New Zealand’s secondary schools are facing a shortage of qualified teachers, and several teaching roles now sit on Green List residence pathways. Secondary School Teacher and Primary School Teacher are Tier 1 Green List occupations, meaning eligible overseas teachers can use the Straight to Residence pathway if they meet registration, job offer, wage, health, character, English, and age requirements.
Teacher shortage data
The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association annual staffing survey of 155 secondary principals, reported by RNZ on 3 July 2026, found major recruitment gaps in early Term 1, 2026.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Vacancies with no suitable applicant | 23% |
| Vacancies with only one suitable applicant | 28% |
| Schools with no suitable New Zealand-trained applicant | One third |
| Vacancies unable to be filled at all | One in five |
| Vacancies filled by people without teaching qualifications | 8% |
| Schools using untrained people as teachers | Nearly half, down from 57% last year |
| Average New Zealand-trained applicants per vacancy | 2.9, one of the lowest on record |
| New Zealand-trained applicants judged suitable | About half, down from 60–66% in recent years |
PPTA president Chris Abercrombie said schools were increasingly relying on unqualified and untrained teachers to fill gaps, at the same time as curriculum and assessment changes require teachers with pedagogy and subject knowledge.
The survey also found that the total number of applicants per vacancy was one of the highest on record, driven almost entirely by overseas applicants. This indicates that overseas-trained teachers are now a central part of New Zealand’s staffing response.
Green List pathways for teachers
Teaching roles appear across both Green List residence tiers.
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Green List tier | Residence pathway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | 241411 | Tier 1 | Straight to Residence |
| Primary School Teacher | 241213 | Tier 1 | Straight to Residence |
| Special Needs Teacher | 241511 | Tier 2 | Work to Residence |
| Early Childhood / Pre-primary Teacher | 241111 | Tier 2 | Work to Residence |
| Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages | 249311 | Tier 2 | Work to Residence |
Tier 1 roles do not require a two-year qualifying period of New Zealand work before a residence application. A qualifying secondary teacher with a full-time job offer from an accredited New Zealand school, paid at least the median wage of $35.00 per hour, can apply for residence from the start of employment, including from offshore before relocating.
Straight to Residence requirements
A teacher applying through the Green List Straight to Residence pathway needs:
- a full-time job or job offer in a Green List Tier 1 teaching role with an accredited employer;
- pay of at least the median wage of $35.00 per hour, or the specific rate set for the role if one applies;
- full-time employment of at least 30 guaranteed hours per week;
- permanent employment, fixed-term employment of at least 12 months, or a qualifying contract for services;
- New Zealand teacher registration and a current practising certificate from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand;
- residence-level health, character, and English language compliance;
- principal applicant age of 55 or younger.
Immigration New Zealand describes Straight to Residence as a pathway for experienced teachers already earning, or offered, the qualifying wage. Newly graduated teachers who do not yet have a job offer at that level may need to move through study, a Post Study Work Visa, or an Accredited Employer Work Visa first, then apply for residence once their pay reaches the threshold.
Teacher registration and practising certificate
Overseas teachers cannot legally teach in a New Zealand state or state-integrated school without both teacher registration and a current practising certificate from the Teaching Council.
Registration confirms that the teacher meets New Zealand’s professional and ethical standards. The practising certificate is the document that authorises the person to teach. New teachers typically start on a Tomua, Provisional Practising Certificate before progressing to a Full certificate.
Registration is separate from the visa process, but it is central to the overall pathway. Immigration New Zealand expects evidence of registration and a practising certificate, or evidence that the process is underway, as part of the visa application.
Main registration routes
Overseas qualification assessed as comparable
An overseas-trained teacher with a recognised teaching qualification generally applies for a Teaching International Qualification Assessment through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority before applying to the Teaching Council.
NZQA no longer relies on a fixed pre-approved list of overseas qualifications. Each applicant goes through a Teaching IQA, which compares the overseas qualification against New Zealand Initial Teacher Education standards and confirms whether it aligns with early childhood, primary, or secondary teaching.
The IQA may also be used for salary placement through Education Payroll.
Discretionary pathway
If the IQA finds that the qualification does not fully meet the core knowledge requirements of a New Zealand Initial Teacher Education programme, the Teaching Council may still consider the applicant under a discretionary pathway.
This route looks at the applicant’s full teaching background, including:
- other qualifications;
- verified teaching service;
- professional standing certificates;
- employer testimonials;
- evidence of classroom observation or appraisal.
Approvals under this route are exceptions to standard policy, so evidence needs to be thorough and organised.
Study a New Zealand Initial Teacher Education qualification
If an overseas qualification is not comparable, or if the person does not yet have a formal teaching qualification, another route is to complete an approved Initial Teacher Education programme in New Zealand.
All New Zealand teaching qualifications sit at Level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework. Common study options include:
- Bachelor of Education, primary or secondary: a three-year undergraduate Initial Teacher Education qualification for people without prior tertiary study;
- Graduate Diploma of Teaching, primary or secondary: typically a one-year qualification for people who already hold a relevant bachelor’s degree;
- Master of Teaching and Learning: a postgraduate Initial Teacher Education qualification combining teacher training with a master’s-level credential.
New Zealand study may also support an alternative Skilled Migrant Category pathway. Under Skilled Migrant Category rules effective 24 August 2026, New Zealand study can earn residence points if the teacher later needs another route. It may also lead to a Post Study Work Visa while the person secures their first teaching role.
Typical timeline for an overseas-trained secondary teacher
A realistic sequence for an overseas-trained secondary teacher is:
- Apply for a Teaching IQA through NZQA to assess the overseas qualification against New Zealand Initial Teacher Education standards.
- Apply to the Teaching Council for registration and a Provisional Practising Certificate, including transcripts, proof of identity, police vetting, a health declaration, and evidence of teaching background.
- Secure a full-time job offer from an accredited New Zealand secondary school, paid at least the median wage.
- Apply for the Green List Straight to Residence Visa once registration or practising certificate evidence and the qualifying job offer are available, or start with an Accredited Employer Work Visa if registration is still in progress.
- Move to New Zealand and begin teaching.
The full process from IQA to registration, job offer, and visa typically takes around six months for international teachers, but timing depends heavily on document certification and how quickly previous employers provide references and service evidence.
Straight to Residence Visa holders can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after two years.
Family options
A teacher who obtains a Straight to Residence Visa can include a partner and dependent children in the residence application.
If the teacher is using an interim step such as an Accredited Employer Work Visa, the partner may be eligible for a work visa in their own right, and dependent children can generally attend school as domestic students.
For teachers entering New Zealand through study first, most, but not all, programmes allow family members to accompany the student during studies and during the post-study stage.
Practical checks for overseas teachers
Before relying on the teaching pathway, an applicant should check:
- whether the role is Tier 1 or Tier 2 on the Green List;
- whether the correct ANZSCO code applies;
- whether the overseas qualification is likely to pass a Teaching IQA;
- whether a discretionary pathway may be needed;
- whether New Zealand study is required before registration;
- whether the school is an accredited employer;
- whether the job offer is full-time and meets the required duration;
- whether pay meets at least the $35.00 per hour median wage threshold;
- whether registration and a practising certificate can be obtained or progressed before the visa application;
- whether the applicant meets residence health, character, English, and age requirements.
Source article: www.newzealandshores.com
