Quick Summary
- New Zealand's Green List Tier 1 lets qualifying professionals apply for permanent residence immediately — no 2-year work visa required first
- Tier 1 is dominated by doctors, nurses, engineers, ICT professionals, teachers, and social workers — all fields where NZ has critical shortages
- You need a job offer from an NZ-accredited employer, meet the occupational registration requirements, and earn at or above the median NZ wage
Key Takeaways
- Tier 1 = Straight to Residence. You apply for a Resident Visa directly — not a temporary work visa first
- Your partner and dependent children come with you on the same residence application
- No labour market test needed — the employer just has to be INZ-accredited
- Most Tier 1 health professionals must register with their NZ regulatory body before being granted residence
- Indian professionals in healthcare, ICT, and engineering are among the strongest candidates
- The Green List is reviewed by INZ — always verify your occupation on the official site before applying
Always verify your occupation on the official Immigration New Zealand Green List. The list is updated periodically — roles are added, removed, or moved between tiers.
View Official Green List on immigration.govt.nzWhat is the New Zealand Green List?
New Zealand launched the Green List in July 2022 as part of a broader immigration reset — a direct response to critical skill shortages in sectors like healthcare, construction, and technology that worsened during and after the pandemic.
The Green List is a defined set of occupations that New Zealand needs most urgently. Professionals in these roles get a fast-tracked pathway to permanent residency compared to the general Skilled Migrant Category, which requires a points-based selection process with no guaranteed outcome.
The list is divided into two tiers with very different timelines for reaching permanent residence:
Straight to Residence
- Apply for Resident Visa directly
- No 2-year work visa required first
- Permanent residency from day one in NZ
- Family included in same application
- No labour market test for employer
- Fastest route to NZ PR available
Work to Residence
- Must work 2 years on AEWV first
- Then apply for Resident Visa
- Still faster than Skilled Migrant Category
- Covers broader range of occupations
- Includes hospitality, trades, some IT roles
- Family can join on separate work/study visas
Why this matters for Indian professionals: The Skilled Migrant Category — NZ's traditional PR route — has had long processing backlogs and no guaranteed selection. The Green List bypasses all of that. If your occupation is on Tier 1 and you have a job offer, you have a clear, predictable path to permanent residency.
Tier 1 Green List: All Qualifying Occupations
Tier 1 is intentionally narrow — these are the roles NZ considers most critical. The list is dominated by healthcare, followed by engineering, ICT, and education. Here is the full breakdown by sector:
Doctors and Medical Specialists
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Anaesthetists
- Cardiologists
- Dermatologists
- Emergency Medicine Specialists
- Endocrinologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Geriatricians
- Haematologists
- Intensive Care Specialists
- Medical Oncologists
- Neurologists
- Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Paediatricians
- Pathologists
- Psychiatrists
- Radiation Oncologists
- Radiologists
- Rheumatologists
- Surgeons (General, Orthopaedic, Cardiothoracic, Neurosurgeons, Urologists, Vascular)
Registered Nurses and Midwives
- Registered Nurses (all specialties)
- Nurse Practitioners
- Critical Care and ICU Nurses
- Mental Health Nurses
- Perioperative Nurses
- Paediatric Nurses
- Oncology Nurses
- Midwives
- Nurse Educators
Health Professions
- Pharmacists
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Diagnostic Radiographers
- Radiation Therapists
- Sonographers / Medical Imaging Technologists
- Dentists
- Dental Specialists (Orthodontists, Oral Surgeons, Periodontists)
- Oral Health Therapists
- Optometrists
- Psychologists (Clinical)
- Speech Language Therapists
- Dietitians
- Medical Laboratory Scientists
Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Structural Engineers
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Fire Safety Engineers
Technology Professionals
- Software Engineers / Developers
- ICT Managers
- ICT Security Specialists / Cybersecurity Analysts
- Data Scientists
- Systems Analysts
- DevOps Engineers
Teachers
- Secondary School Teachers (shortage subjects: Maths, Sciences, Technology, Te Reo Maori, Special Needs)
- Early Childhood Education Teachers
- Special Education Teachers
Social Work and Care
- Social Workers
- Youth Workers (qualified)
Built Environment
- Construction Project Managers
- Quantity Surveyors
- Urban and Regional Planners
- Architects
INZ reviews and updates the Green List periodically. Roles can be added, removed, or moved between Tier 1 and Tier 2. Before you begin any application, verify your specific occupation code (ANZSCO) on the official INZ Green List page.
Salary Requirements
To qualify for the Green List Straight to Residence Visa, your job offer must meet or exceed the relevant wage threshold. This is not about hitting a minimum — it is about your role being recognised as genuinely skilled and fairly paid.
This is the baseline for most Green List roles. Your job offer must be at or above this rate. Many Tier 1 roles — especially in healthcare and engineering — naturally pay well above this threshold. Certain roles (e.g. GPs, surgeons, senior engineers) have no practical concern meeting this requirement.
| Sector | Typical NZ Annual Salary Range | Meets Threshold? |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioners (GPs) | NZ$150,000 – NZ$300,000+ | Yes — comfortably |
| Medical Specialists (Surgeons, Cardiologists etc.) | NZ$250,000 – NZ$500,000+ | Yes — well above |
| Registered Nurses | NZ$55,000 – NZ$95,000 | Yes |
| Pharmacists | NZ$70,000 – NZ$110,000 | Yes |
| Physiotherapists / OTs | NZ$65,000 – NZ$100,000 | Yes |
| Software Engineers | NZ$80,000 – NZ$150,000 | Yes |
| Civil / Structural Engineers | NZ$75,000 – NZ$130,000 | Yes |
| Secondary School Teachers | NZ$55,000 – NZ$90,000 | Yes |
| Social Workers | NZ$55,000 – NZ$85,000 | Yes (verify) |
| Early Childhood Teachers | NZ$50,000 – NZ$70,000 | Verify current rate |
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
The Green List Straight to Residence pathway is a 6-step process from job search to receiving your Resident Visa. Here is exactly how it works for Indian professionals:
Confirm your occupation is on the Tier 1 Green List
Search for your ANZSCO occupation code on the official INZ Green List search tool. Check not only that the role is listed but that the required qualifications and registrations match what you hold. Some roles have specific sub-speciality requirements.
Get registered with the relevant NZ regulatory body
Health professionals must register with their NZ regulatory body before or during the visa process. Doctors register with the Medical Council of NZ (MCNZ), nurses with the Nursing Council of NZ (NCNZ), pharmacists with the Pharmacy Council, physiotherapists with Physiotherapy Board of NZ, etc. Engineers register with Engineering NZ. This step often takes 3–6 months and should be started before you have a job offer.
Find a job offer from an INZ-Accredited Employer
Your employer must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand. This is not the same as being a large or well-known employer — any business can apply for accreditation. Most NZ hospitals, DHBs (District Health Boards / Health NZ), tech companies, engineering firms, and schools are already accredited. Use Seek NZ, LinkedIn, and sector-specific job boards. The employer does NOT need to conduct a labour market test for Tier 1 roles.
Gather your documents
You will need: passport (valid for at least 12 months), certified copies of qualifications, IELTS or OET results (for health professionals — typically 7.0+ overall with no band below 6.5), police clearance certificates from India and any other country you have lived in, medical certificate from an INZ-approved physician, evidence of occupational registration, and your signed employment agreement showing job title, salary, and hours.
Submit the Green List Straight to Residence Visa application (INZ)
Applications are submitted online via the INZ immigration portal. Include your partner and dependent children in the same application as secondary applicants. Pay the application fee (currently NZ$3,440 per adult, NZ$860 per child — verify current fees on immigration.govt.nz). Processing typically takes 4–8 months for a complete application.
Receive Resident Visa and travel to New Zealand
Once approved, you receive a Resident Visa that allows you to live, work, and study in NZ permanently. After 2 years of holding a Resident Visa, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa (which removes travel conditions and is indefinite). After 5 years of residency, you can apply for NZ citizenship.
Special Notes for Indian Professionals
Doctors and Medical Specialists
Indian-trained doctors are highly regarded in New Zealand, particularly in rural and provincial areas where GP shortages are severe. However, you must pass through the Medical Council of NZ's assessment process, which includes verifying your MBBS/MD against their acceptable qualifications list, proving English proficiency (typically IELTS Academic 7.5 overall, no band below 7.0 for full registration), and potentially completing a supervised practice period. Many Indian doctors are eligible for provisional general registration while working under supervision before achieving full registration. The Rural Bonus (additional points for rural placements) can also accelerate your pathway if you are willing to work outside Auckland or Wellington for the first few years.
Registered Nurses
The Nursing Council of NZ (NCNZ) assesses overseas-qualified nurses. Indian nursing degrees (B.Sc Nursing, GNM) are assessed individually. You typically need IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with no band below 6.5, or OET grade B in all four skills. The NCNZ may require a Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) if your training is deemed not fully comparable to NZ standards — this is a supervised clinical placement, usually 4–8 weeks, done after you arrive. Health NZ (formerly DHBs) frequently sponsors nurses directly and assists with the registration process.
Software Engineers and ICT Professionals
Unlike healthcare roles, ICT roles on the Green List generally do not require formal registration with a regulatory body. However, you must demonstrate that your qualifications and experience match the ANZSCO definition of the role. For Software Engineers, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or a related field, combined with 2+ years of relevant experience, is the standard expectation. Senior engineers with specialisations in cloud, cybersecurity, or data science are especially in demand from NZ tech firms in Auckland and Wellington.
Civil and Structural Engineers
NZ is in the middle of a large infrastructure build — roads, housing, water infrastructure — driven by the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle (2023) and long-term housing shortages. Indian engineers with a B.E./B.Tech in Civil or Structural Engineering and experience in construction project management, structural design, or geotechnical work are in strong demand. Engineering NZ (formerly IPENZ) assesses overseas qualifications — a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) designation is valuable but not mandatory for the visa itself.
Secondary School Teachers
NZ has persistent shortages in Maths, Sciences, Technology, and Special Education. Indian teachers with a B.Ed or PGCE/PGDE equivalent and subject expertise in these areas qualify. You must register with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, which requires an assessment of your teaching qualification. Note that NZ secondary school teaching requires both subject knowledge and a teaching qualification — a degree in Mathematics alone is not sufficient without a teaching certification.
Tier 1 vs Skilled Migrant Category: Why Green List Wins
| Factor | Green List Tier 1 | Skilled Migrant Category |
|---|---|---|
| Selection process | Direct — job offer = apply | Points-based, pool selection (no guarantee) |
| Wait for permanent residence | Immediate on arrival | 2+ years on work visa first, then apply |
| Labour market test | Not required | Required in most cases |
| Certainty of outcome | High (if documents complete) | Low (pool draws are discretionary) |
| Processing time | 4–8 months | 12–24 months |
| Applicable occupations | Only Green List Tier 1 roles | Broad range of skilled roles |
Frequently Asked Questions
The official Green List is searchable by occupation keyword or ANZSCO code. This is the authoritative source — use it to confirm your role, tier, and required qualifications before taking any steps.
Search the Official Green ListIs Your Occupation on the NZ Tier 1 Green List?
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