A nurse in Nigeria, a welder in India, and a software engineer in Kenya have one thing in common in 2026. They can all, on the basis of their job title, qualify for a New Zealand PR visa. This is the benefit of having your job profile in demand on NZ’s Green List (2026). Because it has 148 (Tier 1) job profiles that give direct NZ PR. And 37 (Tier 2) job profiles that offer PR after you work in the country for 2 years. So, before you apply, you must know about prospects in the Kiwi country. “New Zealand – 148 Green List Jobs in High Demand in 2026” guide helps you know if your job profile is in demand and how you can move from an NZ job/job offer to permanent residency in 2026.
So, before you read further, you need to answer these five questions. Why? Because if you say ‘Yes’ to all answers, then the rest of this guide will tell you exactly which role fits you and what to do next.
| Question | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Is your job title, or something close to it, in the tables below? | Your actual work duties must match the listed occupation, not just the job title. |
| Do you have, or can you get, a job offer from a New Zealand employer? | The employer must hold current Immigration New Zealand accreditation. A job offer alone is not enough. |
| Are you 55 years old or younger? | This age limit applies only to Tier 1 Straight to Residence. It does not apply to Tier 2. |
| Can your qualification, registration, or experience meet the rule for your specific role? | Health and engineering roles usually need New Zealand registration. Some roles need pay above a set rate instead. |
| Are you comfortable with either an immediate move (Tier 1) or a two-year work period first (Tier 2)? | Tier 1 leads to residence right away. Tier 2 leads to residence after 24 months of qualifying work. |
If you answered no to any question, the PR visa door is not closed. Whether it is a missing registration, an unaccredited employer, or a 55+ age group applicant, Global Vision Immigration (GVI) can help you work around it.
Note – If you have a job or a job offer from a NZ employer, then they must be an accredited employer. It means the employer meets all compliance and financial checks with Immigration New Zealand. So, if your employer does not meet this term, then you can not benefit from New Zealand – 148 Green List Jobs in High Demand in 2026.
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| General Practitioner | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Specialist Physician (all specialisms: Cardiologist, Neurologist, Paediatrician, Rheumatologist, and related roles) | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Surgeon, all specialisms (General, Cardiothoracic, Neurosurgeon, Orthopaedic, Paediatric, Urologist, Vascular) | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Anaesthetist | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Psychiatrist | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Dermatologist, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Ophthalmologist, Pathologist, Radiologist, Radiation Oncologist | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Dentist, Dental Specialist (Orthodontist, Endodontist, Periodontist, and related specialisms) | Dental Council of New Zealand registration |
| Dental Technician, Dental Therapist, Oral Health Therapist | Dental Council of New Zealand registration |
| Midwife | Midwifery Council registration |
| Nurse Practitioner and all Registered Nurse specialisms (Aged Care, Critical Care, Mental Health, Surgical, Paediatrics, and others) | Nursing Council of New Zealand registration |
| Enrolled Nurse | Nursing Council of New Zealand registration |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician | Medical Sciences Council registration |
| Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Organisational Psychologist, Psychotherapist | Psychologists Board or Psychotherapists Board registration |
| Veterinarian | Veterinary Council of New Zealand registration |
| Physiotherapist | Physiotherapy Board registration |
| Pharmacist (Hospital, Industrial, Retail) | Pharmacy Council registration |
| Occupational Therapist | Occupational Therapy Board registration |
| Optometrist, Dispensing Optician | Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board registration |
| Speech Language Therapist | Professional body membership |
| Social Worker | Social Workers Registration Board registration |
| Medical Imaging Technologist, Medical Radiation Therapist, Sonographer | Medical Radiation Technologists Board registration |
| Podiatrist, Osteopath, Chiropractor | Respective New Zealand board registration |
| Counsellor (Careers, Family and Marriage, Rehabilitation, Student, and related roles) | Association of Counsellors membership |
| Ambulance Paramedic | Paramedic Council registration |
| Secondary School Teacher, Primary School Teacher, Middle/Intermediate School Teacher | Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand registration |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Structural Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Mechanical Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Electrical Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Electronics Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Chemical Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Geotechnical Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Industrial Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Production or Plant Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Materials Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Aeronautical Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Environmental Engineer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Naval Architect / Marine Designer | Washington Accord degree or CPEng registration |
| Civil Engineering Technician | Engineering technology degree or diploma |
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Engineering technology degree or diploma |
| Electronic Engineering Technician | Engineering technology degree or diploma |
| Mechanical Engineering Technician | Engineering technology degree or diploma |
| Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics, Mechanical, Structures) | Civil Aviation Authority licence |
| Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications Network Engineer | Engineering degree or CPEng registration |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Chief Information Officer | $72.80/hr or above |
| ICT Project Manager | $72.80/hr or above |
| Analyst Programmer, Developer Programmer, Software Engineer, Software Tester | $72.80/hr or above |
| ICT Security Specialist | $72.80/hr or above |
| Database Administrator, Systems Administrator | $70.00/hr or above |
| Multimedia Specialist | $57.75/hr or above |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Construction Project Manager | Construction or engineering qualification |
| Project Builder (Building Project Manager, Site Foreman) | Quantity surveying or construction qualification |
| Quantity Surveyor | Quantity surveying degree or NZIQS membership |
| Surveyor | Bachelor of Surveying or RPSurv registration |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| External Auditor, Internal Auditor | Pay of $45.50/hr or above |
| Environmental Research Scientist | Level 8+ qualification in environmental studies |
| Food Technologist | Food science or technology qualification |
| Other Spatial Scientist | Computer science or geography major |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Earthmoving Plant Operator, Backhoe Operator, Bulldozer Operator, Excavator Operator, Grader Operator, Loader Operator, Paving Plant Operator | Pay at 1.15x median wage |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| School Principal | Teaching Council registration |
| Special Needs Teacher, Teacher of the Hearing Impaired, Teacher of the Sight Impaired | Teaching Council registration |
| Early Childhood Teacher | Teaching Council registration |
| Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages | Teaching Council registration, school-based role only |
| Job Title | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Building Associate (Site Supervisor, Site Manager) | Pay at 1.5x median wage |
| Crane Operator | Pay at 1.3x median wage plus Level 3 Crane Certificate |
| Corrections Officer | Corrections Officer Development Pathway completion |
| Dairy Cattle Farmer | Three years of commercial farm experience |
| Telecommunications Technician | Pay at 1.15x median wage or Level 3 Telecommunications Certificate |
| Halal Slaughterer | Role at an approved halal premises only |
Note
This list reflects Immigration New Zealand’s Appendix 13, effective 9 March 2026. Rules change often — confirm your exact occupation with our team before you apply.
If your job profile is on New Zealand’s Green List Jobs in High Demand in 2026, then your journey has just begun. Because after that, you have to aim for the right PR pathway. And this requires the right planning, direction, and execution.
Following are the steps for getting PR, whether your job profile comes under Tier 1 or Tier 2.
If your job profile comes under this Tier, then:
If your job profile comes under Tier 2, then you must do the following:
So, your PR pathway must align with the New Zealand Green List TIER your job profile falls under.
Every Green List role has a wage requirement. Also, most roles pay the minimum wage of NZ $35 an hour. But a smaller group in ICT must pay more. For example, a software engineer must earn a minimum of NZ $72.80 per hour. So, they can qualify to apply via the NZ Straight to Residence Pathway. So, wages matter when applying for NZ PR visa.
Now, for TIER 2, there is a wage multiplier. So, the wage rate you get when you earn it matters. As a result, your wages must stay the same or above it. Thus, after 24 months, you can apply for PR via the Work to Residence Pathway.
Can I apply for a Tier 1 visa while I am still living in my home country?
Yes. You do not need to enter New Zealand first. But you need a job offer. Also, you must show proof that you meet your role’s terms.
How much does the Straight to Residence Visa cost?
Costs start from around NZD $6,450 (including application fee and other charges).
What happens if my job title is close but not an exact match to the list?
If your job title does not match the job duties in the Green List, then your visa application will get a rejection.
My occupation is not on this list. Is my case closed?
No. The Green List is one of many PR pathways. So, the Skilled Migrant Category and other routes may still work for your profile.
Can I count work I already completed in New Zealand toward my Tier 2 clock?
Yes, if you held a qualifying visa. And your pay meets the wage rate throughout that period.
A job title on the Green List is not the finish line. Your outcome depends on the details behind it:
So, miss one of these, even after having a good job offer, can result in visa rejection
Besides, GVI also checks your options across multiple countries, not one. We work across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, USA, and Europe under one roof. Besides, we have been active since 2006, with offices in Brampton, Canada, and Nehru Place, New Delhi.
So, if your profile is in demand in more than one country, we compare your real choices. We do not guide you towards a single market. Our founder, Mr Kalyan Paul, has advised on immigration cases for more than 22 years. As a result, you are in legal, safe, and successful hands.
In short, is your job profile in the tables above? Whether ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ take our Free Assessment. Get the right Pathway to NZ PR and other countries (as applicable).
Finally, Contact Us to book a one-on-one consultation today! Apply With GVI
Mr. Kalyan Paul, President & CEO is the founder of GVI, an MBA in Finance, and also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from Canada. Mr. Paul has more than 22 years of experience in immigration consulting that made him one of the preferred & valued immigration consultants in the immigration industry. He is a licensed member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) [Previously known as Immigration Consultants Of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)] (Membership ID: R417119) which is a professional body of licensed immigration consultants recognized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
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