On 3 November 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced that from 8 March 2027, 17 occupations will leave the Tier 2 Green List roles for the Work to Residence Visa and will be covered by the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) pathways instead. Thirteen move to the Trades and Technician pathway and four to the Skilled Work Experience pathway. Workers who have already started counting qualifying Work to Residence experience can keep counting it. Everything below was checked against INZ pages on 6 November 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The change takes effect on 8 March 2027.
- 17 occupations leave the Work to Residence list: 13 move to the SMC Trades and Technician pathway and 4 to the SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway.
- People who started accumulating qualifying work before 8 March 2027 can keep counting it towards the existing 24-month requirement, but must still meet every other residence requirement.
- Employers can still recruit these roles on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), but Green List labour market test exemptions and priority processing no longer apply to them.
- INZ says the SMC pathways are a more accessible route for many experienced workers, but "may not be more accessible for everyone".
What INZ Announced
The Green List names in-demand occupations with a route to residence. Tier 1 roles can apply for a Straight to Residence Visa, and Tier 2 roles can apply for a Work to Residence Visa after 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand. Our NZ Green List guide explains both tiers.
INZ's reason is that the two SMC pathways introduced on 24 August 2026 left some occupations with overlapping residence routes. INZ also expects to review the Green List in 2027, so further changes are possible.
The 17 Roles and Where They Move
| Occupation | Where it goes from 8 March 2027 |
|---|---|
| Building Associate (Building Construction Supervisor) | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Automotive Electrician | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector) | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Motor Mechanic (General) | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Motorcycle Mechanic | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Panel Beater | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Vehicle Painter | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Metal Fabricator | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Welder | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Fitter (General) | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Fitter and Turner | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Fitter-Welder | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Metal Machinist (First Class) | SMC Trades and Technician pathway |
| Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator | SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway |
| Telecommunications Technician | SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway |
| Paving Plant Operator | SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway |
| Pressure Welder | SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway |
All 13 Trades and Technician roles appear on INZ's list of eligible occupations as it stood on 6 November 2026, and none of the 17 titles appears on INZ's red or amber list page, which restricts the Skilled Work Experience pathway for some occupations. INZ reviews those lists regularly, so recheck before you rely on this.
Work to Residence Compared With the SMC Pathways
The SMC pathways are not a copy of the Work to Residence Visa. They differ in how you apply, how much experience you need and what you must earn.
| Work to Residence Visa | SMC Trades and Technician | SMC Skilled Work Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you apply | Apply online once you meet the 24 months | Submit an expression of interest, then apply if invited | Submit an expression of interest, then apply if invited |
| Qualification | As set for your Green List role | Relevant qualification at Level 4 or higher | No specified qualification |
| Experience | 24 months in a Tier 2 job within the 30 months before you apply | 2.5 years of relevant post-qualification experience, plus 1.5 years of skilled post-qualification work in New Zealand | 3 years of relevant experience, plus 2 years of skilled work in New Zealand |
| Minimum pay | The wage rate set for your role | SMC wage threshold, NZD 35.00 an hour from 9 March 2026 | 1.1 times the threshold, NZD 38.50 an hour from 9 March 2026 |
| Fee | From NZD 6,450 | From NZD 6,450 | From NZD 6,450 |
| Age and family | Aged 55 or younger; partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included | Same | Same |
INZ updates the SMC wage threshold each year, and the rate that applies to you depends on when you started gaining skilled work experience. Relevant work experience must fall within the 10 years before you apply. Self-employment cannot be counted as relevant work experience. The job must be with an accredited employer, be full-time, and be permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months (or contracts of at least 6 months).
INZ says that for many experienced workers the new pathways are more accessible, through lower wage thresholds, shorter New Zealand work requirements or no specified qualification requirement, depending on the pathway. It adds that they may not be more accessible for everyone. A welder or fitter with years of experience but no formal qualification is one example, because those roles move to the Trades and Technician pathway, which needs a Level 4 or higher qualification.
What It Means for Workers
If you are already in New Zealand in one of the 17 roles
INZ says people who have already started accumulating qualifying work experience before the changes take effect can continue counting it towards the existing 24-month Work to Residence requirement, and must still meet all other residence requirements. INZ has not yet published the detailed transitional rules. Your start date will decide which rule applies to you.
If you plan to move to New Zealand for one of these roles
If your work starts on or after 8 March 2027, plan for the SMC pathways instead:
- Trades and Technician: do you hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification? If it is from outside New Zealand you must have an International Qualification Assessment from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), and INZ sets no credit requirement for overseas qualifications. A New Zealand qualification generally needs to be at least 120 credits.
- Skilled Work Experience: do you have 3 years of directly relevant work experience, and can you earn at least NZD 38.50 an hour in New Zealand for 2 more years?
INZ defines relevant work experience as work related to your current job or job offer, and skilled work experience as that work completed in New Zealand at the required pay. In our reading, experience gained in India can count towards the relevant portion if it was in a skill level 1 to 3 occupation within the 10-year window, while the New Zealand portion must meet the pay threshold. Your reference letters should describe duties that match the occupation consistently.
If you are short of experience
INZ says migrants who need up to 12 more months of skilled work experience will be able to apply to extend their AEWV to complete it (scheduled for 2027).
What It Means for Employers
Employers can keep recruiting migrants in these 17 occupations through the AEWV, provided they meet the relevant requirements. What goes away are the Green List settings that currently apply to these roles, including labour market test exemptions and priority processing for Job Check and AEWV applications. In our reading, employers should expect these roles to follow the standard Job Check process from 8 March 2027 and should tell sponsored workers early that residence will now run through the SMC.
Other Changes Announced on 3 November 2026
- Special education teachers move up. 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 Straight to Residence. Eligible people can apply for residence without first completing 2 years of qualifying work in New Zealand.
- Career Counsellor leaves Tier 1. It is removed from the Straight to Residence list but may still qualify through the SMC or another residence pathway.
- Sterilisation Technician eligibility is narrowed. Green List eligibility is limited to graduate and registered members of the New Zealand Sterile Sciences Association.
What Is Not Yet Known
- The detailed transitional rules for people already counting Work to Residence experience.
- The SMC wage threshold that will apply in 2027, since INZ updates it every year.
- Whether the 2027 Green List review will move further occupations.
- Eligibility and process for the planned AEWV extension for people short of SMC experience.
Your Action Checklist
Check your occupation and dates
Match your duties to the 17 roles above and keep your AEWV, contract, payslips and start date on file.
Compare the pathways
Check the qualification, experience and pay rules for the Trades and Technician or Skilled Work Experience pathway. If your trade qualification is from India, check whether you need an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA.
Watch INZ for the detail
INZ will update its pages before 8 March 2027. Recheck before you file.
Is Your Trade on the Green List?
See the current Tier 1 and Tier 2 roles, requirements and the March 2027 changes on our Green List page.
NZ Green List GuideFrequently Asked Questions
What did INZ announce about the Green List on 3 November 2026?
From 8 March 2027, 17 occupations will be removed from the Tier 2 Green List roles for the Work to Residence Visa because the new Skilled Migrant Category pathways cover them. INZ also moves four special education teaching roles to Straight to Residence and removes Career Counsellor from Tier 1.
Which occupations move to which pathway?
Thirteen go to the Trades and Technician pathway, including Automotive Electrician, Motor Mechanic, Diesel Motor Mechanic, Welder, Fitter and Metal Fabricator. Four go to the Skilled Work Experience pathway: Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator; Telecommunications Technician; Paving Plant Operator; and Pressure Welder.
I already started counting Work to Residence months. Do I lose them?
INZ says people who started accumulating qualifying work experience before the changes take effect can keep counting it towards the 24-month requirement. They must still meet all other residence requirements. The detailed transitional rules are not yet published.
Do I still need an accredited employer?
Yes. Both SMC pathways require you to work for, or have an offer from, an accredited employer in a skilled job. Employers can still recruit these roles on an AEWV, but Green List labour market test exemptions and priority processing no longer apply.
Is the SMC route easier than Work to Residence for these trades?
It can be for some people, but not for everyone. The Trades and Technician pathway needs a relevant qualification at Level 4 or higher, and both pathways have their own pay thresholds and an expression of interest stage.
Is the residence fee different?
INZ lists both the Work to Residence Visa and the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa from NZD 6,450.
Sources
This article is based on the following official pages, all opened on 6 November 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm current requirements before you act.
- Changes to the Green List from 8 March 2027 (announcement, 3 November 2026): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/changes-to-the-green-list-from-march-2027/
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/skilled-migrant-category-resident-visa/
- Work to Residence Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/work-to-residence-visa/
- Eligible occupations for the SMC Trades and Technician pathway: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/live/resident-visas-to-live-in-new-zealand/skilled-residence-pathways-in-new-zealand/skilled-migrant-category-pathway-to-residence/eligible-roles-for-the-smc-trades-and-technician-pathway/
- Red and Amber List occupations: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/live/resident-visas-to-live-in-new-zealand/skilled-residence-pathways-in-new-zealand/skilled-migrant-category-pathway-to-residence/red-and-amber-list-occupations/
- The SMC wage threshold: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/live/resident-visas-to-live-in-new-zealand/skilled-residence-pathways-in-new-zealand/skilled-migrant-category-pathway-to-residence/pay-rates-for-the-skilled-migrant-category-resident-visa/
- Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category to come into effect on 24 August 2026: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/further-changes-to-the-skilled-migrant-category-to-come-into-effect-in-august-2026/