How to Apply for New Zealand Green List PR: Easy Step‑by‑Step Guide (2026)

To apply for a Green List residence pathway, you need to secure a job offer, confirm you meet your role’s requirements, prepare your documents, submit your application online, complete health and character checks, and wait for your residence decision.

This article gives you a quick walk-through of the Green List application process. 

Note: In New Zealand, “residence” and “permanent residence (PR)” are not the same.

A residence visa lets you live and work in New Zealand long term, but it may come with travel conditions. After holding a residence visa for a period of time, you may become eligible to apply for permanent residence, which gives you full travel rights. Green List pathways help you move toward residence first, and then PR later.

To start your Green List application, secure a full‑time job offer from an accredited employer in a Green List role. 

Green List roles are grouped into two tiers: 

• Tier 1 (leads to Straight to Residence, you can apply for PR as soon as you meet the role rules).

• Tier 2 (leads to Work to Residence, you apply for PR after 24 months of full‑time work in New Zealand).

Your job must:

• Be on the Green List (Tier 1 or Tier 2).

• Be with an accredited employer.

• Be full-time (at least 30 hours per week).

• Meet the salary requirement for that role.

• Match the qualification and registration requirements.

Note

Your employer is responsible for being accredited. Your responsibility is to make sure your job, salary, qualifications, and registration all match the Green List rules before you apply.

Once you have a job offer, the next step is to confirm you meet the exact requirements listed for your occupation on the Green List. Every role has its own rules, and Immigration New Zealand checks these carefully before approving your application.  

1. Qualification requirements

Each Green List job has specific qualification standards you must hold. These are listed directly under the job on the Green List. For example, many professional roles require a relevant bachelor’s degree or higher.

2. Professional registration (If required)

Some occupations require New Zealand registration before PR can be approved. This usually applies to:

• Healthcare professionals

• Engineers

• Teachers

• Trades like electricians, plumbers, and gasfitters

You must hold the required NZ registration or show that you meet the registration pathway for that role.

3. Minimum salary / Wage rule

Your pay must meet the minimum rate listed for your role.

• Some roles have a fixed salary

• Others must meet at least the median wage (NZD $35/hour from March 2026)

If your salary is below the required amount, your job will not count toward residence eligibility.

After confirming you meet the Green List requirements for your job, the next step is preparing the documents Immigration New Zealand will ask for during your PR application. Having these ready makes the process faster and helps avoid delays.

What you need to prepare

Here are the key documents required for a Green List PR application, based on Immigration New Zealand’s official process:

• Passport and identity documents

• Job offer or employment agreement

• Proof of salary and work conditions

• Qualification documents (degree, transcripts)

• Registration proof (if required)

• Police certificates (if required)

• Medical documents (if required)

• Proof of relationship, if including partner or children

At this stage, you will submit your full residence visa application through Immigration New Zealand’s online system. This is not an EOI. You are applying directly for residence.

What you will do in this step

You will:

• Create or log in to your Immigration NZ account.

• Complete the online residence application form.

• Enter your:

  • personal details

  • job details

  • employer information

  • work history (especially for Tier 2)

• Upload all required documents.

• Pay the visa application fee.

After you apply, Immigration NZ will assess your application.

They will check:

• Your job matches the Green List role.

• Your salary meets the required rate.

• Your employer is accredited.

• Your qualifications and registration are valid.

• Your health and character meet requirements.

After you submit your online PR application, Immigration New Zealand begins a series of checks to confirm that you meet the health, character, and job verification requirements for residence. This is a standard part of the Green List PR process and happens for both Straight to Residence and Work to Residence applicants.

1. Health check

You may be asked to complete a medical examination with an approved panel physician. This helps Immigration NZ confirm you meet New Zealand’s health requirements for residency.

2. Character check

You must provide police certificates from every country you have lived in for a required period. Immigration NZ uses these to make sure you meet the good‑character requirements for residence.

3. Job & employer verification

Immigration NZ will confirm:

• Your job offer is genuine.

• Your employer is accredited.

• Your salary meets the wage rule.

• Your role genuinely matches the Green List criteria.
  This step ensures the job aligns with the occupation requirements listed for your pathway.

In some cases, you can request a character waiver if you have a past issue that affects your application. Immigration New Zealand will review your situation, including how serious the issue is, how long ago it happened, and your current circumstances. Approval is not guaranteed. If the issue is serious, your application may still be declined.

Immigration NZ will review your full application and make a decision.

Possible outcomes

Approved
You are granted residence under:

• Straight to Residence (Tier 1), or

• Work to Residence (Tier 2)

Request for more information

• You may need to submit additional documents.

Declined
This may happen if:

• Your job does not meet Green List rules.

• Your salary is below the requirement.

• Your qualifications or registration do not match.

After your visa is approved

• You will receive an eVisa.

• If applying offshore, you must enter New Zealand within 12 months.

Applying for a Green List residence pathway can feel straightforward.

But small details can affect your outcome. 

Your job, salary, qualifications, and documents all need to match the exact rules before you apply. That is where planning early makes a difference.

IDP supports you at every stage:

• Check if your job meets Green List requirements.

• Match you with courses linked to Green List roles.

• Guide your study to post-study work to residence plan.

• Review your documents before you apply.

• Connect you with migration experts for personalised advice.

Do I need a job offer to apply for Green List PR?

Yes. You must have a full‑time job offer from a New Zealand accredited employer for a role listed on the Green List. This is the first requirement for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 pathways.

Can I apply for PR immediately after getting a Green List job?

You can apply immediately only if your job is Tier 1 (Straight to Residence path). For Tier 2 jobs, you must complete 24 months of full‑time work in New Zealand before applying

What documents do I need for the PR application?

You will need your job offer letter, qualification proof, wage evidence, police certificates, medical documents, and professional registration (for roles that require it)

Can my PR get declined even if I have a Green List job?

Yes. Residence may be declined if you do not meet the qualification, registration, or wage rules for your job, or if your documents do not match Green List requirements.

How long does it take to receive a residence decision?

Processing time varies and depends on document completeness, eligibility, and verification checks. Immigration NZ first verifies your job, qualifications, wage rate, employer accreditation, and health/character documents before making a decision.

Does Immigration New Zealand check my employer too?

Yes. Immigration NZ will confirm that your employer is accredited and that your job offer matches the Green List rules.