Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced the following updates that could directly affect your staff and your ability to plan ahead.
90 new roles now recognised for longer visa stays
From 3 November 2025, around 90 additional roles will be recognised at skill levels 1–3 under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
- Workers in these roles may be able to stay in New Zealand for up to 5 years instead of 3.
- For employers, this means a better chance to retain skilled staff for longer and reduce turnover.
ANZSCO vs NOL – what’s changed?
Traditionally, INZ used the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to determine the skill level of a job.
This is being replaced by the National Occupation List (NOL), a system designed to better reflect the New Zealand labour market.
While ANZSCO is still in use for now, INZ is gradually integrating the NOL into its systems. From November 2025, the NOL skill levels will determine which roles fall into the 1–3 category (and therefore qualify for a 5-year stay).
Temporary visa pathway for expiring visas
Some visas will expire before these changes take effect. To help, INZ will introduce a temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa between 8 September and 2 November 2025.
- This gives eligible staff in about 30 roles a short-term solution to stay lawful and in work until the new rules apply.
What employers should do now in light of the above
- Check your employees’ visa expiry dates.
- Confirm your people are on the right visa type.
- For any visas due to expire, get advice early. We can review eligibility for extensions, temporary visas, or residence – and make sure applications are prepared correctly.
Stronger compliance rules
INZ is also tightening its approach to compliance and deportation. This includes updated estimates of overstayers (20,980 as at July 2025) and tougher rules around false information and criminal history.
For employers, this makes it even more important to get visa applications right and avoid unnecessary risk.
How we can help
We’re here to make sure your workforce stays secure and compliant. If you’d like to understand how these changes could benefit your business, or to check your employees’ visa situations, get in touch with us today.
