Once employer accreditation is approved a Job Check application can be made. This involves submitting details of any job advertising to evidence that genuine, but unsuccessful, endeavours have been made to recruit or train a New Zealander, or New Zealand resident, for the job role.

Particular care is required with the job advertising, as there are a number of requirements which must be met to ensure the Job Check application can be successful, and professional input is recommended. A Job Check can include multiple roles so long as these are for the exact same job and are covered in the same job advert (e.g., 5 x painters required to work in Wellington).

The Job Check application is where the ANZSCO (job classification) for the role is assessed. Each ANZSCO role is classified by skill level:

  • Skill level 1 & 2: “high-skilled” roles
  • Skill level 3: “mid-skilled” roles
  • Skill level 4 & 5: “low-skilled” roles

The terms and conditions of the job must be clear in the job advertisement and the employer must genuinely consider any New Zealanders who apply. The advertising must:

  • be published on a national job listing website or another advertising channel more likely to attract suitable New Zealanders to the specific role, for a minimum period of:
    o 14 days for skill level 1,2 & 3 roles
    o 21 days for skill level 4 & 5 roles (exceptions apply)
  • show significant terms and conditions including the minimum and maximum pay rate, the minimum guaranteed hours of work, and the location of the job
  • show estimated earnings if the pay is by piece rate, commission or bonuses not guaranteed
  • show minimum qualifications, work experience, skills or other specifications to do the job.
The Job Check also involves reviewing the proposed employment agreement terms and conditions to check these are compliant with New Zealand law, whether the credentials required to work in the role are reasonable and appropriate, and that all of these are in accordance with the AEWV policy requirements. The payrate must be in accordance with the current market rate for the role and at least at the adult minimum wage ($23.50 ph effective 1 April 2025).

Roles which are paying twice the median wage (i.e.: currently $59.32ph, calculated to $123,385.60pa over a 40-hour workweek), or are on the INZ “Green List”, are not required to be advertised, however a Job Check application is still required. The Green List comprises mainly highly skilled engineering, ICT, medical, and other roles deemed to be a long-term skill shortage.

For most skill level 4-5 roles, the employer will also be required to engage with Work and Income to check if there are any suitable New Zealand citizen or resident candidates. Engaging with Work and Income includes listing the role with them (unless they advise there is no supply of suitable workers available) and interviewing suitable referred candidates. In the job check application, employers will need to declare that these steps have been followed.

The Job Check application is undertaken by the employer or can be undertaken by Pathways® on their behalf (this cannot be undertaken by the job applicant), and each Job Check is valid for 6 months or until the employer’s accreditation expires, whichever is earlier.

Depending upon the role, a Job Check application can take some time to process.

Once approved, a unique “Job Token/approval number” is allocated to each approved role.

Please appreciate the application processing times indicated in the INZ website are very indicative and can vary significantly from actual processing times.