New Zealand Green List Jobs: Roles and Employer Checks

Searching for New Zealand Green List jobs from overseas involves two checks before you apply. First, is your occupation on the Green List, and do you meet its exact conditions? Second, is the employer able to support a work visa? This guide covers both, plus where genuine roles are advertised and how to present your CV.

General information only, not immigration advice. New Zealand's rules, pay thresholds and lists change often. Always confirm details on Immigration New Zealand before making decisions. For complex cases, use a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer.

What the Green List is (and isn't)

The Green List is Immigration New Zealand's list of hard-to-fill occupations. Being on it can open a pathway to residence for people who meet the conditions. It is split into two tiers:

• Tier 1 (Straight to Residence): eligible people may be able to apply for residence without first working in New Zealand for a set period.
• Tier 2 (Work to Residence): eligible people usually need to work in the role in New Zealand for a period before applying for residence.

The Green List is not a job board, and it doesn't guarantee a visa. Each occupation has its own conditions, which may include:

• occupational registration with a New Zealand body
• a specific qualification, sometimes assessed by NZQA
• a minimum pay rate
• a minimum amount of relevant experience

Two people with the same job title can get different answers. One might be registered and paid at the required rate, while the other isn't.

How to check your occupation in 15 minutes

1. Go to immigration.govt.nz and search "Green List".
2. Find your occupation. Check the exact wording, not just a similar title.
3. Note the tier and every condition listed: registration, qualification, pay and experience.
4. Write each condition down with a yes, no or unsure next to it.
5. For each "unsure", find the official body that decides it, such as a registration authority or NZQA.

Don't change your job title to fit the list. Your visa assessment, and any employer reference checks, will look at what you actually did.

Registration comes first for many roles

Many Green List occupations in health, education and engineering need New Zealand registration. Sometimes you need it before you start work. Sometimes it is a condition of the residence pathway. Registration can take months, so start early.

Field	Where to check registration
Nursing	Nursing Council of New Zealand
Doctors	Medical Council of New Zealand
Teaching	Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
Engineering	Engineering New Zealand
Overseas qualifications	NZQA

Other fields, such as trades, allied health and some IT roles, have different rules. Some need licensing, and others have no registration requirement. The Green List entry for your occupation tells you which applies.

Tip: If your registration is in progress, say so plainly on your CV. For example: "Nursing Council of New Zealand registration: application submitted, March 2025." Don't write "registered" until it is true.

Accredited employer checks: the step people skip

Most people moving to New Zealand for a Green List job will start on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). In general terms, this involves three stages:

1. Employer accreditation: the business must be accredited by Immigration New Zealand.
2. Job check: the employer confirms the role, pay and conditions meet the rules. Depending on the role, they may also need to show they advertised it to New Zealanders.
3. Your visa application: you apply once the employer has a job check approved for you.

If the employer isn't accredited, they can't support you through the AEWV route, however keen they are.

How to check an employer

Immigration New Zealand publishes a list of accredited employers. Search "accredited employer list" on immigration.govt.nz. Then:

• Search the legal name, not just the trading name. Find it on the company website footer or the New Zealand Companies Office register.
• Check the date. The list is updated periodically, and accreditation can lapse, so a recent accreditation may not appear yet. If the employer isn't listed, ask them directly.
• Ask a clear question early. For example: "Is your organisation currently accredited with Immigration New Zealand, and would you be able to complete a job check for this role?"
• Watch for red flags. Be cautious if anyone asks you to pay for a job, a job check or "guaranteed" accreditation. Employers are generally not allowed to pass certain recruitment and accreditation costs to migrant workers. Check the current rules on the Immigration NZ site. Our guide to fake visa sponsorship job offer scam signs covers common tactics.

A simple tracking table

Keep one row per employer so you don't apply blind:

Employer (legal name)	On accredited list?	Date checked	Role on Green List?	Registration needed?	Next action
Example Ltd	Yes	12 May	Yes, Tier 2	Yes, in progress	Apply, mention registration status

Where genuine Green List roles are advertised

There is no single official list of Green List vacancies. Look on these legitimate channels and check each employer as above:

• Public sector: jobs.govt.nz lists roles across New Zealand government agencies.
• Health: Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora advertises clinical roles on its own careers pages. Search for it through the official health.govt.nz and Te Whatu Ora sites.
• Schools: the Education Gazette is the main place New Zealand schools advertise teaching jobs.
• Career information: careers.govt.nz explains job outlooks, typical tasks and qualifications. It's useful for matching your terminology to New Zealand usage.
• Private job boards and company sites: many accredited employers advertise on major New Zealand job boards and their own careers pages. A listing on a board doesn't mean the employer is accredited, so check every time.

Avoid paid "guaranteed Green List job" packages. No legitimate service can guarantee a job or visa.

Tailoring your CV for a Green List role

New Zealand employers expect a clear, reverse-chronological CV, usually two to three pages, with referees available. Our New Zealand CV format guide covers length, referees and personal details.

For Green List roles, add a short eligibility block under your profile so the hiring manager can see the key facts quickly:

Work rights and registration Seeking Accredited Employer Work Visa sponsorship. Occupation: Registered Nurse (Green List). Nursing Council of New Zealand registration: application submitted, March 2025. Available to relocate with 8 weeks' notice.

Then work through your CV:

1. Match the occupation wording truthfully. If the Green List says "civil engineer" and that's your role, use that term. Don't relabel a technician role as engineer.
2. Show the experience the condition requires. If the entry needs a minimum number of years, give clear start and end dates (month and year) so it's easy to count.
3. Use New Zealand terms where they're accurate. For example, use "registered nurse" or "secondary teacher", and mention your registration body.
4. Mirror the job ad's skills only where you have them. If the ad asks for a system or standard you've used, name it with context. If you haven't, leave it out.
5. State your time zone and availability for video interviews, since you may be many hours from New Zealand.

Once you've drafted your eligibility block and tailored the CV, the QuickApplyPilot remote and international jobs tool can help. It structures applications for overseas roles, including how to state work-rights status and relocation plans clearly. It won't check visa eligibility or employer accreditation, so still do those on official sites.

Cover letter: one paragraph on logistics

Keep the main letter about the job. Add one short paragraph covering:

• your visa route (AEWV, subject to the employer's job check)
• your registration status and date
• your realistic start date

This answers the employer's practical questions without making the letter about immigration.

Quick checklist before you apply

• My exact occupation is on the current Green List, and I've noted its tier.
• I meet each condition, or I know which ones are in progress.
• I've started registration or qualification assessment where required.
• The employer's legal name appears on the accredited employer list, or they've confirmed accreditation in writing.
• I haven't been asked to pay for the job or the employer's visa steps.
• My CV has an honest eligibility block and clear dates.
• I've checked the latest rules on immigration.govt.nz this week.

Rules differ depending on your passport, qualifications and family situation. Applicants from some countries may also have other routes worth comparing, such as working holiday schemes. Check what applies to you on Immigration New Zealand's website rather than relying on forum posts or this guide.