New Zealand announces Green List changes affecting 17 Work to Residence occupations
Changes from 8 March 2027 will remove 17 occupations, move 4 special-education roles to Straight to Residence and provide conditional transition for qualifying workers.
Immigration New Zealand announced on 3 November that 17 occupations will leave the Tier 2 Green List Work to Residence pathway from 8 March 2027. 13 may qualify through the Skilled Migrant Category’s Trades and Technician pathway and 4 through its Skilled Work Experience pathway, subject to their respective qualification, experience, wage and other requirements. Residence is not automatic.[1]
Eligible workers who begin accumulating qualifying experience before the changes take effect can continue counting it towards the existing 24-month Work to Residence requirement. Other residence conditions still apply. Employers may continue using the Accredited Employer Work Visa, but applicable Green List labour-market test exemptions and priority processing for job checks and visa applications will end.[1]
Special Needs Teachers, Teachers of the Hearing Impaired, Teachers of the Sight Impaired and Special Education Teachers not elsewhere classified will move to Straight to Residence. Eligible applicants will not first need 2 years of qualifying New Zealand work.[1]
Green List eligibility for Sterilisation Technicians will be limited to graduate and registered members of the New Zealand Sterile Sciences Association. Career Counsellor will leave Tier 1; qualifying applicants may still use the SMC or another residence pathway.[1]
These are announced future changes. INZ will update the relevant visa pages nearer implementation. Alternative pathways have different conditions and are not necessarily easier for everyone; the official announcement provides the full occupation lists.[1]
Official sources
This article provides general information. Individual applications are subject to the applicable rules and the competent authority’s assessment.