New Zealand Work Visa Changes 2025: Job Checks, Occupation List, and PCC Rules

If you’re looking to work in New Zealand in 2025 or 2026, there are some important updates you’ll want to keep on your radar. Immigration New Zealand is making a series of changes that will reshape how the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) works.

These changes don’t just affect employers hiring from overseas. They also impact foreign workers planning their move, with Indian nationals applying from India facing some of the strictest new requirements.

1. Redesigned Job Check Form from September 29, 2025

Starting from September 29, 2025, a new online Job Check form will go live. Employers will be asked to provide more details upfront, such as:

• Why the role is needed
• The size of the organisation
• The number of New Zealanders already employed

The idea is simple: better information at the start should mean fewer back-and-forth delays later. INZ says this will give assessors more complete applications and lead to quicker decisions when eligibility is clear.

One important detail: draft applications in the current system will vanish once the new form launches. Employers need to submit any drafts before 08:00 local time on September 28. Otherwise, they’ll need to start fresh in the new portal.

2. National Occupation List Expands from November 3, 2025

The National Occupation List (NOL) will see a major update on November 3. Around 90 new occupations across skill levels 1 to 3 will be added. Some roles at levels 4 and 5 may also benefit, with workers gaining a pathway to extend their maximum continuous stay under the AEWV.

To manage the transition, INZ is introducing a temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) between September 8 and November 2. This short-term option is designed for about 30 of the new NOL roles, but eligibility is tight. Applicants must:

• Already holds an AEWV due to expire by November 30, 2025
• Be employed in or appointed to one of the eligible roles
• Have three years of directly relevant experience or a recognised qualification

Recruitment advertising won’t be required for the SPWV, but once the NOL update is live, employers will need to follow the standard AEWV process again.

3. New Police Clearance Rules for Indian Nationals from December 1, 2025

The biggest change for applicants concerns Indian nationals applying from India. Starting December 1, INZ will only accept police clearance certificates (PCCs) issued by a Regional Passport Office of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Until now, applicants could use certificates from local police stations or district offices. That flexibility will disappear. The new rule applies only to Indian nationals living in India; those abroad, as well as non-Indian nationals with time spent in India, are not affected.

For applicants in India, the narrower requirement could mean longer wait times to secure the correct document. It’s worth factoring this into any application timeline.

Why These Changes Matter

Taken together, these updates reflect INZ’s push to tighten processes, improve consistency, and cut down on incomplete or weak applications.

• For employers, the new Job Check should help reduce delays.
• For workers, especially in newly recognised skilled roles, the expanded occupation list may open fresh opportunities.

Indian applicants, however, face stricter documentary requirements, and the need to plan ahead will only grow more important.

Final Thoughts

Planning ahead will make all the difference. Employers who adjust quickly and applicants who get their paperwork sorted early will sidestep most headaches. In a system tightening its rules, being prepared is the surest way to keep things moving.