New Zealand Adds 10 Jobs to Green List

redmigration
Jun 17
2 min read

Great news for skilled tradespeople looking to make New Zealand their home! The government has announced that starting August 18, 2025, ten new trade occupations will be added to the Green List's Work to Residence pathway.

Let's break down what this means for you in simple terms.

What's the Big Change?

Think of the Green List as a list of jobs that New Zealand urgently needs. If your job is on this list, you have a clearer and often faster pathway to getting residence.

The "Work to Residence" pathway means that if you get a job in one of these roles and work in New Zealand for two years, you can then apply to live here permanently.

Are You in One of the 10 New Trades?

Here are the jobs being added to this special pathway:

Metal Fabricator
Metal Machinist (First Class)
Fitter (General)
Fitter and Turner
Fitter Welder
Pressure Welder
Welder
Panel Beater
Vehicle Painter
Paving Plant Operator

How to Qualify: Your Checklist for Residence

If you work in one of the jobs listed above, here’s what you’ll need to apply for residence through this pathway starting from August 18, 2025:

✅ Have a job (or a job offer) in one of the 10 roles.
✅ Work for 24 months (2 years) in that job in New Zealand.
✅ Meet the pay requirements for your specific role (see below).
✅ Be 55 years old or younger.
✅ Meet the standard health, character, and English language requirements.

How Much Do You Need to Earn?

To be eligible, you need to be paid a certain amount to show you have the required skill level. The wage thresholds are:

For Metal Fabricators, Welders, Fitters, and Machinists: You must earn at least $43.63 per hour. (This is about $90,750 per year if you work 40 hours a week).
For Panel Beaters, Vehicle Painters, and Paving Plant Operators: You must earn at least $38.59 per hour. (This is about $80,267 per year if you work 40 hours a week).

Another Important Update: New General Median Wage

Separately, Immigration New Zealand is also updating the general median wage for all skilled residence visas (like the Skilled Migrant Category).

From August 18, 2025, the new median wage will be $33.56 per hour. This is a standard annual update to make sure visa settings match the current job market in New Zealand.

In short, if you're a skilled tradesperson in one of the ten roles mentioned, this is fantastic news that could pave your way to a future in New Zealand!