Immigration New Zealand (INZ) recently unveiled an important change for work visa applicants and employers alike, replacing Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) with the National Occupation List (NOL) as their go-to system for job-related visa applications.
What Is the National Occupation List (NOL)?
The NOL classifies jobs with similar tasks and responsibilities into specific occupations, and assigns each an ability level from 1-5; with 1 being the highest and 5 being lowest; its aim being to streamline visa processing while better aligning immigration policies with New Zealand’s labor market needs.
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When Will It Go into Effect?
Candidates and employers applying for work visas within this timeframe, must use an NOL occupation code if their occupation is listed when applying:
- For an SPWV (specified before November 2, 2025)
- An Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) commencing after November 3 2025
- Undertaking an Accredited Employer Work Check commencing on or after November 3, 2025
Some visa types, including Skilled Migrant Category visas, will continue to utilize ANZSCO codes until the full transition has taken place.
How to Find the Correct NOL Code
Find Your NOL Code INZ advises users of the Aria tool available on Statistics New Zealand website as the ideal way to locate an NOL Code that best matches them and their job requirements.
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Ultimately, an NOL can determine your eligibility, skill levels and qualification requirements in certain occupations and can make life much simpler for applicants and employers. Why Does The NOL Matter
An NOL plays an essential role when searching for jobs within New Zealand’s economy – for employers as well as employees alike. Initially created during World War Two due to limited space restrictions in NZ
New Zealand’s introduction of the NOL is part of its larger effort to modernize its immigration system and is intended to streamline visa processing, streamline applications, make them faster and more consistent, align immigration policy with labour market needs, and simplify visa processing.
The move also follows recent occupational classification reforms in Australia, signalling a regional trend toward skills-based immigration policies.
Temporary SPWV Option for 2025
INZ has introduced a temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV), valid from September 8-2025, for workers holding an AEWV. This short-term option can help smooth over this transition period for workers currently holding such visas.
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Are approaching their maximum stay limit before November 30, 2025 and work in one of approximately 30 new National Occupations List (NOL) occupations.
Eligible workers can extend their stay in New Zealand up to two more years through this pathway.
The National Opinion List (NOL) represents an important shift towards skills-based immigration in New Zealand, aligning visa requirements more closely with labour market demands. Australia has also made similar changes, signalling a more efficient and modern approach to managing work visas across Oceania.
