Accredited Employer Visa Adds New National Occupation List Occupations

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has introduced significant updates to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programme, aligning it with the National Occupation List (NOL). These changes, effective from 3 November 2025, impact both employers and migrant workers seeking skilled opportunities in New Zealand.

The Shift from ANZSCO to NOL

The National Occupation List (NOL) became New Zealand’s official job classification system in November 2024, replacing the outdated ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations).

A further NOL update in July 2025 introduced new skill level 1–3 occupations, enabling more workers to qualify for AEWV pathways.

While ANZSCO remains in partial use for AEWV visa rules, INZ is actively transitioning to a full NOL-based framework, streamlining how skilled roles are recognised.

Impact on AEWV Applicants

Under the updated framework:

• Around 90 new higher-skilled roles (NOL skill levels 1–3) are now recognised.

• Workers in previously lower-tier roles (skill levels 4–5) may extend their maximum continuous stay (MCS) by moving into newly recognised skill level 1–3 roles.

• From 3 November 2025, all AEWV applications for these roles must go through the standard AEWV process with accredited employers.

This transition ensures that New Zealand continues to attract talent in industries experiencing labour shortages.

Temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) Pathway

To bridge the transition, INZ has created a temporary SPWV pathway available from 8 September to 2 November 2025. This is designed for a small group of AEWV holders whose MCS ends on or before 30 November 2025 and who are moving into one of the newly recognised NOL roles.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must hold a current AEWV.

• Must be in, or appointed to, one of the 30 new NOL roles.

• Must have at least 3 years of directly relevant work experience or a recognised qualification.

Employers sponsoring SPWV applicants do not need to advertise the role, making this a streamlined solution for affected workers.

Important: This is not a general extension to AEWV. It is strictly limited to eligible workers in designated NOL roles.

For the full list of eligible NOL occupations under the SPWV pathway, please visit the official Immigration New Zealand website.

This given blog is already published here