New Zealand: Changes to Job Check Process, Occupations List, and Police Clearance Requirements Announced

Streamlined job check process. 

·       Beginning September 29, 2025, a redesigned online Job Check form will be introduced. A key part of the redesign is a new rule requiring more information from employers, including an explanation of why the role is needed, the size of the organization, and the number of New Zealanders currently employed. According to INZ, requiring this information upfront allows for more complete applications, reduces the need for follow-up requests, and allows assessors to make more informed decisions.

·       Employers with draft applications in the current system should note that they will no longer be accessible once the updated portal goes live. Drafts must be submitted before 08:00 (local time) on September 28, 2025; otherwise, a new application will need to be prepared using the revised form. 

For employers, the redesigned Job Check process should result in quicker outcomes where eligibility criteria are met.

Updates to the National Occupation List (NOL).

 ·       Effective November 3, 2025, the NOL will introduce approximately 90 new occupations at skill levels 1 to 3 and may allow some workers currently in level 4 or 5 roles to extend their maximum continuous stay by applying for a further AEWV. Further guidance is expected in early October 2025.

·       Temporary pathway. To bridge the transition, INZ will introduce a temporary Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) option between September 8, 2025 and November 2, 2025. This will be available to around 30 of the new NOL roles where visa holders:

·       Hold a current AEWV and will reach their maximum continuous stay on or before November 30, 2025;

·       Are employed in, or appointed to, one of the 30 eligible NOL roles; and

·       Have at least three years’ directly relevant experience or a recognized qualification. 

·       Foreign nationals in newly recognized higher-skilled NOL roles will continue to have access to AEWV pathways, while a limited group of visa holders may qualify for the temporary SPWV option.

·       Employers hiring into the new roles must complete the standard AEWV process once the system updates go live. Recruitment advertising will not be required for the temporary SPWV pathway, but eligibility is narrowly restricted.

Stricter police clearance rules for Indian nationals living in India.

·       From December 1, 2025, visa applications by Indian nationals will only be accepted with police clearance certificates (PCC) issued by a Regional Passport Office of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Currently, Indian visa applicants are permitted to submit police clearance certificates issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police, or their local police station. 

·       This new rule applies exclusively to Indian nationals living in India. The requirements for Indian nationals residing overseas, as well as for non-Indian nationals who live or have previously lived in India, remain the same and are unaffected by this change. 

·       For Indian nationals in India seeking to enter New Zealand, the rule change narrows the accepted source of PCCs, which may extend the time required to secure valid documentation.

·       Affected applicants should prepare for potentially longer lead times to obtain a certificate from a Regional Passport Office.