Immigration New Zealand announced on 3 November that 17 occupations will lose Green List status under the Work‑to‑Residence visa, with the new rules taking effect on 8 March 2027.

The occupations removed include motor mechanics, automotive electricians, motorcycle mechanics, panel beaters, vehicle painters, metal fabricators, welders, fitters, metal machinists, construction supervisors, crane and hoist operators, telecommunications technicians, paving plant operators and pressure welders.

Thirteen of the jobs will move to the new Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Trades and Technician pathway, while the remaining four will be placed under the SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway.

The two new SMC routes have different qualification, salary and work‑experience thresholds than the current Work‑to‑Residence visa, and Immigration New Zealand noted that they may not be equally accessible to all applicants.

Workers who began accumulating the 24‑month qualifying period before the 8 March 2027 cutoff can continue to count that time toward the existing requirement, provided they meet all other conditions of the Work‑to‑Residence visa.

From the implementation date, the affected occupations will lose Green List benefits such as exemption from labour‑market testing and priority processing for Job Check and Accredited Employer Work Visa applications.

Employers can still hire foreign workers in these roles through the Accredited Employer Work Visa, but may encounter additional recruitment considerations.

The overhaul aims to eliminate overlapping residency options and streamline New Zealand’s immigration framework, according to Immigration New Zealand.

For some experienced workers, the new pathways could lower the residency bar by reducing salary thresholds or shortening the required period of New Zealand employment.

A separate announcement indicated that four specialist teaching occupations will move from Tier 2 Work‑to‑Residence to Tier 1 Straight‑to‑Residence, allowing direct permanent‑residency applications without the two‑year employment requirement.

Immigration New Zealand also signalled that another Green List review is planned for 2027.