Green List Residence Pathways

The Green List operates through two distinct pathways, each designed for different types of skilled occupations. The Straight to Residence pathway allows certain highly skilled professionals to apply directly for residence without needing to work in New Zealand first. This pathway is reserved for occupations where there is an acute shortage and the skills are immediately transferable.

The Work to Residence pathway requires applicants to first obtain a work visa and work in New Zealand for a specified period before becoming eligible to apply for residence. This pathway ensures that workers can successfully integrate into the New Zealand workforce and that their skills meet local market needs.

Each occupation on the Green List has specific requirements regarding qualifications, work experience, and professional registration. Some occupations require registration with New Zealand professional bodies, while others may have minimum experience thresholds or specific qualification standards that must be met before applying.

Meeting Green List eligibility requirements involves several key criteria that must all be satisfied. You must have an occupation that appears on the current Green List, possess the required qualifications and work experience specified for that occupation, and meet New Zealand's standard residence requirements including health and character checks.

Professional registration requirements vary significantly between occupations. Healthcare professionals, engineers, teachers, and other regulated professions typically need to obtain registration or recognition from the relevant New Zealand professional body. This process can take several months and often requires additional assessments or examinations.

Work experience requirements are strictly enforced, with Immigration New Zealand requiring detailed evidence of your employment history, job responsibilities, and how your experience relates to the Green List occupation. The experience must be recent and relevant, typically within the last 10 years, and must demonstrate the level of skill and responsibility expected for the occupation.

The Green List application process requires comprehensive documentation to prove your eligibility and qualifications. For Straight to Residence applications, you can apply directly from anywhere in the world, while Work to Residence applications require you to first obtain and use a work visa in New Zealand.

Documentation requirements are extensive and must be carefully prepared. You'll need to provide evidence of your qualifications, including academic transcripts and certificates, professional registration documentation where required, detailed employment references covering your work experience, and evidence of meeting English language requirements if applicable.

The application must demonstrate not only that you meet the technical requirements but also that your qualifications and experience are genuine and relevant to the New Zealand context. Immigration New Zealand may verify your qualifications with issuing institutions and contact previous employers to confirm your work experience.

The Work to Residence pathway requires you to first obtain a Green List work visa and work in New Zealand in your nominated occupation for a specified period, typically two years. During this time, you must maintain employment in a role that matches your Green List occupation and meets the skill level and responsibilities outlined in the occupation's requirements.

Your employer must be accredited or willing to become accredited with Immigration New Zealand, and the job offer must meet minimum salary thresholds and working conditions. The work visa allows you to bring your family to New Zealand, with your partner eligible for an open work visa and children able to attend school.

After completing the required work period, you can apply for residence without needing to maintain your specific job. However, you must demonstrate that you have successfully worked in your nominated occupation and continue to meet all residence requirements including health and character standards.

The Straight to Residence pathway offers the most direct route to New Zealand residence for highly skilled professionals in critically short occupations. This pathway allows you to apply for residence without needing a job offer or prior work experience in New Zealand, provided you meet the strict qualification and experience requirements.

Occupations on the Straight to Residence list typically require extensive qualifications, professional registration, and significant work experience. Examples include certain medical specialists, senior engineering roles, and other highly specialised professions where skills are immediately transferable and in acute demand.

Successful applicants receive residence immediately upon approval, allowing them and their families to live and work in New Zealand permanently. This pathway is particularly attractive for professionals who want certainty about their residence status before relocating to New Zealand.

Many Green List occupations require professional registration or recognition in New Zealand before you can work in your field. This process varies significantly between professions and can take several months to complete, making early preparation essential for your overall timeline.

Healthcare professionals typically need registration with the relevant professional council, such as the Medical Council of New Zealand or the Nursing Council. This process often involves assessment of qualifications, English language testing, and sometimes additional examinations or supervised practice requirements.

Engineers may need registration with Engineering New Zealand, while teachers require registration with the Teaching Council of New Zealand. Each professional body has its own assessment process, fees, and timeframes, and some may require you to complete additional study or professional development to meet New Zealand standards.

Green List residence applications can include your partner and dependent children, allowing your entire family to gain residence together. Your partner and children under 24 who are single and financially dependent can be included as secondary applicants in your application.

All family members must meet health and character requirements, which involves medical examinations and police certificates from countries where they have lived. The health requirements can be particularly important if any family member has ongoing medical conditions that might require significant healthcare resources.

If you're using the Work to Residence pathway, your family members can accompany you to New Zealand on supporting visas. Your partner will typically receive an open work visa allowing them to work for any employer, while children can attend school and may be eligible for domestic student fees at tertiary institutions.

Green List applications face several common challenges that can lead to delays or declines. Qualification recognition issues arise when overseas qualifications don't clearly match New Zealand standards or when additional assessment is required by professional bodies. This is particularly common for qualifications from countries with different educational systems.

Work experience verification can be problematic when employers are difficult to contact, employment records are incomplete, or the relevance of experience to the Green List occupation is unclear. Immigration New Zealand requires detailed evidence of job responsibilities and how they relate to the nominated occupation.

Professional registration delays are another significant challenge, as many applicants underestimate the time required to complete registration processes. Some professional bodies have lengthy assessment procedures, and any deficiencies in qualifications or experience can extend the timeline considerably.

Strategic timing is crucial for Green List applications, particularly given that the list of eligible occupations can change and immigration policies may be updated. If your occupation is currently on the Green List, it's generally advisable to begin the application process as soon as you meet the requirements rather than waiting.

For Work to Residence applicants, timing considerations include when to apply for the initial work visa, how long to work before applying for residence, and coordinating family members' visa applications. The two-year work requirement means you need to plan for a longer-term commitment to New Zealand.

Professional registration timing is often the critical factor in your overall timeline. Starting the registration process early, even before you're ready to apply for visas, can significantly reduce your overall waiting time and ensure you're ready to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.