National Occupation List (NOL)
The National Occupation List is New Zealand's own occupation classification, released on 20 November 2024 to replace ANZSCO. It classifies roles into five skill levels and is used for Job Check and Accredited Employer Work Visa applications. It does not replace ANZSCO for the Green List or skilled residence.
Quick Facts
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Released | 20 November 2024 |
| Skill levels | 1 to 5, where 1 is the highest |
| Used for | Job Check and Accredited Employer Work Visa applications submitted on or after 3 November 2025 |
| Not used for | The Green List, which remains indexed by ANZSCO code |
| Last expanded | 9 March 2026 — 47 further occupations recognised at skill levels 1 to 3 |
| Roles reclassified downward on 9 March 2026 | Pet groomer, nanny, kennel hand — skill level 3 to skill level 4 |
| Updated | Annually |
Why the National Occupation List exists
ANZSCO is a shared classification, built and maintained across two countries. New Zealand's labour market is not Australia's, and a shared instrument was producing skill levels that did not always match how work is actually organised here.
The National Occupation List is the answer to that. It is New Zealand's own list, described by INZ as better reflecting the New Zealand labour market, and it is updated annually rather than on the slower cycle a shared classification requires.
Why it matters to an applicant
Skill level determines a large amount of what a work visa applicant can and cannot do. Under the current rules:
- Jobs at skill level 1 or 2 on either ANZSCO or the National Occupation List require no English evidence. Jobs at skill level 3, 4 or 5 do, following the extension of the English requirement to skill level 3 on 1 June 2026.
- Maximum continuous stay on the Accredited Employer Work Visa is up to 5 years for skill levels 1–3, and 3 years for skill levels 4–5.
- Partner support thresholds differ by skill level, as do dependent-child income requirements.
So a role moving between skill levels is not a bookkeeping change. When pet groomer, nanny and kennel hand dropped from skill level 3 to skill level 4 on 9 March 2026, the rules attaching to those jobs changed with them.
The two-classification problem
This is the part worth reading twice. Both classifications are live at the same time, for different applications.
| Application | Classification used |
|---|---|
| Job Check | National Occupation List |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | Skill level recognised on either ANZSCO or the National Occupation List |
| Green List (Appendix 13) | ANZSCO codes only |
| Skilled Migrant Category skilled-work bands | ANZSCO skill levels |
A migrant on the common work-to-residence route therefore needs their occupation identified under the National Occupation List for the work visa, and under ANZSCO for the residence pathway — in the same journey, from the same job. INZ maintains both reference tools side by side for exactly this reason.
Fuller treatment sits at the National Occupation List explained and Green List vs the National Occupation List.
What people get wrong about it
"ANZSCO has been retired." It has not. The Green List is still an ANZSCO instrument, and skilled residence still runs on ANZSCO skill levels. Only the work-visa side has moved.
"The two lists give the same skill level." They are separate classifications with separate methodologies. A role can sit at different levels on each. Which level applies depends on which application is in front of INZ.
"The National Occupation List is a shortage list." It is not. It is a classification of occupations, like ANZSCO. The Green List is the shortage-and-residence instrument, and it is a different thing entirely.
"Being on the National Occupation List means I qualify for something." Being classified is not being eligible. The list tells INZ what your occupation is and what skill level it carries. Eligibility comes from the visa rules that then apply.
Assuming the 47 additions from 9 March 2026 are published in a neat list. INZ announced the number and the change, and recognised those occupations at skill levels 1 to 3 for work visa purposes. Check the current classification of a specific occupation on INZ's own National Occupation List tool rather than relying on a third-party reproduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Occupation List in New Zealand?
It is New Zealand's occupation classification, released on 20 November 2024 to replace ANZSCO for immigration purposes. Occupations are grouped into five skill levels, with levels 1 to 3 carrying materially more immigration benefit than 4 and 5.
When did the National Occupation List replace ANZSCO?
For Job Check and Accredited Employer Work Visa applications, it applies to applications submitted on or after 3 November 2025. It has not replaced ANZSCO for the Green List or for skilled residence pathways, which still use ANZSCO codes and skill levels.
What changed on 9 March 2026?
INZ recognised 47 additional occupations at skill levels 1 to 3, and three roles moved down from skill level 3 to skill level 4: pet groomer, nanny and kennel hand. The immigration median wage also rose to NZD $35.00 an hour on the same date.
Is the National Occupation List the same as the Green List?
No. The National Occupation List is a classification of occupations by skill level. The Green List is a schedule of occupations with faster residence pathways, split into Tier 1 (Straight to Residence) and Tier 2 (Work to Residence), and it is indexed by ANZSCO code.
Which classification does my work visa use?
Work visa skill level can be recognised on either ANZSCO or the National Occupation List, and the Job Check is assessed against the National Occupation List. Employers submit the occupation, so this is usually settled at the employer stage rather than by the migrant. See Job Check explained.
How often is the National Occupation List updated?
Annually. The most recent expansion took effect on 9 March 2026. Because the list moves and skill level drives pay, English and stay-length rules, it is worth re-checking an occupation's classification before each new application rather than relying on a previous result.
