Seventeen occupations will be removed from the Work to Residence part of the Green List on 8 March 2027, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced on 3 November. They are mostly trades and technician roles, and INZ says people in them may instead qualify for residence through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).
INZ says the move follows the new SMC pathways introduced in August 2026, which overlap with the Green List for these jobs. It says removing the duplication "simplifies the residence system". The Green List is expected to be reviewed in 2027.
Which occupations are affected
INZ says 13 of the 17 will be eligible through the SMC Trades and Technician pathway:
- Building Associate (Building Construction Supervisor)
- Automotive Electrician
- Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
- Motor Mechanic (General)
- Motorcycle Mechanic
- Panel Beater
- Vehicle Painter
- Metal Fabricator
- Welder
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
The other four will go through the SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway: Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator; Telecommunications Technician; Paving Plant Operator; and Pressure Welder.
What changes for workers and employers
Someone in one of these jobs would apply for residence under the SMC pathway instead, and INZ says they will need to meet that pathway's own qualification, work experience and wage requirements. These differ from the Work to Residence rules.
INZ says many experienced workers may find the SMC pathways more accessible, through lower wage thresholds, shorter New Zealand work requirements or no set qualification requirement, depending on the pathway. It adds that the pathways have different requirements and "may not be more accessible for everyone". Our earlier piece on the August 2026 skilled residence changes explains how those pathways are set up.
Employers can still recruit migrants in these occupations through the Accredited Employer Work Visa, if they meet the usual requirements. What goes is the special treatment the Green List gave these roles, including labour market test exemptions and priority processing for job check and visa applications.
The transition
INZ says transitional arrangements will be available for people already working towards residence on the Work to Residence pathway. Anyone who has started building up qualifying work experience before 8 March 2027 will be able to keep counting it towards the existing 24-month requirement. They must still meet all the other residence requirements.
The announcement gives only an outline of the transition. INZ says the relevant webpages will be updated closer to the date, so anyone relying on it should check the INZ site rather than assume how it will work.
Other Green List changes
- Special education teachers. Four occupations, Special Needs Teacher, Teacher of the Hearing Impaired, Teacher of the Sight Impaired, and Special Education Teachers not elsewhere classified, move from Work to Residence to the Straight to Residence pathway. INZ says eligible people can apply directly for residence without first completing two years of qualifying work in New Zealand.
- Sterilisation Technicians. Green List eligibility will be limited to graduates and registered members of the New Zealand Sterile Sciences Association.
- Career Counsellors. The occupation is removed from the Straight to Residence list. INZ says it was added when allied health occupations joined the Green List but does not fit their original focus. Career Counsellors may still qualify through the SMC or another residence pathway.
INZ's announcement does not say how many people are currently on the Work to Residence pathway in these roles. For anyone in one of them, the practical first step is to check which SMC pathway fits their job, wage and qualifications before March. Another story on this site looks at a Chinese PhD graduate's experience of Green List immigration.
