Greenstone Immigration has been in close contact with Immigration New Zealand, and we now have formal confirmation that the residence pathway for dairy farming roles on the Green List can be as short as three years.
Eligibility Overview
To qualify for this green list pathway, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- Meet the English language requirements for residence
- Demonstrate three years of commercial farming experience in a relevant role
- Demonstrate 24 months in a Green List role (Herd Manager, Assistant Farm Manager, or Farm Manager) and have an existing job (and appropriate visa) in one of these roles
- Be paid at or above the residence median wage
- Meet health and character requirements
Steps to Residence via Green List
1. Work in a relevant role for at least 12 months
- Find and work in commercial farming in a relevant role (e.g. Farm Assistant or other agricultural role) for 12 months
- This role can be paid at any pay rate and can be in any location world-wide (as long as you have high-quality evidence)
2. Work in New Zealand as a Herd Manager, Assistant Farm Manager, or Farm Manager for at least 24 months
- If you’re not on an open work visa, employers will need to complete an appropriate job check
- Your pay rate must be at or above the residence median wage on the day you started work (e.g. $33.56 per hour from 18 August 2025)
3. Apply for Residence
- After at least three years in farming including 24 months as a Herd Manager, Assistant Farm Manager or Farm Manager, you can apply for residence
- Ensure your pay rate meets the residence median wage at the time of your Resident visa application (the rate will be NZ$33.56/hour after 18 August 2025 but this will likely increase over time)
- Meet English language and other standard residence criteria (Health, Character)
Tips for English: Start early—language learning takes time and consistency. Speak, listen, read, and write in English daily. Use apps like Duolingo or IELTS prep tools and engage with farming-related content in English.
Ready to take the next step?
Contact us today to start your detailed assessment so that you can get on an accurate pathway to residency without delay.
This includes a clear “Roadmap to Residency” for you, covering:
- Evaluation of eligibility across residence categories
- Industry-specific advice and INZ policy alignment
- Aligning work visas with your residence goals
- Evaluation of any risks such as health and character issues
The assessment will let you know what you need to do to become eligible for residence, so you can be ready to apply as early as possible.
Start your journey toward New Zealand residency with expert guidance tailored to the dairy industry.
