Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is gradually moving from ANZSCO to the National Occupation List (NOL) — New Zealand’s new job-classification system — for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications. This is a general summary of the recent updates and where to find the detail. It is general information only — not personalised immigration advice.
For an overview of how the system works, see Understanding the National Occupation List.
What the NOL is
The NOL was first announced in November 2024 and replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). It groups jobs into occupations with a skill level from 1 (most skilled) to 5 (least skilled) and is updated each year. INZ is introducing it in stages, so for most visa applications ANZSCO is still used; only specific listed NOL occupations can currently be used for an AEWV.
3 November 2025 — first occupations recognised
From 3 November 2025, INZ began recognising a first group of NOL occupations at skill levels 1 to 3 for the AEWV. Employers can submit a job check for any of these newly recognised roles, and some AEWV holders working in directly related skill level 4 or 5 roles may be able to move into one of the new roles if they hold either:
- at least 2 years’ directly relevant work experience, or
- a recognised qualification.
INZ does not currently recognise any NOL skill level 4 or 5 occupations for the AEWV.
9 March 2026 — 47 more occupations and the median wage
From 9 March 2026, INZ recognises 47 additional NOL occupations at skill levels 1 to 3 for AEWV applications — including newly recognised chef roles split into clearer occupations by skill and seniority. As with all AEWV roles, an employer must advertise the role for at least 14 days and make genuine efforts to hire a suitable New Zealander first.
Three occupations — pet groomer, nanny and kennel hand — moved from skill level 3 to skill level 4. This does not affect people who already held an AEWV for one of these roles, or job checks approved on or before 8 March 2026, but future applications are treated as skill level 4 (which carries different English-language, Work and Income, stay-length and family-support settings).
Median wage increase
From 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage increased to NZD $35.00 per hour (based on June 2025 data). Although the general median-wage requirement was removed from the AEWV in March 2025, several settings remain linked to the median wage and update automatically, including Green List pay requirements, the twice-median advertising and skills exemption, the 1.5-times-median five-year-stay rule, and partner and dependent income thresholds.
What this means in practice
Whether a role can use a NOL occupation, and how the skill level affects stay length, wage settings and family support, depends entirely on individual circumstances. Announced changes can also be adjusted, and the recognised lists are added to over time.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand, immigration.govt.nz — “New occupations recognised under the National Occupation List and annual median wage increase” (18 February 2026), “Recognising National Occupation List (NOL) occupations in the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)” (23 October 2025), and “National Occupation List occupations used for an AEWV”, as at March 2026. Always confirm current detail on immigration.govt.nz.
If you’d like to understand how the NOL or these updates might apply to a particular role, you can request a review with our licensed adviser.