New Zealand is raising its median wage to NZD 35 per hour from March 9, 2026, and while the broad wage requirement for the Accredited Employer Work Visa was scrapped last year, this adjustment still carries significant immigration consequences.
In 2025, the government removed the blanket rule that most jobs under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) must match the median wage. That reform was designed to give accredited employers more flexibility in hiring. However, several critical visa settings remain directly indexed to the national median wage.
How Immigrants are Affected
The new NZD 35 per hour figure will affect multiple categories.
First, Green List roles. Occupations listed on New Zealand’s Green List — which fast-track residence pathways for in-demand skills — have salary floors tied to the median wage. When the median wage rises, those pay requirements increase proportionally. Applicants and employers will need to verify updated figures before lodging applications.
Second, roles paid at twice the median wage. Certain positions qualify for exemptions from labour market testing and some minimum skill requirements if they pay at least double the median wage. With the new benchmark, that exemption threshold effectively increases. Employers seeking streamlined hiring processes must adjust salary offers accordingly.
Third, five-year maximum stays for specific lower-skilled occupations. Workers in some roles can access a five-year stay pathway if they earn at least 1.5 times the median wage. The increase to NZD 35 per hour raises that qualifying earnings level, potentially affecting migrants who were previously close to eligibility.
Fourth, family sponsorship income thresholds. Migrants who intend to bring partners or dependent children must meet minimum income requirements linked to the median wage. From March 9, 2026, the required annual income to sponsor family members will increase, making this one of the most consequential changes for migrant households.
How it Affects Employers
For employers, the compliance implications are immediate. Accredited businesses should review existing employment agreements, pending job offers, recruitment budgets for 2026, and any active AEWV applications. Even marginal differences in hourly rates may determine visa eligibility under the revised settings.
This adjustment is not exceptional. New Zealand’s median wage is recalculated annually based on labour market data from Stats NZ, typically reflecting June quarter earnings data. Updates usually take effect early the following year. As a result, wage-linked immigration criteria can shift annually.
For migrant workers, the key takeaway is straightforward: NZD 35 per hour becomes the new reference point from March 9, 2026. Although the general AEWV median wage rule was removed in 2025, the median wage continues to anchor several critical immigration thresholds. When it rises, linked visa conditions rise with it.
