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Ten trades occupations will be added to the Work to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand occupations in August 2025. The median wage thresholds for skilled resident visas will also be updated.
In June, the Government announced that 10 trades occupations will be added to the Work to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand occupations.
Skilled trades on fast tracked to residence — Beehive
Green List — jobs we need people for in New Zealand
Eligible applicants will soon be able to apply for a residence if they have current employment or an offer of employment in the following occupations and have worked in New Zealand for 24 months in the following occupations:
- Metal Fabricator
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter Welder
- Pressure Welder
- Welder
- Panel Beater
- Vehicle Painter
- Paving Plant Operator
The Green List pathway is designed to attract highly skilled workers, and eligibility for these roles includes meeting specific wage thresholds. These thresholds are set to ensure that applicants have the experience and qualifications required to contribute at a high level in their field.
Who can apply
From 18 August 2025, people working in these 10 trades can apply for a Work to Residence Visa if they:
- Have a job or job offer in one of the listed Green List occupations
- Are aged 55 or under when applying for residence
- Meet health, character, and English language requirements
- Meet the specific job and pay requirements for their occupation, including:
- earning at least the required applicable wage at the time of the residence application, and
- having 24 months of full-time, paid work experience in a relevant job in New Zealand, earning at least the required Green List wage for that role at the time they started it.
To be eligible, applicants will need to be paid at a level that reflects the skill and experience required for their role:
- for Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, and Machinist roles listed above, applicants must be earning at least $43.63 an hour (or $90,750 a year based on a 40-hour week)
- for Paving Plant Operators, Panel Beaters, and Vehicle Painters, applicants must be earning at least $38.59 a hour (or $80,267 a year).
The wage thresholds for these roles were developed as part of the Green List review in 2023 and were based on consultation with industry groups at that time.
Wage thresholds are used in the work to residence pathway in the Green List for roles that do not have requirements for a qualification or occupational registration. These wage thresholds target the most skilled and experienced workers in these roles.
For more information on the Work to Residence Visa and eligibility requirements, visit:
Skilled residence visas median wage thresholds changes
Immigration New Zealand will also implement its annual update to the skilled residence visas median wage thresholds in August. These thresholds apply to the Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence and Straight to Residence categories. The thresholds are reviewed regularly to reflect current market conditions and skill requirements.
On 18 August 2025, the wage thresholds for skilled residence visas will be updated.
Wage thresholds which are indexed to the median wage are being updated to reflect the new median wage rate of $33.56 an hour, based on the June 2024 data from Statistics New Zealand.
These updates are part of regular reviews to make sure immigration settings reflect current job market conditions and skill levels.
For more information on wage thresholds, visit:
Wage rate requirements for visas
Skilled residence settings (including the Green List and Skilled Migrant Category) are currently being reviewed. Further information on this will be provided later in the year.
