Red and Amber List occupations

Find out which jobs are on the Red and Amber Lists and how they affect your eligibility for the Skilled Work Experience pathway of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa.

If your current job or job offer is on the Amber List, there are additional requirements you must meet to be eligible for the Skilled Work Experience pathway of the SMC Resident Visa.

If your current job or job offer is on the Red List, or is an ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 occupation, you are not eligible for the Skilled Work Experience pathway of the SMC Resident Visa.

Find out more about requirements for the SMC Resident Visa here:

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Amber list occupations

If your current job or job offer is in one of these occupations you must:

  • be paid at least 1.2 times the SMC wage threshold
  • have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in New Zealand in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, and
  • have an additional 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation paid at least 1.2 times the SMC wage threshold.
Table 1: Amber list occupations for the Skilled Work Experience pathway
ANZSCO code Occupation
141999 Accommodation and Hospitality Manager nec
141311 Hotel or Motel Manager
431411 Hotel Service Manager
351111 Baker
141911 Bed and Breakfast Operator
141111 Café or Restaurant manager
141211 Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager
351311 Chef
149212 Customer Service Manager
313112 ICT Customer Support Officer
313199 ICT Support Technicians nec
512111 Office Manager
351112 Pastrycook
313113 Web Administrator

Red list occupations

These occupations are not eligible for the Skilled Work Experience pathway:

Table 2: Red list occupations for the Skilled Work Experience pathway
ANZSCO code Occupation
451111 Beauty Therapist
142114 Hair or Beauty Salon Manager
391111 Hairdresser
149999 Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager nec
411611 Massage Therapist
142111 Retail Manager (General)