Green List Residence Pathways (Tier 1 and Tier 2)

Tier 1 occupations grant residence on visa approval — there's no NZ-work period required before applying. Tier 2 occupations require 24 months of qualifying NZ employment in the Tier 2 role before the residence application can be lodged. Tier 1 is typically reserved for the highest-shortage occupations (medical specialists, certain engineering disciplines, IT roles); Tier 2 covers the next layer where workforce demand is steady but residence is conditioned on demonstrated NZ contribution.

INZ publishes the current Green List on the Green List occupations page. Search by ANZSCO code (the official occupation classification) — not by job title, since job titles vary across employers and the ANZSCO code is what INZ uses for tier determination. If your job title isn't on the list but your ANZSCO code is, you're on the list. The list is reviewed periodically; check the most recent version each time.

Yes — provided the AEWV employment was in a role with an ANZSCO code currently on the Green List Tier 2, met the wage threshold throughout, and was with an accredited employer. The 24 months can be accumulated in multiple stretches within a 30-month lookback window, so a brief gap (job change, employer accreditation lapse) doesn't restart the count if the cumulative qualifying period reaches 24 months.

If a Tier 2 occupation gets promoted to Tier 1 mid-period, you may be able to apply for Straight to Residence sooner. If a Tier 2 occupation is removed from the list mid-period, the qualifying work already accumulated is typically preserved under transitional arrangements, but the exact treatment depends on the date of the list change. Talk to a licensed adviser about your specific situation if the list changes during your qualifying period.

No — Tier 1 can be applied for from offshore or onshore. You do need a current job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer, but the application itself can be lodged before you arrive. Tier 2, by contrast, requires you to have completed the 24 months of qualifying NZ work, which means you must have been onshore for that period before the residence application can be lodged.

International qualifications generally need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA before the residence visa can be granted. Qualifications under the Washington Accord (engineering) or Sydney Accord (engineering technology) are exempt. Occupations requiring professional registration (medicine, nursing, teaching, engineering) need NZ registration in addition to the IQA — the IQA confirms your qualification level; the NZ registration confirms you can practice.