Why This Matters
Thinking of bringing your plumbing skills overseas — and starting a new life in New Zealand (NZ)? If you’re a certified plumber, there’s never been a better time. As of 2025, the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Green List recognises a registered plumber as a high‑demand occupation under Tier 2, making you eligible for a Work to Residence visa.
That means after just 24 months of full-time work in NZ as a plumber (with the right registration and wage), you — and your family — could be on the path to permanent residency. The value is clear: a stable trade, a demand‑driven pathway, and a future with security. And with support from a trusted adviser like Ezy Immigration, the journey becomes far smoother.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I move to NZ as a plumber — and stay for good?” read on.
Key Takeaways
- Registered plumbers are eligible for residence in NZ via the Green List Work to Residence pathway.
- You need full registration with NZ PGDB + a proper job offer under an accredited employer + meet visa requirements.
- After 24 months of full‑time work, you may apply for residence — spouse and dependents included.
- A professional adviser like Ezy Immigration can make the process much easier and more certain: free eligibility check, CV support, job referrals, visa lodgement.
What is the Green List Work to Residence Visa (for Plumbers)
The “Green List” is INZ’s curated list of occupations that NZ urgently needs. It’s a simpler, more focused alternative to broader skills‑shortage lists, designed to attract skilled workers for high‑need roles.
Under the Green List framework, plumbers fall under Tier 2: “Work to Residence” rather than immediate residence. That means:
- You find a job as a registered plumber in NZ — typically under an employer holding an accreditation visa (AEWV).
- You commit to working full-time for at least 24 months in that plumbing role.
- You meet all INZ requirements (wage, registration, visa conditions, English, health, character).
- After 2 years, you become eligible to apply for residence — giving you and your family the chance for a long-term life in New Zealand.
What’s more, Green List roles are crafted around real demand from NZ employers. That means as a plumber you may find plenty of opportunities across the country, especially in cities and towns where tradespeople are scarce.
Why This Pathway is an Excellent Opportunity
High demand + secure trade
Plumbing is a trade that never goes out of style. Whether it’s residential housing growth, commercial developments, or infrastructure upgrades — NZ needs skilled plumbers. Being on the Green List means your trade isn’t just useful; it’s valued.
Realistic route to residency, for you and family
Unlike some temporary visas, the Work to Residence route gives a straightforward and realistic path to permanent residency. You get to keep working, earn a stable income, and after 24 months you can apply for residence — often including your partner and children.
Fair wage standard
According to trade‑specialist sources, the minimum pay requirement for a registered plumber under the Green List is at least a NZ median wage. That represents a solid living wage compared to what many trades get globally — and it’s a starting threshold for eligibility under Green List Work to Residence.
Flexible — possible job mobility
If your employer changes during the 2‑year period, you can still proceed — provided your new employer is also accredited, and the new job remains a Green List plumber role.
Support along the way — with Ezy Immigration
This is where Ezy Immigration steps in to significantly boost your chances. As experts, they can:
- Provide a free eligibility assessment to check if your plumbing credentials match NZ requirements (e.g. registration, licence).
- Connect you with trusted recruitment partners in NZ who are actively hiring plumbers.
- Help you rewrite your CV/resume to meet NZ format — a crucial detail many overlook.
- Prepare you for job interviews, including cultural and employer expectations in NZ.
- Liaise directly with employers on your behalf to obtain job tokens or to assist you in job‑check applications.
- Support you — and your family — in preparing and lodging your work visa and eventual residence visa applications.
With this level of help, what often seems like a complicated process becomes manageable — giving you a path to settle in NZ without stress.
Practical Guide — What You Need to Qualify as a Registered Plumber
If you want to use this pathway, here’s what you must have (or be ready to get):
- Registration: You must be registered as a certifying plumber, tradesman plumber, or journeyman plumber with the New Zealand Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (NZ PGDB). A provisional licence counts, but full registration should be completed by the time you apply for residency.
- Work and job offer: You need a valid job — typically under an accredited employer — offering full‑time employment as a plumber in NZ. Once employed, you begin accumulating the required 24 months of work.
- Pay / Wage condition: The role must meet at least the minimum hourly pay rate (currently NZ median wage) as required for the Green List plumber category.
- Visa & compliance: You need to hold a valid work visa (e.g. AEWV), meet English‑language, health, and character requirements.
Once you have those, after 24 months of continuous work you may submit a residence application under the Green List Work to Residence route.
What to Do Next: A Step‑by‑Step Pathway
- Check that your plumber registration qualifies (certifying/tradesman/journeyman under NZ PGDB).
- Reach out — either contact Ezy Immigration for a free eligibility assessment, or start a job‑searching with NZ employers who hire plumbers under AEWV.
- If you get a job offer, accept under an accredited employer and apply for the relevant work visa.
- Work full-time as a plumber for at least 24 months, maintain documentation.
- After 2 years, prepare and submit your residence application — you can include spouse and dependents.
If you prefer help, Ezy Immigration can support you at every step — from matching your profile to a job, to rewriting your CV, to lodging applications.
How Ezy Immigration Can Help
At Ezy Immigration, we draw on years of experience and up‑to-date knowledge of NZ immigration law. We offer a free eligibility assessment to check your credentials, then help you rewrite your CV in NZ style — a step many overseas tradespeople overlook. We can connect you to trusted NZ recruitment partners looking for plumbers, assist with job‑check applications or obtaining job tokens, and support you with interview preparation. Once you get a job offer, we’ll guide you through the relevant visa lodging (e.g. AEWV), track your 24‑month work period, and help you prepare the residence visa application when the time comes.
We aim to make the journey feel human, not mechanical. Many clients appreciate how we “take care of every little detail,” letting them focus on their work while we handle immigration. (As some clients say: “They answered all my questions and made the process easy.”)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Registered plumbers (ANZSCO 334111) are included under Tier 2 of the Green List, eligible for the Work to Residence visa.
Yes. You must have valid registration (certifying, tradesman, or journeyman) with the NZ Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.
The minimum pay requirement is NZ median wage.
You need to work full‑time in a Green List plumber role for at least 24 months before submitting a residence application.
Yes. Under the Work to Residence visa, you can include your partner and dependent children in the application.
You may still apply, provided your new employer is accredited and your new job is still a Green List plumber role.
