Tactical: New Zealand — AEWV & Green-List Skilled Vacancies 2025 — Fast-Track Residency Jobs in Healthcare, Construction & ICT with Accredited Employers

Introduction

Thinking about relocating, advancing your career abroad and securing permanent residency? In 2025, New Zealand has sharpened its focus on targeted pathways for skilled migrants via the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the Green List especially in sectors like healthcare, construction and ICT. For many overseas professionals this is a golden window: a genuine chance to work for an accredited employer, build experience, and fast-track your way to residency.
In this article we’ll walk through how AEWV and the Green List interlink, why certain fields (healthcare, construction trades, ICT) are hot right now, what actual wage-/skill-thresholds and residency pathways apply, and how you might strategically position yourself. The tone is friendly and practical — no legalese overload, just actionable insight.

Let’s dive in.

Understanding the Basics: AEWV and the Green List

To set the scene, let’s clarify two of the key mechanisms at play:

1. Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
This is the primary work route for overseas skilled workers with a job offer from a New Zealand employer who is accredited. The employer accreditation means the business is approved to hire foreign workers under this visa scheme. Key features include:

A genuine job offer from an accredited employer.
A “job check” process that verifies the role meets skill, wage and advertising requirements (unless the role is exempt as a Green List job). (Te Whatu Ora Careers)
The visa holder may work in that role for the employer for a defined period, and in many cases that work can lead into a residence pathway.

2. The Green List
This is a curated list of occupations that the New Zealand government has identified as facing long-term shortage or strategic importance. Being in a Green List occupation can open up either:

A “Straight to Residence” route (if your job and qualifications align).
A “Work to Residence” route (typically after 24 months of work in NZ under an accredited employer).
(Immigration New Zealand)

Put simply: If you land a job with the right employer, in one of the correct occupations, and meet the other requirements (qualifications, registration, wage, health/character), you’re on a fast-track path.

Why Healthcare, Construction & ICT Are Key Targets

Why are these sectors singled out in 2025? Because they tick the shortage boxes, and the NZ government is signalling that skilled roles in these sectors will have priority processing, favourable settings, and clearer residency tracks.

Here’s a breakdown:

Healthcare & Aged Care: According to recent data, New Zealand faces major labour shortages in registered nurses, physiotherapists, medical technicians. Demand is particularly strong in regional and understaffed facilities. (InsuranceGrades.com)
Construction & Skilled Trades: The Green List expansion in August 2025 added ten new trade-roles (metal fabricator, welder, panel beater, vehicle painter etc.) under the Work to Residence track — reflecting the need for skilled tradespeople. (Working In New Zealand)
ICT / Digital / Engineering: With a shifting global economy and NZ’s ambition to keep up, roles in software engineering, database administration, cybersecurity and engineering technicians are increasingly on the Green List. (ggvtimmigration.com)

Because of that, if you have experience, the right job offer, and meet registration/qualification standards, you could be in a high-demand role with faster residency prospects.

How the AEWV + Green List Pathway Works (Step by Step)

Here’s a simplified workflow for how it typically works:

Find an Accredited Employer & Secure a Job Offer
- The employer must be accredited to hire overseas on the AEWV.
- The role must align with a recognised occupation (often ANZSCO or new NOL code) and meet relevant wage/skill thresholds.
- If the job is on the Green List, some advertising/“New Zealander first” requirements may be relaxed. (Immigration New Zealand)
Employer Does a Job Check
- The employer applies for a “job check” with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) which assesses the job offer, pay rate, whether the role was advertised (unless exempt) and ensures conditions are met. (Te Whatu Ora Careers)
- For jobs on the Green List, the process is prioritised.
You Apply for the AEWV
- Once the job is checked/approved, you apply for the work visa.
- The job and employer accreditation must remain valid for the visa’s duration.
- You should review any requirements such as registration (for engineers, nurses etc), proof of qualifications, English language, health and character.
Work and Build Experience
- You commence the role in New Zealand.
- If your role is a Green List occupation and you meet the criteria, you may qualify for a faster residency application (either immediately, or after 2 years under “Work to Residence”).
Apply for Residence
- Depending on the occupation, you may apply:
  - Straight to Residence: immediately once job offer meets conditions (for the highest priority occupations)
  - Work to Residence: after 24 months of work in NZ under the accredited employer, meeting the wage threshold and other criteria
- Once you gain residence, you can settle permanently and eventually apply for citizenship if eligible.

Key Changes & Thresholds in 2025

It’s vital to keep up with the latest policy changes, because wage thresholds and eligibility criteria shift. Here’s a summary of major changes in 2025 and how they affect you.

Policy Item	What Changed in 2025	Why It Matters
AEWV Form Updates for Green List occupations	From 7 July 2025, the AEWV application form was updated: occupation-specific questions replaced by more general ones; Green List requirements surfaced directly in the form. (Immigration New Zealand)	Makes application clearer and quicker for Green List roles.
Wage threshold updates	From 18 August 2025, threshold based on median wage NZ$33.56/hour: – 2× median = NZ$67.12/hour (for exemption from labour market test) – 1.5× median = NZ$50.34/hour (for max continuous stay of 5 years for lower skill levels) (Working In New Zealand)	Knowing the pay rate is essential: roles must meet these wage thresholds to access certain benefits.
Green List Expansion (skilled trades)	Ten new trade occupations added to Green List under Work to Residence path from 18 August 2025. (Working In New Zealand)	If you are a tradesperson, this opens a clear route.
Prioritisation of job check applications	For AEWV/Job Check applications in Green List occupations, there is “priority allocation” per policy documents.	Your application may move faster if you qualify.

These changes reflect NZ’s aim to align migration policy with market realities (skills shortages – wage fairness – employer accountability).

What It Means For Healthcare, Construction & ICT Applicants

Now let’s apply this directly to the three sectors of interest: healthcare, construction/trades and ICT. What are the specific opportunities, what should you watch out for, and how to maximise your chances.

Healthcare

Opportunities:

Registered nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, medical technicians are heavily in demand in NZ. (InsuranceGrades.com)
Many of these roles are on the Green List (or becoming so), meaning opportunities for faster residence.
Accredited employers (public health boards, private care providers) are actively recruiting overseas talent.

What you need to focus on:

Ensure your qualification is recognised in NZ and you meet any registration requirements (e.g., for nurses via Nursing Council).
Secure a job offer from a credible accredited employer.
Verify the pay rate meets the threshold or is clearly within the high-demand bracket.
Once working, ensure that the role aligns with the Green List category if that’s relevant for your pathway.

Construction & Skilled Trades

Opportunities:

Ten trade occupations added to the Green List as of mid-2025: metal fabricator, pressure welder, vehicle painter, panel beater etc. (Working In New Zealand)
These jobs often come with high hourly pay thresholds (e.g., around NZ$43.63/hour for metal-machining roles) which indicates they are valued. (ggvtimmigration.com)
For overseas tradespersons with solid experience and certifications, the “Work to Residence” route can be realistic.

What you need to focus on:

Confirm your trade/test-certifications and that they are accepted in NZ. Some variation may apply in apprenticeships or registration.
Secure an accredited employer who’s willing to hire overseas and sponsor the role.
Verify the job offer includes wages at or above the required threshold and that you understand the “2 years in NZ” requirement for Work to Residence for those trades. (Immigration New Zealand)
Understand that while the pathway is clearer, you still need to fulfil the full 24-month work requirement under the employer before applying for residence.

ICT / Digital / Engineering

Opportunities:

ICT roles (software engineer, database admin, cybersecurity) and engineering technician positions have been added to or expanded in the Green List for 2025. (Nairametrics)
These professions tend to command strong wages, which helps meet threshold and residency criteria.

What you need to focus on:

Ensure your qualification (degree or diploma) is recognised, and your role aligns precisely with the occupation definitions (ANZSCO/NOL codes).
Secure a job offer from an accredited employer, ideally in a high-demand region (Auckland, Wellington, or other tech hubs).
Verify the job description, level of responsibility and remuneration; high wages strengthen your application.
If the role is on the Green List: check whether you are eligible for Straight to Residence or Work to Residence. Some ICT roles may allow direct residence. (ggvtimmigration.com)

Strategic Tips: How to Position Yourself Successfully

Here are some practical, tactical tips to give you an edge:

Target Accredited Employers Early: Before applying for jobs, check that the employer is accredited by INZ to hire under AEWV. If they’re not, your visa path could be blocked.
Match the Occupation Code Exactly: Many applications fail because the job offer doesn’t match the specified occupation code (ANZSCO / new NOL) that’s on the Green List. Double-check the classification.
Wage Proof and Salary Thresholds: Always verify the offered salary/hourly rate meets the threshold. The changes in 2025 mean that simply getting a job isn’t enough; you must meet pay criteria.
Registration/Qualification Early: If you are in healthcare or a regulated trade (engineer, nurse, etc), begin your NZ recognition process early. Registration can be time-consuming.
Focus on Residency Pathway from Day 1: Don’t treat the job offer as “just work”. If your goal is permanent residency, structure everything (job offer, contract, location, employer, salary) around meeting the residency pathway requirements.
Keep Documentation Clean: Job offer, employment contract, actual hours, pay slips (once working) — ensure you have good evidence. If you later apply for residence under Work to Residence, INZ will verify your employment.
Consider Regional/niche variations: If you can accept a job outside Auckland (or in a less-saturated region), you may face less competition and better chances.
Keep Up With Policy Changes: Migration settings shift. As we saw in 2025, wage thresholds, form questions, list of occupations all moved. Check INZ’s website regularly.

Where to Watch Out: Risks and Considerations

Migrating and pursuing a fast-track pathway has many benefits, but there are also pitfalls. Be mindful of:

Changing policy settings: The fact that wage thresholds and roles on the Green List change means what’s valid today might shift tomorrow. Plans must be flexible.
Employer stability: Your pathway often hinges on your employer remaining accredited and your job remaining valid. If the employer loses accreditation or you change jobs, your pathway might be disrupted.
Genuine job offer requirement: INZ expects that the job is genuine and appropriate for employment. There have been cases of job offers not being genuine or workers being exploited.
Residence application eligibility: Even once you fulfill the work/role/time requirements, your residence application must still satisfy health, character, English language and other criteria.
Expectation management: “Fast-track” doesn’t mean “instant”. Some applicants still take time to build the right experience, gather documents, meet registration requirements etc.
Living costs and relocation: While NZ offers great quality of life, relocation has costs (moving, settling in, accommodation etc.). Factor this into your plan.

Real-Life Example: How It Could Work

To help ground this, here’s a hypothetical scenario:

Maria is a registered nurse with 5 years’ experience in her home country. She obtains a job offer from a New Zealand district health board (an accredited employer) for a role clearly identified as one of the Green List occupations. The offered salary is above NZ$70 000/year and the employer confirms accreditation and job check approval. Maria applies for the AEWV, gets the visa, relocates to NZ, works for 24 months in the same role, satisfying all required conditions. Then she applies for residence under the Green List “Work to Residence” route, passes health/character/English tests, and receives residence. Later she applies for citizenship.

In this scenario:

She entered via AEWV.
Her job was a Green List role → faster pathway.
She knew upfront what was required and structured the job offer accordingly.
She built her work experience under a stable accredited employer.
She prepared for residence rather than just thinking of “working overseas short-term”.

This is essentially the model many candidates aim for.

Summary Table: Comparing Pathways & Sectors

Sector	Typical Green List Role(s)	Pathway to Residence	Key Requirements
Healthcare	Registered Nurse, Physiotherapist, Medical Technologist	Straight to Residence or Work to Residence	Accredited employer job offer, registration/qualification, relevant pay, health/character/English
Construction & Trades	Metal Fabricator, Welder, Vehicle Painter, Panel Beater	Work to Residence (after 24 months)	Skilled trade qualification/registration, job offer from accredited employer, meet wage threshold, work 24 months in NZ
ICT / Digital / Engineering	Software Engineer, Database Administrator, Engineering Technician	Straight to Residence or Work to Residence (depending on role)	Degree relevant, job offer from accredited employer, pay meets threshold, job aligns with occupation code

Key Insights to Take Away

The synergy of a job offer, an accredited employer, and a Green List occupation is powerful: it accelerates the journey towards residence.
The recent policy changes in 2025 matter: wage thresholds, form-updates, trade expansions all impact who qualifies and how quickly.
While the fastest routes tend to be in high-demand roles (healthcare, ICT, specialised trades), even moderately skilled roles — if structured well — can lead to residency via “Work to Residence”.
Early planning is critical: think ahead about employer accreditation, occupation codes, pay rates, registration/licensing, and the residency timeline.
Don’t treat the AEWV as “just a work visa”. If your goal is residency, treat it as Stage 1 of a 2-stage process: work → residence.
Always verify and document your employment trajectory; stability and compliance matter.
While no guarantee of instant residency exists, the NZ system in 2025 is aligned to make the process more transparent and faster for priority occupations. That’s good news for skilled applicants.

Conclusion

If you’re a healthcare professional, a seasoned trade-worker, or an ICT/engineering specialist and you’re open to relocating to New Zealand now is a strong moment to act. The combination of the AEWV and the Green List means you can turn a job offer into much more than just a temporary visa: it’s potentially your doorway to full residency and long-term life in New Zealand.

But success comes from preparation: securing the right job, verifying it meets the criteria, understanding the wage/thresholds, and executing your work period under an accredited employer with a clear view to residence. Policy details matter, and staying current will give you the edge.

In short: if you select your occupation wisely, align with an accredited employer, meet the thresholds, and keep your eye on the long-term prize — you could be working in New Zealand and on the fast-track to residency.

Here’s to your next chapter — may it be exciting, purposeful and well-planned.