New Zealand’s immigration rules are evolving rapidly in 2025, especially for skilled workers seeking long-term status. Some changes are still ahead, others are already in motion, and they carry meaningful consequences for anyone planning a work or residence visa application. Below is a current snapshot of key shifts and insights for aspiring skilled migrants.
A shift in Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) rules
In September 2025, the New Zealand government announced major reforms to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, slated to take effect in August 2026. Among the most significant changes is a reduction in the required New Zealand work experience for many applicants: instead of up to three years, many will now need just two years of local experience. At the same time, the prior requirement that migrants must show an increasing wage trend during that period is being removed: under the new settings, maintaining the median wage level is sufficient.
In addition, two new pathways are being introduced: a Skilled Work Experience Pathway for those in ANZSCO Levels 1 to 3 roles and a Trades & Technician Pathway for qualified professionals in technical or trades roles. These options reflect a shift to valuing practical experience and trade skills, not just traditional qualifications.
These upcoming reforms offer more accessible routes for many skilled applicants. However, until August 2026, the existing rules still apply, so planning your application around the transition period is essential.
AEWV reforms, interim visas, and occupation recognition
2025 has also seen important changes in the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) regime, aimed at making the system more flexible and responsive. A key reform enacted earlier this year extends the duration of AEWVs for roles classified under ANZSCO Levels 4 and 5 to three years, aligning them with the maximum continuous stay allowed for those visa holders.
Another significant feature introduced in 2025 is the concept of Interim Visas for AEWV applicants. Under these provisions, eligible workers can begin or continue employment while their visa application is still under processing, reducing the risk of lost time or income.
Simultaneously, the government has expanded the list of occupations eligible under the National Occupation List (NOL). From 3 November 2025, around 90 new NOL occupations at skill levels 1 to 3 will be recognised for the AEWV, and 30 new occupations will be added for the Specific Purpose Work Visa. This offers new options to applicants in emerging roles.
One emerging challenge being reported currently relates to system issues affecting job tokens when employers are sold or restructured. The system’s inability to automatically update these tokens could disrupt compliance tracking for some AEWV holders. Applicants and employers must monitor this development closely.
Trades boosted on the Work-to-Residence pathway
In mid-2025, New Zealand added ten trade occupations to its Work-to-Residence (Green List) pathway, effective 18 August 2025. This inclusion signals recognition that many essential skills reside outside traditional white-collar roles. At the same time, wage thresholds tied to median wage rates were updated, set at NZD 33.56 per hour as per June 2024 data, to maintain alignment with current labour market conditions.
This move benefits qualified trade professionals who may not hold advanced degrees but have strong experience in in-demand fields. It broadens the options for those in trades to pivot toward residency routes more reliably.
New seasonal visas and employer demand
To maximize flexibility in labour supply, the government is introducing new seasonal visa pathways, beginning 8 December 2025. These visas are designed to help accredited employers fill short-term roles tied to natural cycles, such as agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, hospitality, and tourism peaks. Though temporary, these roles may open doors for longer-term opportunities if workers transition into roles more suited to AEWV or residence pathways.
The introduction of seasonal visas reflects a broader strategy to adapt immigration settings to economic demand, rather than one-size-fits-all structures.
What skilled applicants should watch and prepare
As these changes unfold, there are strategic steps that prospective skilled workers can take now to improve their chance of success. First, align your employment offers and contracts with the updated settings: ensure your role matches recognized occupations and pay expectations under median or market-based criteria. Second, document every year of work experience clearly, as the new SMC pathways hinge on credible, traceable records. Third, if you’re in a trade, check whether your role is included in the expanded Green List designations and whether you meet relevant wage thresholds. Fourth, for employers’ roles going through business transitions (sales or restructuring), monitor whether job tokens and compliance records remain intact, consult immigration professionals to manage system risks. Lastly, keep one eye on the transition period, in many cases, applying closer to or after August 2026 may let you take advantage of the more favourable SMC rules.
The immigration reforms rolling out in 2025 and heading into 2026 reflect a thoughtful recalibration of New Zealand’s skilled migration strategy. The government is clearly shifting toward valuing practical experience, diversifying pathways, and balancing flexibility with labour market realities. For skilled migrants, this is an encouraging signal: pathways toward residence and work are becoming more inclusive of trades, more predictable in their conditions, and better tied to real employment roles.
That said, the transition brings complexity. Whether you apply under the old or the new regime will depend on your timing, your occupation, and your documentation readiness.