New Zealand Green List Tier 1 vs Tier 2 is a residence-pathway comparison, not just a list of attractive job titles. The role’s exact requirements and the job offer matter. Check the current official listing before assuming that your degree or overseas job title puts you on a residence pathway.
Research checked: 12 October 2026. Check current official requirements before applying.
Immigration New Zealand identifies Tier 1 with the Straight to Residence route and Tier 2 with Work to Residence. The Tier 2 pathway generally requires 24 months of qualifying New Zealand work. Both have job-related and wider visa requirements; a Green List label does not remove qualification, registration, wage or employer checks.
Compare the listed occupation and requirements with your actual offer and qualifications. Some roles involve professional registration or specified qualifications and pay. Read the current entry rather than a short social-media occupation list. Save the official source and review date with the evidence used to assess your position.
Check which evidence the official visa page requires; this worksheet does not replace its document list.
Do not assume that all time spent on any New Zealand job will count toward a Green List work requirement. Check how the current route treats the job, visa, pay and relevant period. Retain contracts, payslips and any changes in employer or role so your chronology can be reviewed. Ask for advice if a gap or change affects the calculation.
A work permission such as an AEWV and an application for residence are different decisions. Being employed by an accredited employer does not by itself guarantee Green List residence. Applicants should check the residence rules in addition to the work visa conditions and manage existing permission while preparing the next application.
Verify the employer and vacancy through genuine independent channels. Compare the offer with the exact listing rather than relying on a recruiter’s promise of automatic PR. Assess registration, relocation costs, housing and family needs. A qualifying pathway provides a framework for an application, not assurance that every offer or applicant will be approved.
No. Straight to Residence still requires an eligible job situation and all applicable applicant requirements.
No. The work must meet the route’s qualifying job, visa, pay and timing rules.
Featured photograph: Sulthan Auliya on Unsplash. Destination photograph for illustration.