What you need to know:
- All employers wishing to employ migrant workers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) must first be accredited by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
- • Employers who only employ migrants holding open work visas (e.g.: post-study, open partnership, working holiday) do not require to become accredited to continue to employ these workers.
- • Accreditation is only required to support new AEWV applications and is not required to continue to employ migrant workers on their existing work visas.
- There are 2 types of employer accreditation
- Standard — to employ up to 5 migrant workers on AEWVs at any one time
- High-volume — to employ 6 or more migrant workers on AEWVs at any one time. This accreditation type also has specific additional requirements for employers who place employees with a controlling third-party, such as labour hire companies
- There are 3 steps to hiring a migrant on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV):
- Step 1 – Employer Accreditation, where the employer’s credentials are assessed
- Step 2 – the Job Check, where the job details and any job advertising are assessed
- Step 3 – the migrant check, comprising the AEWV application, and is where the migrant’s credentials are assessed
- The initial employer accreditation is for 12 months, and subsequent accreditation renewals will be for 24 months, except controlling third-party type businesses who will continue to require annual renewals
- Effective 10 March 2025, the job must be paid at the current market rate for the job and at least at the NZ adult minimum wage ($23.50 ph effective 1 April 2025). A 5 year work visa is issued for ANZSCO Skill level 1,2 & 3 roles and a 3 year work visa for Skill Level 4 & 5 roles.
- Process and timing
- The Accreditation, Job Check, and AEWV application processes are all undertaken online
- Current processing times for Employer Accreditation, Employer Accreditation Renewal, Job Check, and AEWV applications can be found on the INZ website
- INZ application fees
- Employer accreditation:
- Standard - $775, High Volume - $1,280, Triangular Employment - $4,060
- Job check:
- $735
- AEWV application:
- $1,540
- Employer accreditation:
There are a number of obligations that accredited employers must fulfil as part of their accreditation including, for example, the provision of settlement information and assistance to the migrant employee. There are significant additional obligations for those businesses operating labour hire or similares businesses. The team at Pathways to New Zealand® can help you fulfil these obligations.
NB: Holders of post-study, partnership-based and working holiday work visas have open work rights and can work in any role. However, some partners of AEWV holders are restricted to working only for accredited employers and at the median wage (or above).
