New Zealand’s Green List Jobs 2026 remain an important pathway for skilled professionals who want to work and potentially gain residence in New Zealand.

The Green List identifies occupations where New Zealand has specific workforce needs. Depending on the occupation, qualifications, registration, salary and other requirements, an eligible worker may be able to apply for residence immediately through the Straight to Residence pathway or after completing the required New Zealand work experience through the Work to Residence pathway.

For overseas applicants, including professionals from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and other countries, understanding the exact occupation and requirements is essential. Simply having a job title that sounds similar to a Green List occupation does not automatically make someone eligible.

This complete guide explains the New Zealand Green List 2026, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 occupations, salary requirements, qualifications, professional registration, AEWV connections and residence pathways.

What Is the New Zealand Green List?

The New Zealand Green List is a government list of occupations that have been identified as needing skilled workers.

The occupations are divided into two main categories:

Tier 1 – Straight to Residence
Tier 2 – Work to Residence

Tier 1 occupations can potentially lead directly to residence when all requirements are satisfied.

Tier 2 occupations generally require the applicant to complete 24 months of eligible work in New Zealand before applying for the Work to Residence pathway.

The Green List is therefore particularly important for skilled professionals who are planning their immigration strategy before accepting a New Zealand job.

New Zealand Green List Tier 1 Jobs 2026

Tier 1 is the category associated with the Straight to Residence Visa.

If your occupation is listed in Tier 1 and you meet the relevant requirements, you may be able to apply for residence without first completing two years of New Zealand employment. Immigration New Zealand confirms that applicants can apply from inside or outside New Zealand if they satisfy the applicable requirements.

Examples of occupations appearing in the Tier 1 Green List include selected roles in:

Healthcare
Engineering
Information technology
Construction and infrastructure
Education
Science
Certain professional occupations

The exact occupation, qualification, registration and salary requirements vary considerably.

Important

Being employed in the same industry is not enough.

For example, working in IT does not automatically mean that every IT position qualifies for Tier 1. The applicant must have a role that matches an occupation listed on the Green List and satisfy the requirements attached to that occupation.

New Zealand Green List Tier 2 Jobs 2026

Tier 2 occupations use the Work to Residence pathway.

Under the current Green List pathway, an eligible applicant generally needs to complete 24 months of relevant full-time work in New Zealand in the qualifying Tier 2 occupation before applying for residence.

The work must satisfy the applicable Green List requirements throughout the relevant period.

The employment can include work performed on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or another acceptable visa that permits the relevant work.

This makes the AEWV particularly relevant to overseas professionals whose Green List occupation is classified under Tier 2.

Green List Jobs 2026: Major Occupation Categories

The Green List covers a broad range of professional and skilled occupations.

1. Healthcare Jobs

Healthcare continues to represent one of the major areas of skilled migration.

Potential Green List healthcare occupations include selected:

Registered nurses
Medical practitioners
Specialist doctors
Midwives
Dentists
Pharmacists
Allied health professionals
Other regulated healthcare occupations

Many healthcare occupations also require registration with the relevant New Zealand professional authority.

For internationally qualified healthcare workers, immigration eligibility and professional registration are separate requirements.

2. Engineering Jobs

Engineering is another major Green List category.

Potential occupations include selected:

Civil engineers
Structural engineers
Mechanical engineers
Electrical engineers
Electronics engineers
Environmental engineers
Chemical engineers
Engineering professionals in specialised fields

Applicants should check the exact Green List occupation and qualification requirements rather than relying solely on their degree title.

3. Information Technology Jobs

New Zealand’s Green List also contains selected ICT occupations.

Examples can include:

Software Engineer
Developer Programmer
Analyst Programmer
ICT Security Specialist
ICT Project Manager
ICT Manager
Software Tester
Database Administrator
Systems Administrator
Selected software and applications programming roles

However, technology professionals need to pay particular attention to salary thresholds.

Some ICT Green List occupations have specific remuneration requirements that are considerably higher than ordinary AEWV market-rate requirements.

Therefore, a person may qualify for an AEWV technology job without necessarily meeting the requirements for a Green List residence pathway.

4. Construction and Infrastructure

New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure sectors also contain occupations that may be relevant to skilled migration.

Depending on the current Green List settings, relevant professional and technical occupations can include selected:

Construction managers
Project managers
Surveyors
Engineering professionals
Quantity surveyors
Infrastructure specialists

Requirements can include specific qualifications, experience and salary levels.

5. Education Jobs

Selected education professionals may also find Green List opportunities.

Depending on the occupation and current requirements, this can include certain:

Secondary school teachers
Primary school teachers
Specialist teaching roles
Other education professionals

Teachers and other regulated professionals should check whether registration with the relevant New Zealand authority is required before applying.

6. Science and Technical Jobs

Selected science and specialist technical occupations can also appear on the Green List.

These can include roles connected to:

Environmental science
Laboratory work
Food technology
Agricultural science
Specialist scientific research
Other technical disciplines

The exact eligibility depends on the occupation and the requirements specified by Immigration New Zealand.

How Green List Residence Works

There are two primary residence pathways.

Tier 1 → Straight to Residence

The basic structure is:

Green List Tier 1 job → Eligible accredited employer → Meet occupation requirements → Meet salary/registration requirements → Apply for Straight to Residence

Immigration New Zealand requires the applicant to have a full-time Tier 1 Green List position or job offer from an accredited employer and to satisfy the specific Green List requirements.

Tier 2 → Work to Residence

The structure is:

Green List Tier 2 job → Eligible employment → Complete 24 months of qualifying New Zealand work → Meet current requirements → Apply for Work to Residence

Immigration New Zealand specifies that Tier 2 applicants generally need 24 months of relevant work experience in New Zealand and must satisfy the applicable wage, qualification and registration requirements.

Green List Salary Requirements 2026

Salary is one of the most important parts of Green List eligibility.

There is no single salary figure that applies to every Green List occupation.

Some occupations have their own specified remuneration threshold, while others use the applicable median wage.

Immigration New Zealand’s current operational instructions specify a NZD $35 per hour median wage for occupations where the Green List does not specify a different remuneration rate.

Some occupations have substantially higher thresholds.

For example, selected ICT occupations have occupation-specific salary requirements.

This means an applicant should never assume that a normal market salary automatically qualifies for Green List residence.

Salary must match the actual job

Immigration New Zealand assesses the actual employment and whether it meets the requirements of the listed occupation.

The employment must also generally be full-time, meaning at least 30 guaranteed hours per week under the relevant Green List residence rules.

Do Green List Jobs Require an Accredited Employer?

Yes.

For Green List residence pathways, the employment or job offer must be with an accredited New Zealand employer.

For Tier 1, Immigration New Zealand requires the job or offer to be with an accredited employer and meet the applicable occupation, pay and employment requirements.

Tier 2 employment also requires an accredited employer for the relevant Work to Residence pathway.

This is why checking the employer’s accreditation is an important step before accepting an overseas job offer.

Green List and AEWV: What Is the Connection?

Many overseas applicants use the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) as their first step toward working in New Zealand.

An AEWV allows an eligible migrant to work for an accredited employer in an eligible position.

For a person whose job is on Green List Tier 2, the AEWV can potentially be the visa used to complete the required New Zealand work experience before applying for residence.

Immigration New Zealand specifically confirms that an AEWV can be an acceptable work visa for counting eligible Tier 2 employment.

However, obtaining an AEWV does not automatically guarantee residence.

The applicant must continue to meet the Green List requirements.

Qualifications for Green List Jobs

Qualification requirements depend on the individual occupation.

Some occupations may require:

Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Doctoral qualification
New Zealand registration
Professional certification
Relevant work experience
Specific technical qualifications

Immigration New Zealand states that qualifications listed in the Green List requirements are generally based on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) unless the Green List specifies otherwise.

Overseas applicants may therefore need to obtain an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if their qualification is not exempt from assessment for the relevant immigration pathway.

Professional Registration for Green List Jobs

Certain occupations require professional registration before the applicant can work in New Zealand.

Examples can include:

Nurses
Doctors
Teachers
Engineers in certain regulated circumstances
Pharmacists
Other regulated professions

Immigration New Zealand states that applicants must obtain required occupational registration before applying for a visa to work in occupations where registration is mandatory.

This creates an important distinction:

Immigration eligibility ≠ professional registration.

A person may meet immigration requirements but still be unable to legally practise a regulated profession without the required New Zealand registration.

Can Pakistani Applicants Apply for New Zealand Green List Jobs?

Yes.

The Green List is an occupation-based immigration framework rather than a list restricted to particular nationalities.

A Pakistani professional can potentially apply if they:

Have an eligible occupation
Meet the relevant qualification requirements
Meet registration requirements where applicable
Obtain a qualifying job or job offer
Meet the salary requirements
Work for an accredited employer
Meet health and character requirements
Satisfy the requirements of the relevant residence visa

The same principle applies to applicants from other countries.

The key issue is whether the individual applicant and position satisfy the applicable New Zealand immigration requirements.

Green List Jobs for Nurses

Nursing remains one of the most frequently searched Green List career areas.

Internationally qualified nurses generally need to satisfy the professional registration requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand in addition to immigration requirements.

Applicants should therefore plan two processes:

Professional registration → Immigration pathway

A nursing degree from another country does not automatically provide permission to practise in New Zealand.

Green List Jobs for IT Professionals

Technology professionals should carefully compare the occupation against the Green List.

Selected ICT roles can qualify under Tier 1, but specific remuneration requirements can apply.

Examples of occupations that can appear in the ICT section include:

Software Engineer
Developer Programmer
ICT Security Specialist
ICT Project Manager
Database Administrator
Systems Administrator
Software Tester

The applicant’s actual job duties, occupation classification, salary and qualifications must match the relevant Green List requirements.

Green List Jobs for Engineers

Engineers should check:

Their engineering discipline
Their qualification
Whether registration is required
Their professional experience
The salary offered
The exact Green List occupation
Whether the role is Tier 1 or Tier 2

Engineering applicants should avoid assuming that any engineering-related job qualifies.

The job must correspond to the occupation listed by Immigration New Zealand.

Green List vs AEWV: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Green List	AEWV
Main purpose	Skilled residence pathway	Temporary work
Employer	Accredited employer	Accredited employer
Occupations	Specific Green List occupations	Wider range of eligible occupations
Residence	Potentially direct or after work experience	Does not itself guarantee residence
Tier 1	Straight to Residence	May be used to work before/alongside residence
Tier 2	Work to Residence	Can potentially provide qualifying work experience
Salary	Occupation-specific or applicable wage	Market rate and applicable requirements
Registration	Required for certain occupations	Required where applicable

The two systems can work together, but they should not be treated as the same visa.

New Zealand Green List 2026: Application Process

Step 1: Identify Your Occupation

Start by identifying the exact occupation that matches your job duties.

Do not rely solely on your job title.

Step 2: Check the Green List

Determine whether the occupation is Tier 1 or Tier 2.

Step 3: Review the Requirements

Check:

Qualifications
Registration
Experience
Salary
Employer requirements

Step 4: Find an Accredited Employer

Search for genuine New Zealand employers that are accredited to employ migrants.

Step 5: Secure a Genuine Job Offer

The employment should satisfy the Green List requirements.

Step 6: Apply for the Appropriate Visa

Depending on your circumstances, this could include an AEWV, Straight to Residence Visa or another qualifying visa.

Step 7: Maintain Eligibility

If you are following the Tier 2 pathway, maintain qualifying employment and meet the required wage and employment conditions during the 24-month period.

Step 8: Apply for Residence

Once all requirements have been satisfied, apply through the appropriate residence pathway.

Documents You May Need

Applicants should prepare documents such as:

Valid passport
Degree or diploma
Academic transcripts
Professional registration
Professional certificates
Employment reference letters
CV
Experience evidence
Job offer
Employment agreement
Job description
Salary information
English-language evidence where applicable
Police certificates
Medical documentation
IQA, where required

The exact documents depend on the occupation and visa category.

Important Green List Mistakes to Avoid

1. Assuming Every Skilled Job Is Green List

A job can be highly skilled without appearing on the Green List.

2. Confusing Tier 1 and Tier 2

Tier 1 can provide a Straight to Residence pathway, while Tier 2 generally requires 24 months of qualifying New Zealand work.

3. Ignoring Salary Requirements

Some occupations have specific salary thresholds.

4. Ignoring Professional Registration

Healthcare, education and other regulated professionals may need registration before they can work.

5. Assuming AEWV Means Residence

An AEWV is a work visa. Residence requires a separate qualifying pathway.

6. Paying for a Fake Job

A genuine Green List opportunity should involve a legitimate employer and genuine employment.

Never assume that someone offering a “guaranteed Green List visa” is legitimate.

Is the Green List Still a Good Option in 2026?

The Green List remains an important part of New Zealand’s skilled-residence framework.

However, applicants should focus on eligibility rather than simply finding a job title on the list.

Immigration New Zealand explicitly states that Green List occupations have their own qualification, registration and pay requirements.

In 2026, occupation classification is also becoming increasingly important as New Zealand transitions toward the National Occupation List (NOL) for AEWV purposes. Immigration New Zealand added 47 additional NOL occupations on 9 March 2026.

Applicants should therefore verify the occupation classification being used for their specific application.

New Zealand Green List Jobs 2026: Quick Checklist

Before applying, check:

✔ Your exact occupation
✔ Green List Tier 1 or Tier 2
✔ Required qualification
✔ Professional registration, if applicable
✔ Required experience
✔ Salary threshold
✔ Accredited employer
✔ Full-time employment
✔ AEWV eligibility, where applicable
✔ Health requirements
✔ Character requirements
✔ English requirements, where applicable
✔ Residence pathway

Final Thoughts

The New Zealand Green List Jobs 2026 pathway can be highly relevant for skilled professionals who want to combine employment with a potential route to New Zealand residence.

The most important distinction is between Tier 1 and Tier 2.

Tier 1 occupations can potentially lead to Straight to Residence, while Tier 2 occupations generally require 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand before applying for Work to Residence.

But being listed is only the first step. Applicants must also satisfy the specific requirements attached to their occupation, including qualifications, professional registration, salary and employment conditions.

For overseas applicants, the safest approach is to identify the exact occupation first, verify the current Green List requirements, find a genuine accredited employer and then select the appropriate visa pathway.

Immigration settings can change, so applicants should verify the latest requirements directly with Immigration New Zealand before making financial or immigration decisions.