Green List - Tier 1

Straight to Residence pathway for applicants with a Tier 1 Green List job or job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.

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Typical timeline

4 months

Indicative end-to-end processing; varies by case.

Job offer

Requirement

Required

A qualifying offer is needed for this route.

Occupation lists

Eligible occupations(1/1)

1Green List Tier 1(1)
Use Immigration New Zealand's live Green List to confirm the applicant's exact Tier 1 role and role-specific requirements.

Program overview

Overview

Green List - Tier 1 is connected to New Zealand's Straight to Residence Visa pathway. It is for applicants who have a current job or job offer with an accredited New Zealand employer in a Tier 1 Green List role.

Official

Government fees

Total (NZD): NZ$6,450

Application fee from
—
NZ$6,450

Official fees (payable to the government)

Item	Amount	Notes
Application fee from	NZ$6,450	—

Government fees are set by the issuing authority and may change without notice. We’ll confirm current rates during onboarding.

Eligibility

Be aged 55 or younger when applying.
Have an offer of, or be working in, a Tier 1 Green List in-demand job.
The job must be with an accredited New Zealand employer.
The job must pay at least the rate specified for the Tier 1 Green List job, or the current median wage if no specific pay rate is listed.
The job must meet Immigration New Zealand's employment duration and contract requirements.
Meet the Green List role requirements, which may include qualification, registration, professional membership, wage, or experience requirements.
Meet health and character requirements.
Speak and understand English.

Key benefits

Live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
Apply directly where the applicant has a qualifying Tier 1 Green List job or job offer.
No 24-month New Zealand work experience requirement applies to the Tier 1 Straight to Residence pathway.
Include a partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger, where eligible.
Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after holding residence for 2 years in a row, where requirements are met.

Checklist

Document checklist

21 total items

Documents vary by profile; we’ll tailor your list.

Identity

2 items

Passport copy
Acceptable visa photograph

Health and Character

3 items

Chest X-ray evidence, where required
Medical examination evidence, where required
Police certificates

English

2 items

Evidence of English language ability
English evidence or English lesson evidence for family members aged 16 or older, where required

Tier 1 Green List Job

5 items

Employment agreement
Fixed-term contract, where applicable
Job offer letter
Evidence of hours, duration of employment, position, and pay
Evidence that the employer is accredited

Green List Role Requirements

6 items

Qualification certificate and transcripts
International Qualification Assessment, if required
Occupational registration evidence, where required
Professional membership evidence, where required
Experience evidence, where required for the role
Pay evidence such as employment agreement, payslips, or salary evidence

Family

3 items

Relationship documents for partner and dependent children
Identity documents and photos for included family members
Health, police, and English evidence for family members, where required

Application process

Process

How it works

6 steps

Step 1: Confirm Tier 1 role
Search Immigration New Zealand's Green List and confirm that the occupation is listed as a Tier 1 role.
GuidedAvg. 2–4 weeks
Step 2: Check role-specific requirements
Review the qualification, registration, professional membership, wage, and experience requirements listed for the Tier 1 occupation.
GuidedAvg. 2–4 weeks
Step 3: Confirm accredited employer job
Verify that the job or job offer is with an accredited New Zealand employer and meets employment duration, pay, and role requirements.
GuidedAvg. 2–4 weeks
Step 4: Prepare documents
Prepare identity, health, character, English, job, wage, and role-specific Green List evidence.
GuidedAvg. 2–4 weeks
Step 5: Submit application
Apply online and pay the official visa fee.
GuidedAvg. 2–4 weeks
Step 6: Wait for decision
Immigration New Zealand may request additional evidence before making a decision.
GuidedAvg. 2–4 weeks

Frequently asked questions

It is for applicants with a job or job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer in a Tier 1 Green List role.

No. Tier 1 allows eligible applicants to apply for residence through the Straight to Residence pathway without completing 24 months of New Zealand work.

Immigration New Zealand lists the fee from NZD $6,450.

Immigration New Zealand lists 80% of applications within 4 months.

Eligible partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger may be included, subject to Immigration New Zealand requirements.