Green List Tier 1
Straight to Residence Visa
The Straight to Residence Visa is a residence pathway connected to qualifying employment in a Green List Tier 1 occupation. The specific role, employer and occupation requirements matter more than a broad description such as healthcare, teaching or engineering.
Enquire About Straight to Residence
What the pathway requires
Immigration New Zealand requires qualifying employment or an offer from an accredited employer in a Tier 1 role, together with the applicable age, English, health and character requirements. Each Green List occupation can also have its own registration, qualification or pay conditions.
The pathway does not generally require the two-year New Zealand work period associated with Green List Tier 2. Eligible applicants can apply from overseas, but the job and all other requirements must still be satisfied.
Check the exact occupation
Start with the official Green List entry, not a recruitment advertisement. Compare the duties of the offered position with the occupation description and identify any professional registration requirement. Two people with similar job titles may have different qualifications, registration status or employment terms.
Prepare a clear record of the role, employer, offer date, work location, pay, hours and duration. Keep copies of the evidence from the employer and the relevant professional body. Where a qualification is overseas, check whether a formal assessment is needed.
Residence, family and travel
Successful applicants can live, work and study in New Zealand. Eligible partners and dependent children may be included, subject to the requirements for those family members.
A Resident Visa is different from a Permanent Resident Visa. Read the travel conditions on the grant and plan overseas travel before they expire. A later Permanent Resident Visa application has separate requirements.
When to compare another route
A role on Tier 2 belongs under the Work to Residence framework rather than Straight to Residence. A person who does not meet a Green List entry may need to examine the Skilled Migrant Category or a temporary work category instead. None should be assumed to be available without checking the actual criteria.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Green List job title guarantee residence?
No. You must meet the conditions attached to the occupation and the requirements of the resident visa. The title alone is not sufficient.
Must I first work in New Zealand for two years?
That is not the general Tier 1 model. Do not confuse Straight to Residence with Green List Work to Residence, which has a qualifying New Zealand work requirement.
Can I apply without a job offer?
This pathway depends on qualifying employment or a job offer. A qualification in a listed field does not replace that requirement.
General information checked 18 September 2026. Official sources: INZ: Straight to Residence Visa and the Green List. This is not an individual eligibility assessment.