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Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is making changes to how occupations are assessed under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programme, following the creation of new roles in the National Occupation List (NOL) July update.
These updates will ensure that workers in new higher-skilled roles can continue to qualify for AEWV pathways, while INZ transitions its systems to fully reflect the NOL framework.
The National Occupation List (NOL) became New Zealand’s official job classification system in November 2024, replacing the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). A further update was made on 1 July 2025.
While INZ continues to use ANZSCO to set visa rules for AEWV applicants, work is underway to integrate the NOL into INZ’s systems.
The NOL includes new occupations at skill levels 1 to 3, which may allow some workers currently in Level 4 or 5 roles to apply for a further AEWV to extend their maximum continuous stay.
What is happening next
INZ is updating its systems so that Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants in around 90 new higher-skilled (levels 1 to 3) roles can apply based on their National Occupation List (NOL) skill level.
These changes are scheduled to go live on 3 November 2025. Employers will need to undertake the full AEWV process for these roles. Further details will be available in early October. .
Temporary pathway
For approximately 30 of the new roles a temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) pathway will be in place from 8 September until 2 November for current visa holders whose MCS will end on or before 30 November 2025 where an employer wishes to appoint them to a new role and the employee meets relevant criteria.
Alert
This temporary pathway is only available to a small group of affected visa holders. It is not a general extension or alternative to the AEWV programme.
Only a small group of visa holders will be eligible for this pathway and they must:
- be in, or appointed to, 1 of the 30 new NOL roles and have at least 3 years directly relevant experience to the new role (or a recognised qualification)
- hold a current AEWV and reach their maximum continuous stay on or before 30 November 2025.
Accredited employers do not need to advertise the role for SPWV applicants.
The roles eligible for the interim pathway are listed in table 1 and table 2.
| NOL Occupation | NOL code |
|---|---|
| Horticulture Post-Harvest Leading Hand | 832117 |
| Indoor Crop Production Leading Hand | 841228 |
| Outdoor Crop Leading Hand | 841231 |
| NOL Occupation | NOL code |
|---|---|
| Concierge | 431413 |
| CNC Operator – Solid Timber Joinery | 712312 |
| Concreter (Commercial) | 331113 |
| Electronic Security System and Alarm Technician | 399922 |
| Fibre Composite Technician | 399921 |
| Forestry Supervisor | 841314 |
| Hazardous Materials Removalist | 711915 |
| Horticulture Post-Harvest Supervisor | 832116 |
| Indoor Crop Production Supervisor | 841223 |
| Irrigation Manager | 841918 |
| Other Livestock Farm Supervisor | 841531 |
| Outdoor Crop Production Supervisor | 841221 |
| Poultry Farm Supervisor | 841532 |
| Power Wash Technician | 811212 |
| Production Supervisor, Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing | 711115 |
| Production Supervisor, Food and Drink Processing | 831122 |
| Production Supervisor – Meat Processing | 831314 |
| Production Supervisor, Paper, Pulp and Wood Processing | 711315 |
| Production Supervisor, Plastics and Rubber Production | 711517 |
| Production Supervisor, Seafood Processing | 831316 |
| Solar Installer | 821413 |
| Senior Piggery Stockperson | 841533 |
| Senior Fleet Tyre Technician | 323221 |
| Senior Tyre Technician | 899416 |
| Sheep Farm Supervisor | 841527 |
| Silviculture Operator | 841317 |
| Waterproofer | 333312 |
