(NEW ZEALAND) — Immigration New Zealand will expand the Accredited Employer Work Visa by adding 47 new skill level 1, 2, and 3 occupations to the National Occupation List effective March 9, 2026, while raising the immigration median wage from NZD $33.56 to NZD $35.00 per hour on the same date.
The changes apply to new AEWV applications from March 9, 2026, and aim to support a transition from the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations to the National Occupation List, which Immigration New Zealand says better reflects local labor market needs.
Job Checks submitted on or before March 8, 2026, along with associated Job Tokens, AEWV applications, and Job Change requests, will use prior skill levels and wage rates.
Existing AEWV holders remain unaffected.
The AEWV sits at the center of New Zealand’s employer-led temporary work system, tying a migrant’s work rights to a specific job with an accredited employer. The National Occupation List plays a practical role in that system by defining how roles are recognised and grouped by skill levels, which then feed into eligibility settings and wage alignment.
By adding 47 skill level 1–3 occupations into the National Occupation List, the March change widens the set of roles that fit cleanly within the updated occupation framework used for AEWV settings. For employers, that can affect how they prepare Job Checks, how they describe roles and duties, and how they align pay with the applicable thresholds.
Immigration New Zealand framed the shift as part of the move away from ANZSCO and toward the National Occupation List, a change intended to provide clearer occupation coverage in a way that better matches New Zealand’s labour market.
Alongside the occupation list expansion, Immigration New Zealand will lift the immigration median wage to NZD $35.00/hour, based on June 2025 data. The median wage functions as a baseline that feeds into multiple policy thresholds, making the update relevant beyond a single visa category.
For the AEWV in particular, roles must meet the market wage rate, described as what a New Zealander would earn, at or above the median, while also complying with minimum wage and other requirements. Immigration New Zealand links wage assessment to process stages, with pay ranges approved at Job Check and finalised at the visa application stage.
The updated median wage also affects other settings that reference multiples of the median. Immigration New Zealand said the median wage increase “Doubles the 2x median threshold, requiring higher pay for advertising exemptions and minimum skill requirements.”
The wage update also flows through to family-related settings tied to the AEWV and other pathways. For skill level 1-3 partner support, the threshold rises from NZD $26.85 per hour to NZD $28.00 per hour.
For Green List partner support, the threshold rises from NZD $50.34 per hour to NZD $52.50 per hour.
Those partner and dependent support thresholds matter because they can shape whether a household qualifies under the relevant support settings, affecting planning for work rights and dependent eligibility linked to the principal applicant’s job and pay.
Immigration New Zealand also linked the wage update to residence pathways that carry their own wage floors or occupation-specific requirements. It said residence pathways like Skilled Migrant Category, Green List, and Transport Work to Residence raise wage thresholds.
Some roles sit under structured pay scales rather than a simple hourly benchmark, which can change the way migrants and employers assess eligibility. Immigration New Zealand gave one example, saying teachers now need Step 5 pay scale, previously Step 4.
The cutover rules are expected to matter as employers and workers decide when to lodge and what settings will apply. Job Checks submitted on or before March 8, 2026, and the items tied to them — Job Tokens, AEWV applications, and Job Change requests — remain on the prior skill levels and wage rates.
From March 9, 2026, new AEWV applications move onto the new settings, including the occupation list expansion and the new immigration median wage.
Immigration New Zealand also addressed renewals in the context of the new wage thresholds. It said existing visa holders do not need to meet new thresholds for renewals, but new applications must.
That distinction means the same worker could face different requirements depending on whether they hold an existing AEWV, seek to renew, or need to make a new application under updated settings. It also places added importance on how an employer structures Job Checks and supports any later Job Change request, which can connect back to the original Job Check settings depending on when it was submitted.
The March changes will not be the only wage-related update this year. New Zealand’s minimum wage rises to NZD $23.95/hour effective April 1, 2026.
Immigration New Zealand said AEWV applications from that date must reflect the minimum wage rise, regardless of offer date. That sets a second compliance point for employers and applicants even after the March median-wage change, particularly for roles closer to the wage floor.
The combined effect is that employers may need to manage two separate wage updates in quick succession: the immigration median wage update and the minimum wage increase. Both can shape the pay shown in employment agreements and the figures used in AEWV application materials.
Immigration New Zealand said it has sped up processing for AEWVs, Job Checks, and accreditations. At the same time, it said it increased scrutiny on genuine recruitment and referenced a compliance figure, saying 15% of employers recently non-compliant.
It also pointed to post-decision reviews, signalling that a faster decision does not remove the need for employers and applicants to keep documentation consistent with what was approved. In practice, that can include keeping role descriptions aligned with the actual duties performed and ensuring the pay used across the Job Check and visa application stages matches the policy requirements.
Immigration New Zealand’s emphasis on “market wage rate” adds another layer for employers beyond simply meeting a published threshold. The agency described this as what a New Zealander would earn, and it paired that with the requirement to meet or exceed the median wage, while still complying with minimum wage and other requirements.
That framing places weight on how employers set pay for specific roles, including internal pay equity and the role’s position in the local market, alongside the policy thresholds used in AEWV settings. It also matters for employers seeking advertising exemptions or meeting minimum skill requirements affected by the “2x median threshold” settings.
For employers hiring into the 47 newly added skill level 1–3 occupations, the transition from ANZSCO to the National Occupation List can also affect how roles are classified and described in Job Checks. Immigration New Zealand positioned the shift as a move toward clearer occupation coverage, which can place greater importance on whether the stated duties match the occupation category used.
Immigration New Zealand advised employers to review pay rates, employment agreements, and residence eligibility now, especially for families or pathways. It also said Job Checks for new National Occupation List occupations should start from March 9.
For firms already using the AEWV, preparation for the March and April changes can involve reviewing how pay rates appear in offers, how they map to market wage expectations, and whether employment agreements remain consistent with what is submitted for Job Checks and visa applications. The agency’s focus on genuine recruitment also means employers may need to keep stronger evidence that hiring aligns with the policy settings.
Workers and families assessing whether to remain on temporary visas or pursue residence may also need to separate AEWV wage settings from residence pathway requirements. Immigration New Zealand specifically pointed to Skilled Migrant Category, Green List, and Transport Work to Residence as pathways where wage thresholds rise, and it highlighted how pay-scale steps can become decisive in some occupations, such as teaching.
Further changes tied to residence settings are already scheduled. Immigration New Zealand said further Skilled Migrant Category expansions, including new Skilled Work Experience and Trades/Technician Pathways, are set for August 2026.
