New Zealand has revamped its Green List following the introduction of new Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) pathways, and will remove 17 occupations from the Tier 2 Green List for the Work to Residence Visa from 8 March 2027. The Green List sorts jobs the country needs into skill tiers, and is expected to be reviewed again in 2027.
The removals follow new SMC pathways introduced in August 2026 that now overlap with a number of Tier 2 occupations; dropping them from the Work to Residence track is meant to reduce duplication and keep the Green List focused. People in the affected occupations may instead qualify for residence through an SMC pathway, though SMC routes carry different qualification, work-experience and wage requirements — for some workers the thresholds will be lower or more accessible, but not necessarily for everyone.
The Work to Residence Visa requires an accredited employer and 24 months of work in a Green List Tier 2 role, and applicants must be 55 or younger when they apply; it allows holders to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely and include a partner and dependent children. Employers will still be able to recruit migrants in the affected occupations through the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), provided they meet the relevant requirements.
References
The Financial Express – New Zealand Announces Green List Revamp for Foreign Workers
