Green List residence changes for employers of skilled workers

If you employ skilled migrant workers, upcoming Green List changes could affect both your employees’ plans for residence and how you recruit for future roles.

From 8 March 2027, Immigration New Zealand is removing 17 occupations from the Green List Work to Residence pathway. Some employees may be able to continue on their existing pathway under transitional arrangements. Others may qualify through the Skilled Migrant Category, which has different requirements.

What is changing

• 13 Work to Residence occupations will leave the Green List, with an alternative route through the Skilled Migrant Category Trades and Technician pathway.
• Four further Work to Residence occupations will leave the Green List, with an alternative route through the Skilled Migrant Category Skilled Work Experience pathway.
• Four special education teaching occupations will move to Straight to Residence.
• Sterilisation Technicians: Green List eligibility will be limited to graduate and registered members of the New Zealand Sterile Sciences Association.
• Career Counsellor will be removed from Straight to Residence.

What this means for your current employees

Workers who start accumulating qualifying work experience in an affected Work to Residence occupation before 8 March 2027 can continue counting qualifying work towards the 24-month requirement, including work completed after the changes.

They must still meet all other Work to Residence requirements.

Planning your next hire

• Current employees: Whether transitional arrangements allow them to continue counting qualifying work towards residence.
• Future hires: Whether an alternative residence pathway fits their qualifications, experience and pay.
• Recruitment processes: Roles removed from the Green List lose the applicable advertising exemptions and priority processing for Job Checks and Accredited Employer Work Visa applications.

You can continue recruiting through the Accredited Employer Work Visa, subject to its requirements. Check the residence options separately before discussing a long-term pathway with a prospective employee.

Get in touch with one of our licensed immigration advisers at New Zealand Immigration Partners to review affected roles and your recruitment plans.