New Zealand replaces ANZSCO with National Occupation List for work visa applications

New Zealand has officially transitioned from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to its own National Occupation List (NOL) for evaluating job-based visa applications. The move, effective November 3, 2025, marks a major step toward streamlining the country’s immigration framework and better aligning it with the needs of local employers.

The NOL will now apply to all Job Check and Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications submitted on or after the effective date. Employers are required to use the new occupation codes when submitting job descriptions, while applicants must match their qualifications and experience to the skill requirements outlined in the updated list.

According to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), the new list introduces five skill levels, each describing specific tasks, responsibilities, and qualification benchmarks. It also replaces older ANZSCO codes in several categories, although some visa streams—such as the Skilled Migrant Category—will continue using ANZSCO during the transition phase.

To ease the switch, INZ created a temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) pathway that operated between September and November 2025. The provision allowed certain AEWV holders in newly recognised occupations to extend their stay by up to two years while the new framework took shape.

Officials say the NOL will provide a clearer and more consistent basis for assessing skills and will make the visa process more responsive to real-time labour market needs. Employers have been encouraged to use the Aria tool on the Statistics New Zealand website to confirm NOL codes and ensure compliance with the new criteria.

With this reform, New Zealand joins other advanced economies that are modernising their migration systems to better match skills with workforce demand in a fast-changing labour market.