ANZSCO 1.3: What Changed and Your NZ Visa Skill Level

ANZSCO version 1.3 is the update to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 5 November 2019. It revised the indicative skill levels of some occupations without adding, deleting, or moving any occupation categories. Those skill levels feed directly into how Immigration New Zealand assesses several work and residence visas.

What is ANZSCO version 1.3?

ANZSCO is the shared occupation classification used across Australia and New Zealand. Each occupation has a six-digit code and an indicative skill level from 1 (most skilled) to 5 (least skilled). Version 1.3 was a maintenance update: it adjusted the indicative skill level for a number of occupations, refreshed registration and licensing notes, and tidied specialisations and alternative titles in “not elsewhere classified” categories. It did not restructure the list itself.

What changed in ANZSCO 1.3?

The headline change was to indicative skill levels. The main shifts were:

• Some occupations moved up or down one skill level.
• Some occupations kept their existing level but gained a note acknowledging that certain roles within them sit at a higher level.
• Registration and licensing requirements were updated for some occupations.
• Specialisations, alternative titles, and example titles in “nec” categories were refreshed.
• The “(Aus)” or “(NZ)” suffixes after some occupation titles were removed.

Because skill level often determines visa eligibility, even a one-level move can change which pathway an occupation qualifies for.

What do ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 5 mean?

A skill level is an indicative measure of the education, training, or experience normally needed to do the job, running from 1 (most skilled) to 5 (least skilled). It is attached to the occupation, not to you personally: you do not choose it, and holding a degree does not lift a skill level 4 occupation to skill level 1.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines each level against both the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) and the Australian framework, and in each case relevant experience can substitute for the qualification (abs.gov.au):

INZ applies this directly. Its own worked example is a bricklayer at skill level 3, which “requires at least 3 years of relevant work experience or a NZQF level 4 qualification” (immigration.govt.nz).

Why does your ANZSCO skill level matter for a New Zealand visa?

Because it sets the terms you are assessed on, and a one-level difference changes the pathway. Two examples that come up constantly:

• Skilled Migrant Category. The Skilled Work Experience pathway requires work in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation. Experience gained in a skill level 4 or 5 role does not build towards it, no matter how many years of it you have. See the SMC points system for how the rest of the assessment works.
• Green List. Green List roles are mapped to specific occupation codes with faster residence pathways attached. If your duties genuinely match a listed code, that is a materially different conversation from one where they only nearly match.

This is why INZ tells AEWV job check applicants to check the tasks, responsibilities, and qualifications of the occupation rather than trusting the job title. A role advertised as “site supervisor” may sit at a different code, and therefore a different skill level, from the one everyone assumed.

How does ANZSCO 1.3 affect my visa?

Skill level is a core input for several New Zealand visa settings, so the version that applies to your occupation matters. ANZSCO underpins:

• The Accredited Employer Work Visa, where skill level and wage thresholds shape eligibility and the work experience pathways.
• The Skilled Migrant Category resident visa, where skill level helps determine whether an occupation qualifies.
• The Green List of in-demand roles with faster residence pathways, which is mapped to occupation codes.

If you already hold an approved work visa, your skill level was assessed when it was granted. A later ANZSCO version does not retroactively change that grant. The current classification applies when your visa expires and you re-apply, or when you apply for a different visa category.

One practical wrinkle from the transition: INZ initially continued using ANZSCO 1.2 for most assessments after 1.3 was released, treating occupations that had moved to a higher skill level as exceptions. INZ also recognises selected occupations at a higher skill level than their base ANZSCO code suggests. For the current list and exact treatment of your code, check INZ’s ANZSCO occupations recognised at a higher skill level page rather than relying on the raw skill level alone.

Is ANZSCO being replaced?

Yes, in part. New Zealand is moving from ANZSCO to a new National Occupation List (NOL). From 3 November 2025, the NOL began being used for Job Check and most Accredited Employer Work Visa applications, with more occupations added over time. ANZSCO still applies where your occupation is not yet on the NOL, and for other visa types: the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List continue to use ANZSCO occupation codes. Because this transition is staged, the correct list depends on your visa type and occupation on the day you apply. INZ’s National Occupation List page sets out which list to use.

How do I find my ANZSCO code?

Start from the job title and main duties of the role, then match them to the occupation whose tasks most closely fit. Job title alone is not enough; INZ looks at the substance of the work. The official descriptions sit with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Stats NZ, and INZ’s occupation lists tie each code to its visa treatment. If your work spans more than one occupation, choosing the closest fit matters, because it drives the skill level and wage settings that follow.

INZ publishes a find your job’s skill level page that walks through checking the code and skill level for your job against ANZSCO or the National Occupation List. Use it alongside the table above rather than instead of a proper look at your duties.

For worked examples of how a single code maps onto current settings, our guides on civil engineer roles in New Zealand and the Green List occupations show how occupation classification flows through to eligibility.

Practical next step

Whether ANZSCO 1.3 still applies to you depends on your occupation and visa type, and the NOL transition adds edge cases for codes that have moved between skill bands. If you are unsure how your occupation is classified or which list applies, the safest step is to have your case reviewed against current INZ policy before you lodge. Our licensed advisers can review your occupation code and pathway: get in touch with ProVisas or email contact@provisas.co.nz.

Frequently asked questions

What is ANZSCO version 1.3?

ANZSCO version 1.3 is the update to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 5 November 2019. It was a maintenance update that adjusted the indicative skill levels of some occupations, refreshed registration and licensing notes, and tidied specialisations and alternative titles, without adding, deleting, or moving any occupation categories.

What changed in ANZSCO 1.3?

The headline change was to indicative skill levels: some occupations moved up or down one level, while others kept their level but gained a note that certain roles within them sit higher. Registration and licensing requirements were updated for some occupations, specialisations and alternative and example titles in “not elsewhere classified” categories were refreshed, and the “(Aus)” or “(NZ)” suffixes after some titles were removed.

What do ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 5 mean?

Skill level 1 is commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher, or at least 5 years of relevant experience. Level 2 maps to an NZQF Diploma or 3 years of experience, level 3 to an NZQF Level 4 qualification or 3 years of experience, level 4 to an NZQF Level 2 or 3 qualification or 1 year of experience, and level 5 to an NZQF Level 1 qualification or compulsory secondary education. The level attaches to the occupation, not to the individual.

What ANZSCO skill level do I need for a New Zealand visa?

It depends on the visa. The Skilled Migrant Category’s Skilled Work Experience pathway requires work in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, so experience in a level 4 or 5 role does not count towards it. Green List roles are mapped to specific occupation codes rather than to a skill level. Because the codes drive eligibility, check your actual duties against the occupation description rather than relying on your job title.

Is ANZSCO 1.3 still used in New Zealand?

In part. From 3 November 2025 the new National Occupation List began being used for Job Check and most Accredited Employer Work Visa applications, with more occupations added over time. ANZSCO still applies where your occupation is not yet on the National Occupation List, and the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List continue to use ANZSCO occupation codes, so the correct list depends on your visa type and occupation on the day you apply.