🇳🇿 New Zealand Scarce Skills List 2025: Work & Residency Visas Now Open for Global Professionals

New Zealand has announced a major update to its Scarce Skill Shortage Lists, effective from April 2025, creating new opportunities for skilled professionals worldwide to live and work in the country. This expansion makes it easier for eligible foreign workers to secure work visas and even permanent residency.

From IT specialists to healthcare professionals and agricultural workers, the updated list includes a broad range of in-demand roles across critical sectors.

View the official shortage lists here:
New Zealand Scarce Skills List – Immigration NZ

Why This Update Is Important

This isn’t a minor change — it’s a significant move by New Zealand to attract high-demand professionals. The updated shortage lists make it easier to qualify for:

• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
• Straight to Residence Visa
• Green List Residence Visa
• Work to Residence Visa

If your profession is on the new list, your pathway to working — and living — in New Zealand just became much more accessible.

Recommended for you: 10 Countries Offering Work Visas That Lead to Permanent Residency in 2025

Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL): Top-Tier Entry Route

Professionals in high-demand fields now have a clear route to work and residency. This list includes critical roles across technology, engineering, construction, and health.

Featured Occupations:

• ICT & Software: Web developers, cybersecurity specialists, system engineers, software testers
• Engineering: Civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and structural engineers
• Construction: Quantity surveyors, diesel mechanics, project managers
• Healthcare: Nurses, general practitioners, sonographers, psychiatrists, radiologists
• Telecommunications: Network engineers, systems analysts, telecom technicians

If you work in any of these areas, you could qualify for fast-track visa options and potential permanent residency.

Healthcare and Social Support Roles

Healthcare professionals are in high demand across New Zealand, and the updated shortage list reflects that urgency.

In-Demand Roles:

• Aged care and disability support workers
• Nursing assistants and personal care staff
• Paramedics, ambulance technicians
• Mental health professionals
• Medical equipment technicians
• Laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy support staff

Many of these roles qualify for priority processing and faster work-to-residence pathways.

Primary Sector Skills: Agriculture, Food & Farming

New Zealand’s agricultural and food industries are vital to its economy. If you work in the primary sector, your expertise is needed now more than ever.

Jobs in Demand:

• Agricultural engineers, consultants, and technicians
• Dairy and livestock farmers
• Veterinarians, aquaculture workers, and zookeepers
• Food processors: Butchers, bakers, brewers
• Seasonal workers: Mushroom pickers, fruit and vegetable packers, vineyard staff

Whether you’re managing livestock or working in food production, the country offers excellent work opportunities in these sectors.

Registered Occupations: Health and Education Professionals

Certain occupations in New Zealand require formal registration. The updated Education and Health Registration Scarce List provides visa pathways for professionals who meet these criteria.

Eligible Professions:

• Education: Early childhood, primary, secondary teachers, school principals
• Healthcare: Nurses, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, pharmacists
• Medical Fields: Dentists, dental hygienists, lab technicians, dietitians
• Rehabilitation & Therapy: Chiropractors, occupational therapists

If your credentials are recognized by New Zealand’s regulatory bodies, you can register and apply for relevant work visas.

What This Means for You

With the revised Scarce Skill Shortage Lists in place, international professionals now have a streamlined path to:

• Secure a job with a New Zealand-accredited employer
• Apply for a work visa under the AEWV
• Progress toward permanent residency faster
• Relocate with dependent family members

Conclusion

New Zealand is actively seeking skilled professionals from all over the world. Whether you’re in IT, construction, healthcare, or agriculture, this 2025 update opens new doors for global talent. If your occupation is listed, now is the time to explore your options and begin your journey toward living and working in New Zealand.

Check the full updated Scarce Skill Shortage Lists and application guidance here:
Immigration New Zealand – Official Scarcity List

More Opportunities: