Green List wage requirements for New Zealand

As an initiative to open up borders for migrants and fill the vacant job requirements that are in demand, New Zealand posts a Green list.

The list enumerates various skilled jobs and positions that are in high demand and are unable to be filled within the country due to a lack of skilled workers. The green list sets out to invite skilled migrants from all over the world to come and work, while also facilitating a fast-track opportunity to apply for a work visa or a straight-to-residence Visa in return.

If you are one such person looking for jobs in New Zealand, this blog may be the right place for you. Please continue reading to learn more about the green list criteria and requirements. Further, we will also guide you to improve your application process for better approval rates.

What is the Green List that New Zealand updates every now and then?

These are a list of occupations/roles that can be applied against for a work-to-residence and straight-to-residence Visa. The intention is to bridge the gap between in-demand job roles and the skilled migrants willing to apply.

There are more than 85 roles within multiple categories:

1. Health and Social Services
2. Construction
3. Engineering
4. ICT electronics and telecommunication.
5. Primary industries and science
6. Trades
7. Factory process worker
8. Civil Machinery operators
9. Business professionals
10. Agriculture

How to apply for the green list?

1. Visit the official website of the Immigration Department and search the green list for your desired role. These roles within the list either belong to tier 1 or tier 2.

Note: Only the Tier 1 role is eligible for a straight-to-residence visa. While Tier 2 roles are for a Work to Residence Visa.

2. Additionally, look for the desired qualifications and experience to apply for a particular role. Each role has a unique job code, which must be noted for the application process. The fresh list of applications are invited after September 23.

However, the Green List applications must meet the median wage requirements at all times, i.e., while starting the work experience and at the time of application, since the government wants to ensure that the migrant can sustain himself and thus be paid fairly.

Exemptions may be given to people who have already applied before the latest round from September.

What are the wage requirements for the Green Visa in New Zealand?

Wage requirements generally refer to wage thresholds, meaning minimum rates that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) use to calculate entitlement for different visas. It lists the lowest amount you must be paid to be granted the Visa unless your role is exempted. The concept of wage thresholds is an indicator of the skill level of the job as they are also updated every February to take into account inflation.

While the minimum wage threshold for various Visa may be as low as the medical wage of $29.66 per hour, it is set at $61.69 for the Green List roles and varies based on various industries.

To list a few examples of wage requirements for specific Green List roles:

• For a Software, Civil, or Electrical Engineer, a minimum of $61.69 per hour would be required.
• Similarly, for a doctor and a lawyer, it is $123.37 per hour

If you are interested in applying for a Green List Visa, you can find a comprehensive list of all Green List occupations and their wage requirements on the Immigration New Zealand website.

Some additional pointers to keep in mind about wage requirements.

• Some sectors, such as those in the healthcare sector, demand greater agility and skills. Employers may offer higher salaries to attract and retain staff in these cases.
• The wage requirements for Green List roles are updated annually, so it is important to check the Immigration New Zealand website for the latest information before you apply for a visa.
• Look for job offers only from accredited employers.

Two Visas can be applied for residence within the Green List occupation.

1. Straight to residence Visa

If you fit the criteria for a Tier 1 role, then you can apply for this. The basic requirements and benefits of it.

• It gives the applicant the benefit of citizenship, while the length of stay on this Visa is permanent; hence, no renewals are required.
• The Applicants should be a maximum of 55 years of age.
• As the official website mentions, the processing time for this Visa is around 11 months for 90% of the cases.
• This Visa costs may cost you around NZD 4,290, depending on where you are applying.

1. Work-to-residence Visa

The criteria for the Work-to-residence Visa is similar to the previous one. The only difference is that one should meet the qualifications of any tier-2 role, and the applicant must have worked in a tier-2 Green List job for at least 2 years. Suppose you are interested in applying for the green list role and need help. In that case, you may contact any New Zealand work visa consultants in Delhi who may help you with the latest requirements and application process efficiently.

The cost of applying for this Visa is the same as that of Straight to residence, around NZD 4290.

While the New Zealand government offers an excellent opportunity for migrants to apply for Green List occupations, at the same time, it also lays down the minimum pay the applicant must secure from the accredited officer in order to qualify for subsequent Visa applications, be it a straight-to-Residence or Work-to-residence Visa.

If you need assistance with the application process, you can contact any New Zealand work visa consultants in Delhi who may help you with the latest requirements. It is only done in order to ensure the worker is adequately paid and can sustain their living within the country.

Our agency is also available in Dubai and Qatar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 Will I be able to add my family dependents to my visa application?

Answer: Yes, it is possible to include your dependents under the age of 24 who are financially dependent on you. You must provide documents proving the dependency relationship.