Residence pathways

The Green List

The 180 Green List roles a master's can lead to, with the tier, the pathway and the actual requirement for each one. 174 are Tier 1, straight to residence. 6 are Tier 2, which needs 24 months of work in the role first. Immigration New Zealand lists 215 in total; the other 35 are trade and apprenticeship occupations that a master's does not lead to.

Every Green List occupation

Filter by tier and by field. Read the requirement on the role itself: it is the requirement that decides your application, not the qualification you happen to hold.

Tier 1, Straight to Residence

Apply for residence as soon as you hold a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer. No stand-down period.

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233999

Acoustic Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272112

Addiction Practitioner

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233911

Aeronautical (Aerospace) Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233911

Aeronautical (Aviation) Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233911

Aeronautical (Avionics) Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272112

Alcohol and Drug Clinician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 411112

Ambulance Paramedic

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 311211

Anaesthetic Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253211

Anaesthetist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 261311

Analyst Programmer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252711

Audiologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 311299

Audiometrist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 133112

Building Project Manager

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253312

Cardiologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253512

Cardiothoracic Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272111

Careers Counsellor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233111

Chemical Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 135111

Chief Information Officer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252111

Chiropractor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233211

Civil Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 312212

Civil Engineering Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253313

Clinical Haematologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 234599

Clinical Physiologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272311

Clinical Psychologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 133111

Construction Project Manager

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272199

Counsellors nec

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 262111

Database Administrator

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252312

Dental Practitioner

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Dental Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252312

Dental Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 411213

Dental Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 411214

Dental Therapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252312

Dentist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253911

Dermatologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 261312

Developer Programmer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251111

Dietician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 399913

Dispensing Optician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272112

Drug and Alcohol Counsellor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272312

Educational Psychologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233311

Electrical Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 312312

Electrical Engineering Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 312412

Electronic Engineering Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233411

Electronics Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253912

Emergency Medicine Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253315

Endocrinologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Endodontist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 411411

Enrolled Nurse (Nursing Assistant)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233915

Environmental Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 234313

Environmental Research Scientist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 221213

External Auditor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272113

Family and Marriage Counsellor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 234212

Food Technologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253316

Gastroenterologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253111

General Practitioner

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251999

Genetic Counsellor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233212

Geotechnical Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251511

Hospital Pharmacist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 135199

ICT Managers nec

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 135112

ICT Project Manager

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 262112

ICT Security Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233511

Industrial Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251512

Industrial Pharmacist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253317

Intensive Care Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 221214

Internal Auditor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233916

Marine Designer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233112

Materials Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233512

Mechanical Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 312512

Mechanical Engineering Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233999

Mechatronics Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251211

Medical Imaging Technologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 234611

Medical Laboratory Scientist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 311213

Medical Laboratory Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253314

Medical Oncologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253999

Medical Practitioners nec

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251212

Medical Radiation Therapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254111

Midwife

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 261211

Multimedia Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233916

Naval Architect

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253318

Neurologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253513

Neurosurgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251213

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254411

Nurse Practitioner

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253913

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252411

Occupational Therapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253914

Ophthalmologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251411

Optometrist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 411214

Oral Health Therapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 2523

Oral Medicine Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Oral Pathologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 2523

Oral Surgery Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272313

Organisational Psychologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Orthodontist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253514

Orthopaedic Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251412

Orthoptist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 311299

Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251912

Orthotist or Prosthetist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252112

Osteopath

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 232214

Other Spatial Scientist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253515

Otorhinolaryngologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253516

Paediatric Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253321

Paediatrician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Paedodontist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253915

Pathologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 311299

Perfusionist (Cardiac)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Periodontist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 234914

Physicist (Medical)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252511

Physiotherapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253517

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252299

Play Therapist (Hospital)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252611

Podiatrist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 241213

Primary School Teacher

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233999

Product Design Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233513

Production or Plant Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 133112

Project Builder

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252311

Prosthodontist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253411

Psychiatrist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272399

Psychologists nec

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272314

Psychotherapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 2523

Public Health Dentistry Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233213

Quantity Surveyor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253918

Radiation Oncologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254412

Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254418

Registered Nurse (Medical)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254422

Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254425

Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254423

Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254424

Registered Nurse (Surgical)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 254499

Registered Nurses nec

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272114

Rehabilitation Counsellor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253322

Renal Medicine Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253112

Resident Medical Officer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 2523

Restorative Dentistry Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251513

Retail Pharmacist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253323

Rheumatologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 241411

Secondary School Teacher

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 133112

Site Foreman

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272511

Social Worker

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 261313

Software Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 261314

Software Tester

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 251214

Sonographer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 2523

Special Needs Dentistry Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253399

Specialist Physician nec

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 252712

Speech Language Therapist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 711914

Sterilisation Technician

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 233214

Structural Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 272115

Student Counsellor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253511

Surgeon (General)

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 232212

Surveyor

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 262113

Systems Administrator

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one. If you meet all…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 263311

Telecommunications Engineer

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253324

Thoracic Medicine Specialist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253518

Urologist

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 253521

Vascular Surgeon

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 1, Straight to Residence 234711

Veterinarian

To be eligible you must be working for an accredited employer or have a job offer from one, and be paid at…

Tier 2, Work to Residence

Work in the role for 24 months on a qualifying visa, then apply for residence.

Tier 2, Work to Residence 241599

Special Education Teachers nec

If you are working in this role, and are eligible, you can apply for residence after working in New Zealand for 2…

Tier 2, Work to Residence 241511

Special Needs Teacher

If you are working in this role, and are eligible, you can apply for residence after working in New Zealand for 2…

Tier 2, Work to Residence 241512

Teacher of the Hearing Impaired

If you are working in this role, and are eligible, you can apply for residence after working in New Zealand for 2…

Tier 2, Work to Residence 241513

Teacher of the Sight Impaired

If you are working in this role, and are eligible, you can apply for residence after working in New Zealand for 2…

The Green List is set by Immigration New Zealand and changes from time to time. Check the official page before relying on any entry here.

How the Green List works

What has to be true

A Green List role is a pathway, not a guarantee. Four things have to line up.

  1. Meet the role's own requirement

    Each role states what it needs. Some accept a relevant degree. Several engineering roles require an accredited undergraduate engineering degree, a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, an Engineering New Zealand benchmark letter, or CPEng registration. A New Zealand master's is not automatically any of those, so check the role before you choose a programme.

  2. Get a job offer in the role

    The offer must be from an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand, for the role itself, and it must meet any pay threshold the role carries. The degree alone does not create a pathway.

  3. Meet the pay threshold

    Several roles set one. The ICT roles on the 208 percent band require NZD $72.80 an hour, roughly NZD $151,000 a year, which is well above a graduate salary. For a new graduate those roles are realistically a work visa first and a reassessment later, not a straight run at residence.

  4. Apply on the right tier

    Tier 1 means you can apply for residence as soon as the job offer is in place. Tier 2 means 24 months of work in the role first.

Talk to a licensed adviser