47 New Roles Added to the National Occupation List – What It Means for AEWV Applicants

From 9 March 2026, 47 new roles will be recognised at Skill Levels 1 to 3 for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications. At the same time, three occupations will be reclassified from Skill Level 3 to Skill Level 4.

These updates reflect New Zealand’s transition to the National Occupation List (NOL) — a new job classification system that is gradually replacing ANZSCO (Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations).

This change is more than administrative. Skill level directly affects visa conditions.

Why Skill Level Matters

Under the AEWV framework, the skill level of a role determines:

• Employer advertising requirements
• Whether engagement with Work and Income is required
• English language requirements for migrants
• Visa duration
• Eligibility to support dependent family members

In general, higher-skilled roles (Levels 1–3) face fewer restrictions and offer more favourable conditions.
Lower-skilled roles (Level 4 and 5) carry stricter rules.

Roles Reclassified to Skill Level 4

The following three occupations will move from Skill Level 3 to Skill Level 4 from 9 March 2026:

• Pet Groomer
• Nanny
• Kennel Hand

This reclassification means stricter compliance requirements will apply to these roles.

What Employers Need to Know

For the three reclassified roles:

• Job Check applications submitted on or after 9 March 2026 must meet Skill Level 4 requirements.
• This includes longer advertising periods and engagement with Work and Income.

However:

• Job Check applications submitted before 9 March 2026 will be assessed under Skill Level 3 requirements.
• Any AEWV application will be assessed according to the skill level that the Job Check was approved under.

Timing, therefore, becomes critical.

Transition to the National Occupation List

New Zealand is gradually moving from ANZSCO to the NOL. For now:

• Both classification systems are being used.
• NOL roles are currently recognised for AEWV purposes only.
• They are not yet recognised for Skilled Residence pathways.

Further updates are expected as the transition progresses.

Strategic Considerations

For employers:

• Review role classifications before submitting new Job Checks.
• Understand how changes in skill level may affect advertising and compliance obligations.

For migrant workers:

• Be aware that skill classification impacts visa conditions and family eligibility.
• If your role is affected by reclassification, timing of application may matter significantly.

Immigration settings are increasingly classification-driven. Understanding how your occupation is coded under the new system is no longer optional — it directly impacts visa eligibility and long-term planning.

Further updates will follow as the transition to the National Occupation List continues.