New Zealand Work Visa 2025: How The National Occupation List Affects You

What is the National Occupation List (NOL)?

The National Occupation List (NOL) is New Zealand’s new system for classifying jobs related to immigration. It acts as a national guide to check skill levels, job demand, and visa eligibility. Built just for New Zealand, the NOL replaces the ANZSCO, which the country used to share with Australia.

Differences Between ANZSCO and NOL

The ANZSCO system was a shared job classification used by both Australia and New Zealand. Although it offered a clear structure, it didn’t always match New Zealand’s job market. Many of the listed jobs were outdated or didn’t fit the country’s current needs.

In contrast, the NOL offers:

New Zealand-specific categorization of occupations
Updated and accurate skill level groupings based on local employment data
Stronger alignment with current and emerging job market demands

Unlike ANZSCO, the NOL supports real-time responsiveness. It integrates better with immigration policies and enables faster, more targeted visa processing.

Why New Zealand Developed Its Own System

New Zealand created the NOL to gain greater control over its skilled migration system. The need for reform stemmed from several limitations in ANZSCO:

Outdated occupational data
Inflexible classifications
Inability to reflect country-specific labor shortages

With the NOL, New Zealand wants to make immigration more efficient, help employers who need skilled workers, and give clearer advice to visa applicants. The system helps match skilled migrants with jobs in high demand, which supports the workforce and strengthens the country’s economy over time.

Why the Change from ANZSCO to NOL Matters

Moving from the ANZSCO to the NOL shows New Zealand’s bigger goal to improve immigration results and better support the country’s economic needs.

Limitations of ANZSCO’s Outdated and Shared Structure

ANZSCO was originally designed as a joint classification system between Australia and New Zealand. While it provided a common framework, it posed several challenges for New Zealand:

Many job roles listed in ANZSCO no longer reflect current responsibilities or industry practices.
Updates to ANZSCO were infrequent and slow, limiting the ability to react to evolving labor market conditions.
Because the system was shared with Australia, New Zealand could not independently adjust classifications or respond to national needs without a broader bilateral process.

NOL’s Alignment with New Zealand’s Labor Demands

The NOL addresses these issues by offering a localized, current, and flexible classification system. It is built using New Zealand-specific employment data, allowing Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to:

Identify and prioritize genuine skill shortages
Adjust occupation classifications more frequently
Reflect industry shifts and regional workforce needs

Government Objectives: Accuracy, Autonomy, and Efficiency

The decision to implement the NOL supports three core government objectives:

The NOL provides a more precise and up-to-date structure for assessing skills and qualifications. This improves decision-making and minimizes errors in visa assessments.
By owning its classification system, New Zealand gains full control over how occupations are defined, categorized, and updated. This independence allows for quicker adaptations to national priorities.
The NOL streamlines immigration processes. Visa officers can assess applications with better clarity, and applicants receive faster, more predictable outcomes.

How NOL Impacts Work Visa Applicants

The National Occupation List (NOL) brings major changes to how foreign job seekers apply for work in New Zealand. One key change is how jobs are now ranked by skill level. This change affects who can get a visa, the rules they must follow, and their chances of becoming long-term residents.

Changes to Skill Level Classification

In the old system, ANZSCO ranked jobs from Level 1 to 5. Level 1 was for the most skilled jobs, while Level 5 was for the least skilled. These levels were linked to visa rules like minimum pay, required work experience, and English language skills.

The NOL uses a more flexible and New Zealand-focused system. It sets skill levels based on local job market data, making it more relevant and up-to-date. In many cases, jobs that had lower skill levels under ANZSCO have now been moved to higher levels under the NOL.

Implications for Work Visa Applicants

Reclassified occupations may now qualify for more skilled visa categories, including the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).
Higher skill level designations often lead to longer visa validity—up to 36 months for certain Level 3 roles.
Occupations moved to a higher skill level may now meet the criteria for residency routes that were previously inaccessible.
Some reclassified roles may become exempt from median wage thresholds or English language tests, depending on the new categorization.

This redefinition of skill levels allows more foreign workers to access opportunities that better reflect their experience and qualifications.

Jobs Already Affected

Even though the NOL is still being rolled out, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has already started using its approach for some jobs. These changes have made it easier to get the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and have led to better results for some professions.

Examples of Jobs Now Treated as Skill Level 3:

Cooks
Scaffolders
Nannies
Fitness instructors
Slaughterers
Pet groomers
Kennel hands

Also, jobs like senior care workers, disability carers, and mobile plant operators can now qualify as Skill Level 3 if the workers have the right certificates or enough experience.

Benefits of Reclassification:

Reclassified roles are now eligible for streamlined AEWV processing.
These workers can receive longer work permits with fewer restrictions.
Skill Level 3 jobs may now align with residency pathways that were unavailable under ANZSCO classifications.

What You Should Do

As New Zealand moves to the National Occupation List (NOL), foreign job seekers must stay updated and take action. It’s important to know how your job is classified and how that affects your visa chances. The steps below will guide you through the changes and help you prepare for success in 2025.

Identify Your Job Classification

Start by checking how your job is classified under the old ANZSCO system. This is still important because some visa types may continue to use ANZSCO while the NOL is being fully introduced.

Use the ANZSCO Search Tool available on the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website. Enter your job title to view the code, skill level, and description associated with your role.
Visit Stats NZ or INZ’s official resources to explore the new National Occupation List. Cross-check your occupation to determine its updated classification under the NOL framework.

Assess Your Skill Level

After finding your job under both systems, check if your skill level has been raised in the NOL. A higher skill level can change your visa options, how long you can stay, and your chances of getting residency.

Refer to INZ’s pages detailing how specific occupations have been reclassified.
Check if your occupation has moved from a lower ANZSCO level (e.g., Level 4) to a higher NOL level (e.g., Level 3), which could unlock improved visa conditions.

Check Visa-Specific Requirements

Different visa types, like the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), may use either ANZSCO or NOL rules, depending on when and how you apply.

AEWV: Many occupations are already being assessed under NOL-aligned logic, especially for Skill Level 3 eligibility.
SMC: This pathway may still refer to ANZSCO codes in some cases but is expected to transition toward the NOL over time.

Stay updated with the latest Immigration NZ policy announcements, as guidelines can shift quickly. Regularly review visa-specific pages to track changes that may affect your application.

Get Professional Help

Doing your own research is important, but immigration rules are changing and can be hard to follow. In 2025, it’s a smart idea to work with a licensed immigration adviser to guide you through the process.

Advisers understand current and upcoming rules and can offer insights tailored to your profession and personal circumstances.
They can help avoid errors, improve your application’s success rate, and advise you on the best route based on your updated skill level and visa goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NOL apply to all visa types?

Not yet. The NOL is slowly replacing ANZSCO, but some visa types, like the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)—have already started using NOL-based rules. Others, such as the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), may still use ANZSCO during the transition.

Can I still use my ANZSCO code for visa applications?

Yes, but only in specific situations. During the transition, some visa categories still use ANZSCO codes.

Will I need to meet new income or English language requirements under the NOL?

Possibly. As of March 2025, some Skill Level 3 roles are exempt from median wage requirements and may have relaxed English language conditions.

Why did New Zealand replace ANZSCO with the NOL?

ANZSCO was a shared framework with Australia and had become outdated for New Zealand’s evolving workforce.

Conclusion

In the end, the NOL helps applicants whose jobs match New Zealand’s current job market, especially in health care, trades, hospitality, construction, and support services. If your job has been reclassified or upgraded under the new system, this is a good time to review your options and start planning your immigration path for 2025 and beyond.