**NEWS FLASH**
On 11 April 2023, Immigration New Zealand announced that from 29 May 2023, 32 health worker roles would be added to the Green List and all health roles on the Green List will be moved to the Straight to Residence pathway.
When people think of a ‘health worker’ they might normally think of a Doctor or Nurse working in a Hospital setting, however health workers currently on the Green List (Straight to Residence pathway) also include;
- Midwife
- Clinical Psychologist
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Midwife
- Orthoptist
… and health workers which will be added to the Green List (Straight to Residence pathway) from 29 May 2023 include;
- Dietician
- Dentist
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
The full list of health worker occupations being added to the Green List (Straight to Residence pathway) from 29 May 2023 can be found here.
What is the ‘Green List’?
The Green List can be found here.
The Green List is a list of occupations in the INZ Operational Manual at Appendix 13. Occupations listed at Appendix 13 are accompanied by qualifications and work experience which someone must have in order for Immigration New Zealand to be satisfied that requirements of the Green List are met. In this way the Green List is similar to the now retired ‘Long Term Skill Shortage’ list.
The idea is that people working in occupations on the Green List are very much needed in New Zealand, therefore INZ is prepared to offer them a ‘fast-track’ to Residence in order to entice them to come.
The Green List offers two pathways to Residence;
- If the occupation is listed on the Green List (Straight to Residence pathway), someone with a job offer in that occupation can apply directly for Residence. Only jobs in Tier 1 of the Green List will qualify. The INZ website currently states that the average processing time for this type of application is 43 days – quite fast, by INZ standards.
- If the occupation is listed on the Green List (Work to Residence pathway), someone with a job offer in that occupation can apply for Residence after working for 2 years in New Zealand while holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa. Only jobs in Tier 2 of the Green List will qualify. The INZ website currently does not state a processing time for this type of application.
Applicants must be aged 55 or younger at the time the application is made.
The INZ application fee for both types of application is $4890.
There are many stories in news media at the moment about the shortage of health workers in New Zealand, for example see here.
The University of Auckland estimates that New Zealand currently needs about another 4000 Nurses.
It is clear that the New Zealand Government and Immigration New Zealand are trying to respond to a significant health worker shortage which seems to be creating a ‘crisis’ situation.
We can provide specialist expertise to help with your application
If you are a health worker and are looking to come to work in New Zealand, perhaps apply for Residence, you might be wondering whether you need a Lawyer or Licensed Immigration Adviser to assist.
We would like to let you know that our firm of Lawyers here at Laurent Law is well-equipped to assist with your plans. We can handle both the simple and not-so-simple situations.
Even if your application seems simple at first glance, it may not be. There can be much peace of mind to be gained from having a professional Lawyer assist you through the process.
In particular, our firm has a strong track record of assisting with situations that are not so straightforward.
For example, we were recently contacted by a client with a job offer in an occupation on the Green List who was looking to come to New Zealand on Work Visas first, but had previously been refused entry to New Zealand on arrival. This created an issue around ‘bona fides’. This same client has a child from a previous relationship and needed guidance on how the child could be included in a Residence application.
At Laurent Law we have the skills and ability to assist with a wide range of situations. No situation is too complex or confronting for us.
If you are looking for help with your application for Residence under the Green List, please feel welcome to contact us here at Laurent Law.