Careers advice

New Zealand skill shortage list (Green List) explained

You’ll get a job or visa much easier if you work in one of these roles

Last updated: 19 December 2024

If you’re looking to immigrate to New Zealand, you’re thinking about starting a new career, or changing careers, the skills shortage list is a useful resource. This list (now called the Green list) is a record of professions that are in short supply in our country.

NZ skills shortage list explained

The skills shortage list was created by the Government to help Kiwi employers fill positions that they can’t hire for, by recruiting overseas workers.

If you’re immigrating to New Zealand and you’re qualified and experienced in one of these roles you may find it easier to get a visa.

Or if you’re choosing your first career (or changing careers) it could be worth looking at the list to make sure you choose a profession that’s in demand.

If you’re immigrating there are three job-based pathways to get a visa in New Zealand. These include the skilled migrant resident pathway, the green list pathway and the care workforce and transport sector agreement pathways.

To get a green list visa

There are two types of green list visa: the Straight to Residence Visa and the Work to Residence Visa. Both are available to people in good health under the age of 55 – applications cost $6,450 and are usually processed within three months.

These visas entitle you to live, study and work in New Zealand with your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger.

Straight to residence visa - Apply online

To apply for this visa you need to be working for, or have a job offer from, an accredited employer for a role that’s on ‘tier one’ of the green list. You’ll need to be under 55 years old, be in good health, of good character and speak fluent English.

Work to residence visa - Apply online

This visa is a bit like the straight to residence visa. The difference is your employment needs to be full time, and permanent, or fixed term for a minimum of 12 months, and you’ll need to have worked for 24 months in a green list Tier 2 In Demand role before applying.

Having one of these jobs may make life easier if you're planning to move to NZ.

How can I find jobs in New Zealand?

If you’re looking for a job in New Zealand the best place to go is Trade Me Jobs.

Using the search function, you can type in keywords that match your profession and jobs on the green list below. You can also filter via location so that you can look for jobs in specific regions, cities or small towns. To get started take a minute to create a Gold Tier Job Profile. This will make it quicker and easier to apply for jobs, allow employers to find you online directly, and will mean you’ll get notified when new jobs come up that match your preferences.

What’s on the green list?

There are 205 roles on the green list. To see if your profession is on the list you can either scroll through, or press ctrl F and type your job in to search.

Note: This list is accurate at the time of writing (13/12/2024) but could be subject to change at any time.

Tier one roles eligible for straight to residence

Acoustic Engineer
Addiction Practitioner
Aeronautical (Aerospace) Engineer
Aeronautical (Aviation) Engineer
Bulldozer Operator
Aeronautical (Avionics) Engineer
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)
Alcohol & Drug Clinician
Ambulance Paramedic
Anaesthetic Technician
Anaesthetist
Analyst Programmer
Audiologist
Audiometrist
Building Project Manager
Cardiologist
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Careers Counsellor
Chemical Engineer
Chief Information Officer
Chiropractor
Civil Engineer
Civil Engineering Technician
Clinical Dental Technician (Dental Prosthetist)
Clinical Haematologist
Clinical Physiologist
Clinical Psychologist
Construction Project Manager
Counsellors nec
Database Administrator
Dental Practitioner
Dental Specialist
Dental Surgeon
Dental Technician
Dental Therapist
Dentist
Dermatologist
Developer Programmer
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
Dietician
Dispensing Optician
Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
Educational Psychologist
Electrical Engineer
Electrical Engineering Technician
Electronic Engineering Technician
Electronics Engineer
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Endocrinologist
Endodontist
Enrolled Nurse (Nursing Assistant)
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Research Scientist
External Auditor
Family and Marriage Counsellor
Food Technologist
Gastroenterologist
General Practitioner
Genetic Counsellor
Geotechnical Engineer
Hospital Pharmacist
ICT Managers nec
ICT Project Manager
ICT Security Specialist
Industrial Engineer
Industrial Pharmacist
Intensive Care Specialist
Internal Auditor
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
Marine Designer
Materials Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Mechatronics Engineer
Medical Imaging Technologist
Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Oncologist
Medical Practitioners nec
Medical Radiation Therapist
Midwife
Multimedia Specialist
Naval Architect
Neurologist
Neurosurgeon
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Nurse Practitioner
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Occupational Therapist
Ophthalmologist
Optometrist
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral Health Therapist
Oral Medicine Specialist
Oral Pathologist
Oral Surgery Specialist
Organisational Psychologist
Orthodontist
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Orthoptist
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
Orthotist or Prosthetist
Osteopath
Other Spatial Scientist
Otorhinolaryngologist
Paediatric Surgeon
Paediatrician
Paedodontist
Pathologist
Perfusionist (Cardiac)
Periodontist
Physicist (Medical)
Physiotherapist
Play Therapist (Hospital)
Podiatrist
Product Design Engineer
Production or Plant Engineer
Project Builder
Prosthodontist
Psychiatrist
Psychologists nec
Psychotherapist
Public Health Dentistry Specialist
Quantity Surveyor
Radiation Oncologist
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
Registered Nurse (Community Health)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
Registered Nurse (Medical)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
Registered Nurse (Surgical)
Registered Nurses nec
Rehabilitation Counsellor
Renal Medicine Specialist
Resident Medical Officer
Restorative Dentistry Specialist
Retail Pharmacist
Rheumatologist
Secondary School Teacher
Site Foreman
Social Worker
Software and Applications Programmers nec
Software Engineer
Software Tester
Sonographer
Special Needs Dentistry Specialist
Special Needs Teacher
Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
Specialist Physician nec
Speech Language Therapist
Sterilisation Technician
Structural Engineer
Student Counsellor
Surgeon (General)
Surveyor
Systems Administrator
Telecommunications Engineer
Telecommunications Network Engineer
Thoracic Medicine Specialist
Urologist
Vascular Surgeon
Veterinarian

Tier two roles eligible for work to residence

Automotive Electrician
Assistant Dairy Farm Manager
Backhoe Operator
Building Associate (Building Construction Supervisor)
Corrections Officer
Crane Operator
Dairy Cattle Farm Manager
Dairy Cattle Farmer
Dairy Farm Manager
Dairy Herd Manager
Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
Drainlayer
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher – registered
Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)
Electrician (general)
Excavator Operator
Gasfitter
Grader Operator
Halal Slaughterer
Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher)
Loader Operator
Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher
Motor Mechanic (General)
Motorcycle Mechanic
Plumber (General)
Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher)
Primary School Teacher
School Principal
Special Education Teachers nec
Special Needs Teacher
Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
Teacher of the Sight Impaired
Telecommunications Technician

If you’re looking to start a new career you can access a huge resource of free tips and advice at Trade Me Jobs that’ll help you get started and get hired.

Author

Ben Tutty

Ben Tutty is a regular contributor for Trade Me and he's also contributed to Stuff and the Informed Investor. He's got 10+ years experience as both a journalist and website copywriter, specialising in real estate, finance and tourism. Ben lives in Wānaka with his partner and his best mate (Finnegan the whippet).