The Long-Term Skill Shortage List is now outdated, as it was used to assess eligiblity for visa types which have since been retired. Please consult our guidance on Green List roles or the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
This is the NZ Long Term Skill Shortage List. See the Australian Skilled Occupation List here.
The below list was relevant for the following visas:
- Long Term Skill Shortage List Resident Visa
- Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa (LTSSL)
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (extra points if your occupation is on the below list)
Related:
| Occupational Group | Occupation
Occupations are listed by ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) code. |
Long Term Skill Shortage List Requirements
Qualifications must be comparable to the standard of the New Zealand qualification listed. Unless otherwise stated all qualifications listed are New Zealand qualifications (see Note 1 at the end of this list). |
| Construction | Construction Project Manager (133111) | One of the following:
– Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Engineering Technology (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Construction (NZQF Level 7) – A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in the focus areas of construction management, civil engineering or highway engineering – A Graduate Diploma at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification which includes the knowledge requirements of a New Zealand Graduate Diploma in the focus areas of construction management, highway engineering, civil engineering or construction project management – A diploma at NZQF Level 6, or a higher qualification, with the minimum equivalent of 240 credits, which includes the knowledge requirements of a New Zealand Diploma in the focus areas of civil engineering, highway engineering, construction or construction management – A Washington Accord or Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate (initial) engineering degree in Civil Engineering (listed – see Note 3) – A qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from Engineering New Zealand certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer professional status in New Zealand – NZ registration in the field of civil engineering as a Chartered Professional Engineer or an Engineering Technologist by Engineering New Zealand AND a minimum of five years’ relevant post-qualification work experience |
| Construction | Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman) (133112) | One of the following qualifications:
– A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in quantity surveying or construction economics – A Graduate Diploma at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification, which includes the knowledge requirements of a New Zealand Graduate Diploma in the focus areas of construction, construction management or construction project management – A diploma at NZQF Level 6, or a higher qualification, with the minimum equivalent of 240 credits, which includes the knowledge requirements of a New Zealand Diploma (Level 6) in the focus areas of quantity surveying, construction economics, construction management or building AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience |
| Construction | Quantity Surveyor (233213) | One of the following:
– A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in quantity surveying or construction economics – Student or Affiliate Membership, or MNZIQS, of the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (with an overseas degree approved by NZIQS) AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience |
| Construction | Surveyor (232212) | One of the following:
– Bachelor of Surveying (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Surveying with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – Registration as a Professional Surveyor with the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors – Professional Associate Membership or an Overseas Member of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (with an overseas degree approved by NZIS) |
| Engineering | Chemical Engineer (233111),
Materials Engineer (233112), Civil Engineer (233211), Geotechnical Engineer (233212), Structural Engineer (233214), Electrical Engineer (233311), Electronics Engineer (233411), Industrial Engineer (233511), Mechanical Engineer (233512), Production or Plant Engineer (233513), |
One of the following:
– A Washington Accord accredited (initial) engineering degree (listed – see Note 3) – A Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – A qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from Engineering New Zealand certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer professional status in New Zealand – NZ registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer by Engineering New Zealand. |
| Engineering | Civil Engineering Technician (312212) | One of the following:
– Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil Engineering) (NZQF Level 7) – A diploma at NZQF Level 6, or a higher qualification, with the minimum equivalent of 240 credits, which includes the knowledge requirements of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil) (Level 6) – A Washington Accord or Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate (initial) engineering degree in Civil Engineering (listed – see Note 3) – A qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from Engineering New Zealand certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer status in New Zealand – NZ registration in the field of Civil Engineering as a Chartered Professional Engineer or as an Engineering Technologist by Engineering New Zealand AND a minimum of three years’ work experience including a minimum of 12 months’ relevant post-qualification work experience in the past 18 months |
| Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technician (312312) | One of the following:
– Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electrical Engineering) (NZQF Level 7) Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) (NZQF Level 7) – A Washington Accord or Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate (initial) engineering degree in Electrical Engineering (listed – see Note 3) – A qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from Engineering New Zealand certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer professional status in New Zealand – NZ registration in the field of Electrical Engineering as a Chartered Professional Engineer or as an Engineering Technologist by Engineering New Zealand AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience |
| Engineering | Electronic Engineering Technician (312412) | One of the following:
– A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in electronics – A diploma at NZQF Level 6, or a higher qualification, with the minimum equivalent of 240 credits, which includes the credit and knowledge requirements of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) Electronic Engineering – Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electronic Engineering) or (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electronic Engineering, or Electrical and Electronic Engineering (NZQF Level 8) – A Washington Accord or a Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate (initial) engineering degree in Electronic Engineering (listed – see Note 3) – A qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from Engineering New Zealand certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer professional status in New Zealand – NZ registration in the field of Electronic Engineering or Electrical and Electronic Engineering as a Chartered Professional Engineer or an Engineering Technologist by Engineering New Zealand AND a minimum of three years’ work experience AND a minimum of 12 months’ relevant post-qualification work experience in the last 18 months |
| Engineering | Telecommunications Engineer (263311), Telecommunications Network Engineer (263312) | One of the following:
– Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Network Engineering) (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Engineering (NZQF Level 7) Bachelor of Engineering Technology (NZQF Level 7) – A Washington Accord or Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate (initial) degree (listed – see Note 3) – A qualification comparable to NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from Engineering New Zealand certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer professional status in New Zealand – NZ registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer by Engineering New Zealand AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience |
| Finance / Business | Procurement Manager (133612) | One of the following, awarded by the United Kingdom Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS):
– CIPS Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply (Professional Stage) – CIPS Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply – CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply AND a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience |
| Health and Social Services | Clinical Psychologist (272311) | NZ registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Post Graduate Diploma, Master degree or Doctor of Clinical Psychology; Master of Clinical Psychology (NZQF Level 9); Master of Applied Psychology (NZQF Level 9); or Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (NZQF Level 8) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist (253917) | NZ registration within a relevant provisional vocational or vocational scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | General Practitioner (253111) | NZ registration within a relevant provisional general, general, provisional vocational or vocational scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Medical Radiation Therapist (251212) | NZ registration in the scope of practice as a Radiation Therapist with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: a bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or higher qualification, which includes the requirements of a major in Medical Imaging or Radiation Therapy – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Medical Laboratory Scientist – including Cytotechnologist (Cytoscientist)
(234611) |
NZ registration in the scope of practice as a Medical Laboratory Scientist by the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand
(A qualification in this area of absolute skill shortage is: Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (253913) | NZ registration within a relevant provisional general or general scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Physicist (Medical) (234914) | One of the following:
– Certification by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers (ACPSEM) in Medicine as a Medical Physicist – Registration or eligibility for registration on the ACPSEM Register of Qualified Medical Physics Specialists – Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council, United Kingdom and Membership of the Institute of Physics and Engineering Medicine, United Kingdom – Certification as a Medical Physicist by the American Board of Radiology in Medical Physics – Certification of Competence in Clinical Medical Physics as a Member of the Canadian College of Physics in Medicine |
| Health and Social Services | Physiotherapist (252511) | NZ registration as a physiotherapist in the general scope of practice or the specialist scope of practice with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: a bachelor’s |
| degree at NZQF Level 7, or higher qualification, which includes the
requirements of a major in– see Note 5) |
||
| Health and Social Services | Psychiatrist (253411) | NZ registration within a relevant provisional vocational or vocational scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412) | NZ Registration in the scope of practice as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand
AND a minimum of three years’ work experience in adult hospital care |
| Health and Social Services | Sonographer (251214) | NZ registration in the scope of practice as a Sonographer with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: a bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or higher qualification, which includes the requirements of a major in Medical Imaging or Radiation Therapy – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine (253399) | NZ registration within a relevant provisional vocational or vocational scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Surgeon (General) (253511) | NZ registration within a relevant provisional vocational or vocational scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| Health and Social Services | Veterinarian (234711) | NZ registration with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
(A qualification in this area of absolute skill shortage is: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (NZQF Level 7) – see Note 5) |
| ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications | Multimedia Specialist (Film Animator) (261211) | A minimum of five years specialist work experience in film animation using Maya and/or at least one of the following – Soft Image/ XSI, 3D Studio Max, Photoshop, NUKE, MARI, Python, PyQT, or Unity; including at
least three years using Maya |
| ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications | ICT Project Manager (135112),
Organisation and Methods Analyst (224712), ICT Business Analyst (261111), Systems Analyst (261112), Multimedia Specialist (261211), Web Developer (261212), Analyst Programmer (261311), Developer Programmer (261312), Software Engineer (261313), Software Tester (261314), Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399), Database Administrator (262111) |
One of the following:
– Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Computer Engineering) or (Computer and Electronic Engineering) or (Computer Systems Engineering) or (Electronic Engineering) or (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) or (Electronics and Communication Engineering) or (Electronics and Computer Engineering) or (Electronic/s and Computer Systems Engineering) or (Network Engineering) or (Software Engineering) (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences (Honours) (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Electronic Commerce with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Information Sciences with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor of Software and Information Technology with Honours (NZQF Level 8) – Bachelor in Computer Generated Imagery (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Animation (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Applied Information Systems (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Applied Information Technology (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Applied Management – Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Computer and Information Services (NZQF Level 7) |
| ICT Security Specialist (262112), Systems Administrator (262113), Computer Network and Systems Engineer (263111), Network Administrator (263112),
ICT Quality Assurance Engineer (263211), ICT Support Engineer (263212), ICT Systems Test Engineer (263213), ICT Support and Test Engineers nec (263299), Telecommunications Engineer (263311), |
– Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences (NZQF Level 7)
– Bachelor of Computing (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Computing Systems (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Computing, Communications and Technology (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Creative Software (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Digital Technologies (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Electronic Commerce (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Information & Communication Technologies (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Information Sciences (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Information Technology (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Software and Information Technology (NZQF Level 7) – Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming) (NZQF Level 7) – A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with a minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in one of the following focus areas: Business Information Systems, Computational Intelligence, Computational Modelling, Computer and Electronic Engineering, Computer and Information Science, Computer and Mobile Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Networks, Computer Science, Computer Systems, Database Architecture, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronics, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Electronics and Computer Systems, Electronic Engineering, Information and Communications Technology, Information Management, Information Science, Information Security, Information Systems, Information Technology, Internet Technology, IT Service Science, Multi-Media, Multi-Media and Web Development, Networks, Network and Communication Engineering, Networks and Security, Network Engineering, Programming, Software and Information Technology, Software Development, Software Engineering, Systems Design, Systems Development, or Telecommunications – A Seoul Accord accredited undergraduate (initial) degree (listed – see Note 3) – A qualification comparable to NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from IT Professionals New Zealand certifying that the applicant’s degree and any further learning meet the educational requirements towards Chartered IT Professional New Zealand status AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience. |
|
| Recreation, Hospitality and Tourism | Chef (Chef de Partie or higher) (351311) | A certificate at NZQF Level 4, or a higher qualification, which includes the credit and knowledge requirements of a New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4)
AND a minimum of five years’ combined experience in establishments offering a la carte/ banqueting or commercial catering, with a minimum of two years at Chef de Partie (Section Leader) level or higher |
| Science | Other Spatial Scientist (232214) | A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in the focus areas of computer science or geography AND
a minimum of two years’ relevant post-qualification work experience in GIS applications (Key Application/ Systems include: ESRI – ARC/GIS; ARC/INFO ARC/SDE; Intergraph GeoMedia; Pitney Bowes MapInfo; GE Smallworld; Oracle Spatial; PostGIS/Postgres; MS SQL Server 2008; Bentley Maps, Geographic; Erdas; Geoserver; Safe FME) |
| Science | Environmental Research Scientist (234313) | A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in the focus areas of environmental studies,
environmental management, or environmental engineering |
| AND
a minimum of one year’s relevant post-qualification work experience |
||
| Science | Food Technologist (234212) | One of the following qualifications:
– Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (Food Product Technology) or ( Food Process Engineering) (NZQF Level 8) – A bachelor’s degree at NZQF Level 7, or a higher qualification with the minimum equivalent of 360 credits, which includes the requirements of a New Zealand major in the focus areas of nutrition or food science AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience in the industry |
| Trades | Automotive Electrician (321111) | A certificate at NZQF Level 4, or a higher qualification, which includes the credit and knowledge requirements of one of the strands of the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Electrical Engineering (NZQF Level 4) |
| Trades | Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector) (321212) | A certificate at NZQF Level 4, or a higher qualification, which includes the credit and knowledge requirements of the New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (NZQF Level 4)
AND a minimum of three years’ relevant post-qualification work experience |
| Trades | Electrician (General) | NZ registration as an electrician or a limited certificate as an electrician
from the Electrical Workers Registration Board |
| Trades | Electric Line | NZ registration as a line mechanic or a limited certificate as a line
mechanic from the Electrical Workers Registration Board |
Note 1: Qualifications listed (unless an exception is stated) are New Zealand awarded qualifications on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). Overseas qualifications must be comparable to the standard of the New Zealand qualification listed. Unless an overseas qualification is listed on the Immigration New Zealand List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 3) an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority stating the comparable NZQF qualification is required.
Note 2: Where post-qualification work experience is included as a requirement it applies to all qualifications listed for the occupation (unless otherwise indicated).
Note 3: Where a Washington Accord accredited undergraduate engineering degree is a requirement, the engineering degree has to be awarded from or after the date the country became a signatory, and must be on the list of accredited programmes of the signatory country. To determine if an engineering degree awarded is Washington Accord accredited, please refer to the links from the International Engineering Alliance on their website: http://www.ieagreements.org/accords/washington/signatories/.
Where a Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate engineering degree is a requirement, the engineering technology degree has to be awarded from or after the date the country became a signatory, and must be on the list of accredited programmes of the signatory country. To determine if an engineering technology degree awarded is Sydney Accord accredited, please refer to the links from the International Engineering Alliance on their website: http://www.ieagreements.org/accords/sydney/signatories/.
Where a Seoul Accord accredited undergraduate IT degree is a requirement, the IT degree has to be awarded from or after the date the country became a signatory, and must be on the list of accredited programmes of the signatory country. To determine if an IT degree awarded is Seoul Accord accredited, please refer to the following link: http://www.seoulaccord.org/signatories.php.
Note 4: Qualifications held by applicants claiming points based on this list under the Skilled Migrant Category must be recognised under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Note 5: Where New Zealand registration is specified as a requirement and states “a qualification(s) in this area of absolute skill shortage is/are”, a person only needs to hold the particular New Zealand registration and to have undertaken any necessary work experience in order to meet the requirements of the List. In these cases, qualifications are listed only for the purposes of people applying for work visas under WF4.1.
Note 6: A letter, certificate or registration from the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Incorporated (IPENZ), as Engineering New Zealand was formerly known, may be used to meet the requirement for a letter, certificate or registration from Engineering New Zealand. A letter from IPENZ may also be used to meet an applicable requirement
instead of a letter from IT Professionals New Zealand. IPENZ’s name changed to Engineering New Zealand.
Contact us for a detailed analysis of your visa options.
- Entrepreneur Work Visa
- Essential Skills Work Visa
- Hiring from overseas for your NZ company
- Investor 1 Resident Visa
- Investor 2 Resident Visa
- Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Specific Purpose Work Visa
- Student Visa New Zealand
- Talent Work Visa (Accredited Employer)
- Visitor Visa New Zealand
