New Zealand Green List Visa: Tier 1 & Tier 2 Explained (2025)

New Zealand's Strategic Immigration Reset

New Zealand overhauled its immigration system in 2022 following COVID-era disruptions, introducing the Green List as a targeted tool to fill critical shortages across healthcare, engineering, education, and construction. Unlike broad points-based programs, the Green List is a curated, occupation-specific pathway that offers a direct route to permanent residence for workers in high-demand roles.

As of 2025, the Green List has two tiers with meaningfully different eligibility requirements and timelines. Understanding which tier your occupation sits in — and whether you meet the associated salary and qualification benchmarks — is the first step toward a New Zealand residence visa.

Tier 1: Straight to Residence

Tier 1 occupations can apply directly for a Resident Visa without first obtaining a work visa or completing a period of employment in New Zealand. This is the most direct immigration pathway New Zealand offers for overseas workers.

Key requirements for Tier 1:

• Your occupation must appear on the official Tier 1 list
• You must hold a New Zealand-recognized qualification in that occupation (or an overseas qualification assessed as equivalent)
• Your salary offer must be at least 1.5 times the New Zealand median wage

- NZ median wage 2024–25: NZ$31.61/hour - 1.5× threshold: NZ$47.42/hour (equivalent to approximately NZ$98,634/year full-time)

• You must have a genuine job offer from a New Zealand employer

Tier 1 occupation examples (as at 2025):

The full Tier 1 list is maintained by Immigration New Zealand and updated periodically. Always verify your occupation code against the current list at immigration.govt.nz.

Tier 2: Work to Residence

Tier 2 offers a broader range of occupations but requires applicants to first work in New Zealand for at least 24 months before applying for residence.

Key requirements for Tier 2:

• Your occupation must appear on the Tier 2 list
• You must hold a recognized qualification
• Your salary must be at or above the New Zealand median wage (NZ$31.61/hour in 2024–25) — or the occupation-specific minimum if higher
• You must first obtain an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) through an accredited New Zealand employer
• After 24 months of continuous employment, you may apply for the Straight to Residence Visa (STRV)

Tier 2 occupation examples:

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Most Green List Tier 2 applicants enter New Zealand on an AEWV. To employ a migrant under the AEWV:

1. The employer must obtain employer accreditation from Immigration New Zealand
2. The job must be genuine and the employer must demonstrate attempts to hire locally
3. The offered salary must meet the relevant threshold

AEWV processing times in 2025: approximately 3–5 weeks for employer accreditation (if not already accredited) and 4–8 weeks for the visa itself.

Qualification Recognition

New Zealand does not have a unified credential recognition system — each profession has its own registration body:

Overseas qualifications must typically be assessed for equivalence before a job offer or visa application is lodged. This process can take 2–6 months, so begin early.

Pathway to Permanent Residence and Citizenship

• Tier 1: Resident Visa granted directly — no waiting period for work experience.
• Tier 2: Resident Visa after 2 years on AEWV.
• Permanent Resident Visa: After 2 years of living in New Zealand on a Resident Visa, with 184+ days spent in NZ in each of those 2 years.
• New Zealand Citizenship: After 5 years as a permanent resident, with 1,350 days present in New Zealand.

Key Differences: Green List vs. Skilled Migrant Category

For workers in listed occupations, the Green List is almost always faster and more predictable than the Skilled Migrant Category.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Start qualification assessment early — this is typically the longest step and the most common reason for delays.
• Confirm accreditation status of your prospective employer before signing an employment contract.
• Document your salary clearly — the job offer letter must explicitly state your hourly or annual rate in NZD.
• Check the list date — Immigration NZ updates the Green List occupations periodically; verify the current version before applying.