New Zealand fast-tracks residency for skilled tradespeople

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From 18 August 2025, New Zealand will add ten new trades occupations to the Green List’s Work to Residence pathway.

The Government is tackling talent shortages in manufacturing and boosting New Zealand’s economic recovery by fast-tracking residency for skilled tradespeople.

“We know how important skilled workers are to the resilience of the manufacturing sector. When we don’t have enough people to fill these roles, productivity slows, business growth stalls and the economy feels the pressure. These changes will help bring in the talent we need to keep things moving,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.

From 18 August 2025, ten new trades occupations will be added to the Green List’s Work to Residence pathway. This requires a migrant to have two years of work experience in the relevant occupation in New Zealand and be working for an Accredited Employer when they apply for residence”. 

The occupations being added are:

  • Metal Fabricator
  • Metal Machinist (First Class)
  • Fitter (General)
  • Fitter and Turner
  • Fitter-Welder
  • Pressure Welder
  • Welder
  • Panel Beater
  • Vehicle Painter
  • Paving Plant Operator

Infrastructure New Zealand says the Government’s new Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician residence pathways are a positive step to help infrastructure providers retain critical staff, but the organisation is calling for a more urgent start date.

“The new residency pathways will provide the industry greater confidence to invest in the training and upskilling of their people knowing that they are far more likely to stay in New Zealand,” Chief Executive Nick Leggett says.

“While these pathways will eventually help employers retain experienced migrant workers in key trades, the concern is that we have to wait another year before the new settings take effect.”

“The Government has signalled more than $6 billion of projects due to start by the end of this year. If we’re serious about delivering infrastructure efficiently, we must ensure we have the skilled people ready to do the work now.”

A survey by Infrastructure New Zealand in February indicated that 56% of the industry thought the risk of staff attrition would increase over the next 12 months and 45% had experienced significant staff attrition to overseas opportunities over the previous year.

“We urge the Government to look at interim measures to accelerate residency for proven workers already here,” Leggett says.

“Without timely access to skills, projects risk delays, higher costs, and we are in danger of missing opportunities to build the infrastructure New Zealanders rely on.”

“This is a welcome and sensible reform, but speed matters. We must align immigration and workforce policy with the pipeline of work in front of us.”

Source: New Zealand Governement

Source: Infrastructure New Zealand Media Release

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