New Zealand Releases Updated Skill Shortage Occupations List Effective April 2025

Get ready, skilled professionals! New Zealand has announced a significant update to its Scarce Skill Shortage List, effective April 2025. This change opens up exciting opportunities for thousands of foreign workers seeking work visas and long-term residency.

Why This Update Matters

This is more than just a minor adjustment; it represents a major step forward for international talent. From healthcare workers to ICT specialists, New Zealand is actively seeking skilled professionals. If your skills match their needs, the country is ready to welcome you with open arms. Let’s explore the expanded lists and the visa options available for qualified individuals.

Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)—Your Elite Entry

The Long Term Skill Shortage List features occupations urgently needed in New Zealand. If your profession appears on this list, you will qualify for several visa options:

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

Updated Professions Include

• ICT & Software: Analyst programmers, cybersecurity experts, web developers, system engineers, software testers.
• Engineering: Civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and structural engineers.
  Construction & Trades: Quantity surveyors, construction project managers, diesel mechanics.
• Health & Medicine: Psychiatrists, radiologists, general practitioners, nurses, sonographers, physiotherapists.
• Telecommunications & Networking: Network administrators, telecom engineers, systems analysts.

If you belong to one of these fields, your move to New Zealand could happen sooner than you think!

Healthcare & Social Support Roles

New Zealand urgently needs professionals in critical care, aged support, and community healthcare. These roles are now officially recognized on the Personal Carers & Critical Health Workers Scarce List.

Included Roles

• Aged and disabled carers
• Nursing support and personal care workers
• Mental health and addiction services staff
• Paramedics and ambulance workers
• Technicians maintaining critical medical equipment
• Workers in radiology, laboratories, pharmacies, and oncology

Bonus: These roles often qualify for fast-tracked work-to-residence pathways due to their urgent nature.

Primary Sector Skills—The Green Gold Rush

The Primary Sector Scarce List is a goldmine for those in agriculture, farming, food production, aquaculture, and winemaking. New Zealand’s economy needs your skills and expertise. In-demand roles include:

• Agricultural consultants, engineers, and technicians
• Dairy and livestock farmers
• Aquaculture workers, veterinarians, and zookeepers
• Meat process workers, butchers, bakers, and brewers
• Mushroom pickers, fruit and vegetable packers, and winemakers

Occupations Requiring Registration—Education & Health Professionals

For those needing occupational registration, New Zealand offers clear visa pathways. This is especially true for healthcare providers and educators under the Education and Health Registration Scarce List.

Recognized Occupations Include

• Teachers (Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, Principals)
• Nurses, midwives, paramedics, and pharmacists
• Chiropractors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists
• Dentists, dental hygienists, dietitians, and medical lab staff

If you hold an internationally recognized degree and can register with New Zealand’s professional bodies, your Kiwi dream is within reach.

What This Means for You—The Path Forward

This update underscores New Zealand’s commitment to attracting skilled global talent. With the revised list, it is now easier to:

• Secure a job with a registered employer
• Apply for a work visa under the AEWV
• Progress toward permanent residency more quickly
• Bring your family along on dependent visas

New Zealand is ready to welcome skilled professionals who can contribute to its vibrant economy. If you have the skills they need, now is the time to act!