and the locking rule above — the rate that matters is the one in effect when your clock started, not today's.
Construction
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Building Associate / Building Construction Supervisor | 312112 | At least 1.5× median wage over the 24 months |
| Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator | 712111 | Crane Operator role only. At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months, plus NZ Level 3 Certificate in Cranes with a Level 4 specialisation (or overseas equivalent) at time of residence application |
Building Associate commonly covers site supervisor, site manager, site foreman, build supervisor, build manager and civil project manager job titles.
Factory Process Worker
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Slaughterer | 831212 | Halal Slaughterer role only, with an employer and at a site listed on the MPI-administered approved halal premises notice |
Health and Social Services (education roles)
All require Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand registration with a provisional or full practising certificate.
| Occupation | ANZSCO |
|---|---|
| School Principal | 134311 |
| Special Needs Teacher | 241511 |
| Teacher of the Hearing Impaired | 241512 |
| Teacher of the Sight Impaired | 241513 |
| Special Education Teachers nec | 241599 |
| Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages | 249311 |
| Early Childhood (Pre-primary) Teacher — registered | 241111 |
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages must be working in a primary, intermediate or secondary school.
ICT
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications Technician | 342414 | At least 1.15× median wage over 24 months, or NZ Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 3) at time of residence application |
Civil Machinery Operators
All require at least 1.15× median wage over the 24-month qualifying period.
| Occupation | ANZSCO |
|---|---|
| Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) | 721211 |
| Backhoe Operator | 721212 |
| Bulldozer Operator | 721213 |
| Excavator Operator | 721214 |
| Grader Operator | 721215 |
| Loader Operator | 721216 |
| Paving Plant Operator | 721913 |
Protective Service Workers
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Corrections Officer | 442111 | NZ Certificate Level 3+ meeting the requirements of the NZ Certificate in Prisoner Management (L3) or NZ Certificate in Offender Management (L3), at time of residence application |
Trades
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Electrician | 321111 | NZQCF Level 4+ certificate covering a strand of the NZ Certificate in Automotive Electrical Engineering (L4) |
| Diesel Motor Mechanic (incl. Heavy Vehicle Inspector) | 321212 | NZ Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (L4), or appointment as a vehicle inspector by NZTA Waka Kotahi for certificate of fitness |
| Motor Mechanic (General) | 321211 | NZ Certificate in Heavy Automotive, Light Automotive or Motorcycle Engineering (L4), or NZTA vehicle inspector appointment |
| Motorcycle Mechanic | 321213 | As above |
| Electrician (General) | 341111 | NZ registration as an electrician, or a Limited Certificate (not Trainee) from the Electrical Workers Registration Board |
| Plumber (General) | 334111 | Registration as certifying, tradesman or journeyman plumber with the PGD Board |
| Drainlayer | 334113 | Registration as certifying, tradesman or journeyman drainlayer with the PGD Board |
| Gasfitter | 334114 | Registration as certifying, tradesman or journeyman gasfitter with the PGD Board |
| Panel Beater | 324111 | At least 1.15× median wage over 24 months |
| Vehicle Painter | 324311 | At least 1.15× median wage over 24 months |
| Metal Fabricator | 322311 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
| Pressure Welder | 322312 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
| Welder | 322313 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
| Fitter (General) | 323211 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
| Fitter and Turner | 323212 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
| Fitter-Welder | 323213 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
| Metal Machinist (First Class) | 323214 | At least 1.3× median wage over 24 months |
For plumbers, drainlayers and gasfitters, 12 months on a provisional licence counts toward the 24-month duration and for AEWV purposes, provided registration is complete when you apply for residence.
Agriculture
| Occupation | ANZSCO | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy Cattle Farmer (incl. Dairy Farm Manager, Assistant Dairy Farm Manager, Dairy Herd Manager) | 121313 | Minimum three years' experience on a commercial farm in a relevant role |
The requirement people miss: overseas qualifications
This deserves its own section because it is the most common avoidable delay in a Green List application.
Where the list specifies a qualification, it means a New Zealand qualification on the NZQCF, or an overseas qualification comparable to that standard. Comparability is not something you assert. Most qualifications from outside New Zealand require an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA.
There are two exemptions:
- Washington Accord and Sydney Accord accredited engineering degrees. Your country must have been on the relevant signatory list at the time your degree was awarded — a degree from the right university in the wrong year does not qualify.
- Qualifications on the Skilled Migrant Category exemption list. INZ publishes a lookup tool for this; check it before assuming either way.
The exemption that isn't always an exemption
Here is the part that catches Green List applicants specifically. Even where your qualification is on the exemption list, INZ may still ask for an IQA — and it does so where the visa requirement is expressed in terms of credit or knowledge rather than type or level of qualification.
Look back at the Tier 1 tables and you'll see how often Green List requirements are written exactly that way: "a diploma at NZQCF Level 6, or higher, with the minimum equivalent of 240 credits, which includes the knowledge requirements of…". That is a credit-and-knowledge requirement. Being on the exemption list may not save you from an IQA.
So if your Green List occupation's requirement is phrased in credits or knowledge areas, plan on an IQA even if the exemption list appears to cover you. Discovering otherwise costs you weeks.
Choosing the right assessment
NZQA offers three types, and picking the wrong one means starting again:
- Skill shortage list IQA — for Green List roles. This is the one most readers of this page need.
- Standard IQA — for general comparability, or for occupational registration.
- Teaching IQA — to register as a teacher or for a teacher salary assessment.
An IQA takes time. It is currently the slowest step in most skilled residence applications, and it is entirely front-loadable — nothing stops you starting it before the rest of your case is ready.
Check whether you need an IQA on the INZ website, and apply through NZQA.
Common questions
Is the Green List the same as the SMC? No. The Green List is its own residence pathway. The Skilled Migrant Category is separate, with its own points and pathway structure. Some people qualify under both, and the better route is not always obvious — see our SMC guide.
My job title matches but my duties are different. Then you likely have a substantial match problem, and it is the most common reason a confident-looking application fails. The occupation is defined by ANZSCO duties, not by what your employer calls the role.
I'm in a Tier 2 role and my wage dropped for a few months. That's the situation that stops the clock, so raise it with an adviser before you apply. Note the reverse is not a problem: if the required rate went up and your pay stayed the same, you keep counting, as long as you haven't changed occupation.
I'm over 55. Is that the end of it? For Tier 1 Straight to Residence, yes — the age limit is a hard requirement. For other pathways, no. Get the alternatives checked before you conclude anything.
My occupation isn't on the list. The Green List is not the only residence pathway. The SMC has three pathways of its own, and there are sector-specific and partnership-based routes. Not being on this list is not the end of the road.
Where we can help
Ishvinder Singh (IAA Licence 201401130) and Shaveta Khanna (IAA Licence 202100174) have advised on New Zealand skilled residence since 2014.
The Green List looks simple and frequently isn't. If your case involves an overseas qualification, a registration still in progress, a Tier 2 wage history with any variation in it, or a role whose duties don't map neatly onto the ANZSCO description, it is worth a conversation before you lodge rather than after.
Book a 30-minute consultation ($99), call +64 9 213 1677, or message us on WhatsApp.
Check your occupation with our Green List Matcher, and see the current threshold on our median wage page.
The official list is Appendix 13 on the INZ website.