ANZSCO Version 1.3 Released

ANZSCO version 1.3 released

The Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand have released an updated version of Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

INZ  will continue to use Version 1.2 until mid-2020

INZ will continue to use ANZSCO Version 1.2 in the assessment of most applications until mid-2020. In mid-2020, INZ will no longer use ANZSCO to assess the skill level of jobs for the Essential Skills Work Visa. For this reason, continuing to use ANZSCO Version 1.2 will ensure a smoother transition to the new way of assessing temporary work visa applications.

Some occupations will be treated as an exception

INZ will treat an occupation differently if it is:

• low-skilled — that is, skill level 4 to 5 in ANZSCO version 1.2, and
• skilled — that is, skill level 1 to 3) in ANZSCO version 1.3, and
• the visa applicant earns at least the New Zealand median income —currently NZD $25.50 per hour.

In these circumstances INZ will treat the occupation as if it is as if ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3.

For all other occupations INZ will continue to use ANZSCO Version 1.2 until mid-2020.

What this means for visa applicants

If you already hold a work visa, the skill level of your job will remain the same for the duration of your visa.

If you apply before mid-2020

• If you apply for any visa before mid-2020, and your occupation is not listed on the exceptions list, INZ will use ANZSCO Version 1.2 to assess your visa application. 

If your occupation is listed on the exceptions list, INZ will:

• treat your occupation as if it were skill level 3, if your job pays above the New Zealand median income, or
• use ANZSCO Version 1.2 to assess your application, if your job pays below the New Zealand median income.

If you apply after mid-2020

If you apply for an Essential Skills Work Visa after mid-2020, ANZSCO will no longer be used to assess the skill level of your job. If you apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa after mid-2020, INZ will use ANZSCO Version 1.3 to assess the skill level of your job.

More information about how these changes will work will be available closer to the time.