Median Wage Improve
From 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage will improve to $35.00 NZD per hour. This improve will have an effect on many visas such because the Accredited Employer Work Visa and expert resident-class visa classes.
On 9 March 2026, this improve will robotically apply for:
- Inexperienced Checklist pay necessities, together with exceptions from promoting and minimal abilities (e.g. roles paid at the very least x2 the median wage).
- Most 5 12 months keep guidelines for decrease expert roles (paid at the very least x1.5 the median wage).
- Revenue thresholds for supporting companions and dependent kids.
- Talent degree 1-3 help threshold will improve from $26.85 NZD per hour to $28.00 NZD per hour.
- Talent degree 4-5 help threshold will improve from $50.34 NZD per hour to $52.50 NZD per hour.
- Inexperienced Checklist help threshold will improve from $33.56 NZD per hour to $35 NZD per hour.
- Wage thresholds for the expert resident-class visas (such because the Expert Migrant Class, Inexperienced Checklist, and Transport Work to Resident) can even be elevated to maintain in step with the brand new median wage.
Updates concerning sponsorship revenue thresholds for the Guardian Class and Guardian Increase Customer Visa will likely be up to date at a later date in 2026.
Nationwide Occupational Checklist (NOL)
NOL is New Zealand’s new job classification system which can finally exchange the Australian New Zealand Customary Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). This new classification system will higher signify the New Zealand labour market and will likely be up to date every year. We first mentioned this transformation in a earlier weblog which may be discovered right here.
From 9 March 2026, 47 newly recognised NOL occupations at ability ranges 1 – 3 will likely be added to the checklist. This consists of chef roles that are categorised into clearly occupations primarily based on ability and seniority.
This replace could also be useful for present Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders who’re working in ability degree 4 or 5 roles; if their employer has an authorised job test for a NOL ability degree 1 – 3 function then they are able to apply for a brand new AEWV and prolong their most steady keep.
There are 3 occupations that are reclassified. Pet Groomer, Nanny and Kennel Hand have been modified from ability degree 3 to ability degree 4. This reclassification will have an effect on all future functions and won’t have an effect on those that have already got a visa for a kind of roles.
If you need additional details about these adjustments, please contact Richard Small and our pleasant crew at Pacific Authorized.
