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Addition of 10 Trade Occupations to the Green List Work to Residence Pathway and Median Wage Threshold Update

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryNew Zealand
Operative dateAugust 18, 2025
CategoryPermanent residence / skilled and economic migration
Policy toolOperational manual / immigration instructions amendment (green list tier 2 expansion & wage adjustment)
Affected groupSkilled trade workers in qualifying engineering, automotive, and infrastructure roles

Policy effect

Adds 10 trade occupations to Tier 2 (Work to Residence) of the Green List (Metal Fabricator, Metal Machinist (First Class), Fitter (General), Fitter and Turner, Fitter Welder, Pressure Welder, Welder, Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, and Paving Plant Operator), allowing eligible workers with 24 months of relevant New Zealand work experience to apply for residence subject to specific wage thresholds ($43.63/hour for fabrication/machinist/welder/fitter trades and $38.59/hour for paving/panel beating/vehicle painting), while updating the general skilled residence median wage threshold to $33.56/hour. Phase scope: National implementation across Skilled Residence instructions (Work to Residence, Straight to Residence, and Skilled Migrant Category)

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Adds 10 trade occupations to Tier 2 (Work to Residence) of the Green List (Metal Fabricator, Metal Machinist (First Class), Fitter (General), Fitter and Turner, Fitter Welder, Pressure Welder, Welder, Panel Beater, Vehicle Painter, and Paving Plant Operator), allowing eligible workers with 24 months of relevant New Zealand work experience to apply for residence subject to specific wage thresholds ($43.63/hour for fabrication/machinist/welder/fitter trades and $38.59/hour for paving/panel beating/vehicle painting), while updating the general skilled residence median wage threshold to $33.56/hour.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

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 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.
Immigration New ZealandImmigration New Zealand, 'Ten trades occupations added to the Work to Residence pathway', 13 June 2025.Open official source
Retrieved from https://immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/ten-trades-occupations-to-be-added-to-the-work-to-residence-pathway

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp5-15bbb55f6611eb30b4a9. Something wrong? Flag this record.

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2025