From 9 March 2026 New Zealand’s immigration median wage rose from NZD $33.56 to NZD $35.00 per hour. Although the median wage was removed as a blanket pay floor for most Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) roles in March 2025, it remains the reference index for a range of immigration thresholds—including partner‑visa income requirements, skilled‑residence pathways, and employer advertising exemptions. When the median wage changes, every rule expressed as a multiple of that figure shifts automatically.
How the new median wage affects key thresholds
| Setting | Previous threshold | From 9 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration median wage | $33.56 /hr | $35.00 /hr |
| Partner support – skill level 1‑3 | $26.85 /hr | $28.00 /hr |
| Partner support – skill level 4‑5 | $50.34 /hr | $52.50 /hr |
| Partner support – Green List | $33.56 /hr | $35.00 /hr |
| Green List roles (no specific pay threshold) – minimum pay | $33.56 /hr | $35.00 /hr |
| 5‑year maximum stay eligibility (1.5 × median) | $50.34 /hr | $52.50 /hr |
| Advertising exemption (2 × median) | $67.12 /hr | $70.00 /hr |
All skilled‑residence pathways that reference the median wage have been updated accordingly.
Offshore applicants – what to check before you apply
- Job Checks and visa applications must meet the thresholds in force on the date of submission, not the date the offer was made.
- Green List occupations without a specific pay floor now require a minimum hourly rate of $35.00. Occupations that have a threshold tied to the median wage will also have increased.
- Skilled Migrant Category and Green List Straight‑to‑Residence thresholds have risen; offers based on the old figures should be reviewed.
- Partner‑support visas now require $28.00 /hr for skill‑level 1‑3 occupations, $35.00 /hr for Green List roles, and $52.50 /hr for higher‑skill or lower‑skill occupations outside the Green List.
- National Occupation List (NOL): 47 new skill‑level 1‑3 occupations were added on 9 March 2026, replacing the ANZSCO framework. Applicants whose occupations were previously excluded may now qualify for AEWV pathways.
- Applications lodged on or before 8 March 2026 are assessed under the old thresholds; no amendment is required for those submissions.
Onshore migrant workers – when the new thresholds apply
- Existing AEWV holders are not automatically required to receive a pay rise, and current visa conditions remain valid until renewal or a change of circumstances.
- The updated thresholds become relevant at the next immigration event—visa renewal, job change, or a new application (e.g., partner‑visa sponsorship).
- Partner‑visa support: workers at skill levels 1‑3 must earn at least $28.00 /hr; Green List workers must earn $35.00 /hr.
- Maximum five‑year stay (1.5 × median) now requires $52.50 /hr. Employees earning between the old and new figures should verify their eligibility before the next renewal.
Employers – salary, hiring and accreditation considerations
- The general AEWV pay floor was not reinstated; employers are not required to pay the $35.00 /hr median wage across the board.
- Advertising exemption: roles paid at ≥ 2 × median wage (now $70.00 /hr) are exempt from the New Zealand labour‑market test. Salaries near the previous $67.12 threshold may need adjustment to retain this exemption.
- Green List occupations without a specific pay floor must now offer at least $35.00 /hr.
- Partner‑support thresholds affect recruitment: candidates earning below $28.00 /hr (skill 1‑3) may be unable to sponsor a partner, influencing acceptance of offers.
- Five‑year stay eligibility: employees earning ≥ 1.5 × median wage (now $52.50 /hr) qualify for the maximum continuous AEWV stay. Verify that contract salaries still meet this level.
- New NOL occupations: the addition of 47 skill‑level 1‑3 roles expands the pool of occupations eligible for migrant hiring in sectors such as hospitality, construction, trades, and healthcare.
- Job Checks submitted on or before 8 March 2026 are assessed under the old thresholds; submissions from 9 March onward must use the updated figures.
Ongoing indexation
The immigration median wage is reviewed regularly, meaning all related thresholds will continue to shift each year. Both employers and migrants should treat the median wage as a moving benchmark rather than a static figure, and monitor changes to occupational classifications (the shift from ANZSCO to the National Occupation List) that can open or close eligibility windows with each update.
Source article: www.newzealandshores.com
