The Government has announced that from 18 August 2025, 10 new occupations will be added to the Green List Work to Residence pathway, aiming to help address skill shortages across New Zealand, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Eligible trades professionals who have a job or job offer in one of the listed occupations, have worked in a listed occupation for 24 months, meet the wage threshold, and aged 55 or under could be eligible for residence. Applicants must also meet character, health and English language requirements.
The new occupations being added to the Green List are:
- Metal Fabricator
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter Welder
- Pressure Welder
- Welder
- Panel Beater
- Vehicle Painter
- Paving Plant Operator
Wage thresholds
To be eligible, applicants must be paid at a rate that reflects the skill and experience required for their role:
- For Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, and Machinist roles listed above, applicants must be earning at least $43.63 an hour (or $90,750 a year based on a 40-hour week)
- For Paving Plant Operators, Panel Beaters, and Vehicle Painters, applicants must be earning at least $38.59 an hour (or $80,267 a year).
Updated wage threshold for Skilled Residence visas
Also effective from 18 August 2025, Immigration New Zealand will increase the medium wage thresholds for the Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence and Straight to Residence visa categories to $33.56 per hour, in line with the current median wage.
Contact us
Contact us for legal advice on your eligibility for the expanded Green List Work to Residence pathway. Our friendly team would be happy to assist you.
Immigration instructions and rules regularly change and apply differently in every case. The above general information was up to date as of July 2025: Contact our office for most up-to-date information.
