What a match means
A match tells you your role is one New Zealand is short of, and which residence pathway it leads to. It doesn't mean you qualify: you still need a job offer from an accredited employer, the qualification or registration INZ lists for the role, and its pay. For doctors, nurses, midwives and teachers, NZ registration usually comes first and can take months, so it's worth starting alongside the job search. Every role, with its requirements, is on our Green List occupations page.
Where an adviser helps: the costly mistake is a job that's close to a listed role but doesn't match its ANZSCO tasks, found out only when INZ declines. A licensed adviser can check your experience and registration against the exact Green List entry, and plan the registration and job search, before you or an employer commit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer to use the Green List?
Yes. Both Green List pathways need a job, or a job offer, with an accredited New Zealand employer: full-time, and permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months. Being on the list tells you which pathway your role leads to once you have one.
What's the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Tier 1 roles can apply for residence straight away, from New Zealand or overseas. Tier 2 roles apply after 24 months working in the role in New Zealand at the pay INZ sets for it.
My exact job title isn't listed. Am I out?
Not necessarily. INZ goes by what the job involves (its ANZSCO description), not the title, so a role with a different name can still match. Equally, a similar title doesn't count if the tasks don't match. That's worth checking with a licensed adviser before you apply.
Is this checker official?
No. It matches your title against INZ's Green List as published on 29 October 2026. INZ changes the list from time to time, so check your role on immigration.govt.nz before you apply.
Get help with a Green List application
A licensed immigration adviser can tell you whether your experience matches the role, what registration you need and how to approach NZ employers. If an application has been declined or a case may go to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, an immigration lawyer is the right help. Tell us your situation below and we'll introduce you. It's free to ask.
General information, not immigration advice. Source: Immigration New Zealand, Green List roles: jobs we need people for in New Zealand, read 29 October 2026; median wage from INZ's wage rates for work visas.