New Zealand’s Green List is one of the most direct, policy-backed ways for skilled migrants to move from a job offer to residence. If your occupation appears on the Green List—and you meet the stated qualification, registration, experience, and pay requirements—you may be eligible for either:
- Straight to Residence (Tier 1): apply for residence immediately, or
- Work to Residence (Tier 2): work in New Zealand first (typically 24 months) and then apply for residence. (Immigration New Zealand)
This article explains how the Green List works, what “visa sponsorship” looks like in New Zealand in practical terms, and how to position your application for the fastest possible outcome using the Accredited Employer system.
1) What “Visa Sponsorship” Means in New Zealand (and Why It’s Different)
In everyday conversation, many people say “visa sponsorship” to mean: an employer supports your right to work and helps you meet immigration requirements.
In New Zealand, most Green List hiring works like this:
- You receive a job offer from an accredited employer (or you are already working for one). (Immigration New Zealand)
- Your role must match a Green List Tier 1 or Tier 2 occupation, and you must meet that role’s specific conditions (registration, qualifications, experience, and/or wage thresholds). (Immigration New Zealand)
- You apply for the relevant visa pathway:
- Straight to Residence Visa (Tier 1) (Immigration New Zealand)
- Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2) (Immigration New Zealand)
- Often, you may first enter on a work visa (commonly the Accredited Employer Work Visa – AEWV) and later transition to residence (especially for Tier 2). (Immigration New Zealand)
So, “sponsorship” is less about a single sponsorship document and more about the employer being properly accredited and the job meeting Green List criteria.
2) What Is the Green List?
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) describes the Green List as a list of roles New Zealand needs, organized into tiers (skill levels). Tier 1 is the highest-skill, most “fast-tracked” group. (Immigration New Zealand)
The Green List is not just a list of job titles—it also provides role-by-role requirements, such as:
- Occupational registration (where applicable)
- Recognized qualifications (typically aligned to the NZQF, unless stated otherwise)
- Minimum experience in the occupation
- Pay thresholds (either role-specific or tied to policy wage thresholds)
You can search the official Green List roles directly on the INZ website. (Immigration New Zealand)
3) The Two Fast-Track Pathways: Tier 1 vs Tier 2
A) Tier 1: Straight to Residence (STR)
If your job is on Tier 1, you may be able to apply for residence immediately, provided you have a job or job offer from an accredited employer and meet the role’s conditions. (Immigration New Zealand)
Key points (from INZ):
- You must be 55 or younger at the time you apply. (Immigration New Zealand)
- You must have a job or job offer in a Green List Tier 1 role with an accredited employer. (Immigration New Zealand)
- The job must meet INZ’s conditions (including being full-time and meeting contract duration rules stated by INZ). (Immigration New Zealand)
Processing times and fees can change, but INZ publishes both. For example, INZ lists the Straight to Residence Visa cost “from NZD $6450” and also publishes resident visa wait times (updated regularly). (Immigration New Zealand)
B) Tier 2: Work to Residence (WTR)
If your role is on Tier 2, the pathway generally requires you to work in New Zealand first and then apply for residence after meeting the work requirement.
INZ states you typically must:
- Be 55 or younger when you apply (Immigration New Zealand)
- Have a Tier 2 Green List job with an accredited employer (Immigration New Zealand)
- Have worked in New Zealand in the Tier 2 occupation for 24 months (Immigration New Zealand)
- Meet English, health, character, and role-specific criteria (Immigration New Zealand)
INZ also publishes indicative wait times for Work to Residence applications (updated regularly). (Immigration New Zealand)
4) Understanding Wage Thresholds (Critical for Eligibility)
Pay requirements are a frequent reason Green List applications fail—not because the applicant is unqualified, but because the employment terms don’t align with policy.
INZ explains that some Green List roles have specific pay thresholds. If a Green List role does not have a specific threshold, you may need to be paid at least the relevant policy threshold.
A key policy update cited by INZ:
- Green List jobs that do not have a specific pay threshold must pay at least NZD $33.56/hour from 18 August 2025. (Immigration New Zealand)
INZ also publishes pay-rate tables and guidance (useful when you’re confirming the correct wage rate to apply under). (Immigration New Zealand)
Practical takeaway: before you accept an offer, verify that:
- The wage meets the Green List role rule (role-specific or policy threshold), and
- The employment agreement clearly states pay, hours, and other required terms.
5) Eligibility Checklist: What INZ Will Assess
While every applicant’s case is different, most Green List applications are assessed around these pillars:
A) Age
Both Straight to Residence and Work to Residence visas require you to be 55 or younger when applying. (Immigration New Zealand)
B) Accredited Employer (Non-Negotiable)
Your employer must be accredited to support AEWV and certain residence pathways. INZ provides an employer accreditation framework and guidance. (Immigration New Zealand)
C) The Role Must Match the Green List (Exactly)
Your job title alone is not enough. The role must match the Green List occupation and you must meet the associated conditions (qualification/registration/experience/wage). (Immigration New Zealand)
D) English Language Requirement
INZ lists English as a requirement for these resident visas. (Immigration New Zealand)
E) Health and Character
You must meet health and character requirements (this is standard across most NZ visas, and INZ outlines health checks for AEWV). (Immigration New Zealand)
6) The Step-by-Step Fast-Track Process (From Overseas to Residence)
Below is a practical “end-to-end” roadmap many applicants follow.
Step 1: Confirm Your Occupation on the Official Green List
Use INZ’s Green List roles search to check:
- Whether your role is Tier 1 or Tier 2
- The exact role conditions and evidence you must provide (Immigration New Zealand)
Step 2: Secure a Job Offer From an Accredited Employer
For Green List pathways, your job offer (or current employment) must be with an accredited employer. (Immigration New Zealand)
Tip: ask the employer early:
- Are you currently accredited with INZ?
- Is this role aligned to the Green List occupation requirements?
- Will the employment agreement reflect wage/hour terms that meet visa criteria?
Step 3: Decide Your Pathway
If Tier 1 (Straight to Residence):
- You may apply for residence right away, either from offshore or after entering New Zealand on a work visa. INZ explicitly notes both options exist. (Immigration New Zealand)
If Tier 2 (Work to Residence):
- Plan for the 24-month work requirement, then apply for residence once you qualify. (Immigration New Zealand)
Step 4: Align the Employment Agreement With INZ Requirements
Your agreement should clearly state key terms (pay rate, hours, location, dates). INZ emphasizes complete, clear evidence in visa processing. (Immigration New Zealand)
Step 5: Apply for the Appropriate Visa
- Straight to Residence Visa (Tier 1) (Immigration New Zealand)
- Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2) (Immigration New Zealand)
For applicants entering New Zealand first, the AEWV is commonly involved (depending on your situation and employer process). INZ provides AEWV information and employer process guidance (including job check steps). (Immigration New Zealand)
Step 6: Track Processing Times Using INZ “Wait Times”
INZ publishes resident visa wait times and updates them regularly, which is more reliable than forum estimates. (Immigration New Zealand)
7) Which Jobs Are on the Green List?
Because the Green List can be updated, you should treat third-party lists as informational only and verify everything on INZ.
What you can rely on:
- INZ’s Green List roles search is the authoritative source for whether a role is Tier 1 or Tier 2 and what evidence is required. (Immigration New Zealand)
- INZ’s Green List pathway page defines how Tier 1 maps to Straight to Residence and Tier 2 maps to Work to Residence. (Immigration New Zealand)
Common Green List sectors often include healthcare, engineering, ICT, and other regulated/professional occupations—but your eligibility turns on the exact role listing and its requirements on INZ.
8) Where to Find Green List Jobs With Accredited Employers
To improve your odds of a compliant job offer:
- Target accredited employers and large hiring systems
Many Tier 1 roles (especially regulated roles) are frequently filled by employers familiar with immigration hiring. - Use role-accurate keywords
Search using the exact occupation wording from INZ (including seniority level), not just broad terms like “engineer” or “IT.” - Confirm Green List alignment early
Before interviews go far, confirm:- The employer’s accreditation status
- Whether they can issue a contract that meets wage and duration requirements
- Whether they have experience supporting residence-track hires
- Avoid “too good to be true” agents
If someone guarantees “instant visa” without verifying your role requirements, registration, or wage thresholds, treat it as a red flag.
9) Common Mistakes That Slow Down (or Sink) Green List Applications
- Role mismatch
Your job duties and ANZSCO alignment (where relevant) must match the Green List occupation criteria—not just the job title. Use INZ’s exact Green List role requirement language as your checklist. (Immigration New Zealand) - Wage non-compliance
If your role doesn’t have a specific threshold, the pay may need to meet policy thresholds (e.g., NZD $33.56/hour from 18 August 2025 for certain Green List roles). (Immigration New Zealand) - Registration not completed (regulated roles)
Some roles require professional registration. If your registration is incomplete, the residence application can stall. - Incomplete evidence
Missing documents (employment agreement details, qualification evidence, experience letters) often lead to delays.
10) Strategic Advice to Move Faster (Legally and Cleanly)
- Start with the official Green List role page and build your document checklist from it. (Immigration New Zealand)
- Engineer your employment agreement to clearly satisfy INZ: pay, hours, and term must be unambiguous. (Immigration New Zealand)
- If you are Tier 1, consider whether applying for Straight to Residence from offshore is viable for your timeline (INZ notes this is allowed). (Immigration New Zealand)
- Use INZ wait-time pages rather than social media estimates when planning. (Immigration New Zealand)
Conclusion
New Zealand’s Green List is one of the clearest “fast-track” immigration frameworks available today because it links specific in-demand roles to specific residence pathways. If your job is on Tier 1, you may be eligible for the Straight to Residence Visa; if it’s on Tier 2, you can often work toward residence via the Work to Residence Visa after meeting the 24-month requirement. (Immigration New Zealand)
Success hinges on compliance detail: accredited employer status, exact role matching, and meeting qualification/registration/wage thresholds (including key pay updates such as NZD $33.56/hour from 18 August 2025 for certain Green List settings). (Immigration New Zealand)
If you treat the INZ Green List role requirements like a checklist—and make your job offer and evidence align cleanly—you significantly increase your odds of a smooth, fast-tracked route to New Zealand residence.
FAQs
1) Can I apply for New Zealand residence directly from outside New Zealand using the Green List?
Yes—if you qualify under Straight to Residence (Tier 1), INZ states you can apply either after coming to New Zealand on a work visa or from outside New Zealand, as long as you meet the requirements. (Immigration New Zealand)
2) Do I need a job offer to use the Green List pathway?
Yes. INZ requires you to be working for (or have a job offer from) an accredited employer in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Green List role, depending on the pathway. (Immigration New Zealand)
3) What is the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 Green List roles?
Tier 1 roles align to the Straight to Residence Visa (apply immediately). Tier 2 roles align to the Work to Residence Visa (typically after 24 months of work in New Zealand). (Immigration New Zealand)
4) Is there an age limit for Green List residence visas?
Yes. INZ lists an age requirement of 55 years or younger for Straight to Residence and Work to Residence. (Immigration New Zealand)
5) What wage do I need for Green List applications?
It depends on your role. Some Green List roles have specific pay thresholds. INZ also notes that Green List jobs without a specific pay threshold must pay at least NZD $33.56/hour from 18 August 2025 (policy guidance can be role/pathway dependent). (Immigration New Zealand)
6) How long does processing take for Straight to Residence or Work to Residence?
INZ publishes official wait-time reporting for resident visas and updates it regularly (for example, it lists recent averages and “most completed within” times for Straight to Residence and Work to Residence). Always check the current page before you apply. (Immigration New Zealand)
7) If my job is not on the Green List, do I still have a pathway to residence?
Potentially yes. INZ outlines other skilled residence pathways, including the Skilled Migrant Category (points-based) and sector agreement pathways for eligible roles. (Immigration New Zealand)
8) What is the single most important thing to do before applying?
Verify your role and requirements on the official INZ Green List roles page and align your evidence (job offer, pay, qualifications, registration, experience) precisely to what INZ specifies for that occupation. (Immigration New Zealand).