Accredited Employer Work Visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is a work visa allowing employers to hire skilled migrants for up to 5 years. Employers must be accredited and pass a Job Check, which involves advertising the role and meeting certain criteria. The AEWV commenced on 4 July 2022, replacing six previous work visas.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
If you cannot find the right person locally, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) lets New Zealand employers hire skilled workers from overseas when suitable New Zealand candidates are not available.
We work with employers across New Zealand who need to hire migrant staff and must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Our Licensed Immigration Advisers manage the process from start to finish, including accreditation, job checks, and supporting your worker’s AEWV application.
Why employers use AEWV
AEWV helps you:
- Fill skill and labour shortages with a wider talent pool
- Hire with more certainty because the visa is tied to your business, role, and location
- Reduce delays and rework by following a clear INZ process
- Support retention with visa lengths that can be granted for up to five years (role and pay dependent)
- Strengthen compliance with correct contracts, pay, and record keeping
What the AEWV allows
AEWV allows you to employ a migrant worker full time in a role that meets INZ requirements. The job must be with an accredited employer, and the visa conditions link the worker to the role, location, and employer named in their visa. If anything changes, the worker generally needs to vary their visa conditions or apply for a new visa before moving roles or employers.
In some cases, AEWV employment may support longer term pathways, depending on the role and the worker’s eligibility.
Testimonial
“The support we get from Migration Associates has been instrumental in the employment success of our skilled migrant work force. The service they provide makes the entire process easy to understand and quick, while keeping us informed all along the way. We would thoroughly encourage anyone to engage Migration Associates.”
Key INZ updates (March 2025)
INZ changes introduced in March 2025 made the system more flexible for employers:
- Median wage requirement removed for AEWV and Specific Purpose Work Visa. Employers must pay at least the market rate for the role and meet minimum wage rules.
- Sector agreements removed, with the expectation that migrant workers are paid on the same basis as New Zealanders in the same role and location.
- Minimum work experience reduced from three years to two years.
- Income threshold for supporting dependent children increased to NZD 55,844.
Accreditation requirement
Before you can hire under AEWV, you must be accredited with INZ. Accreditation confirms your business is genuine and compliant with employment and immigration requirements.
Accreditation types include:
- Standard: up to 5 AEWV workers
- High volume: 6 or more AEWV workers
- Triangular: labour hire businesses placing workers with third party clients
Initial accreditation is generally valid for 12 months. Renewals are typically valid for 24 months if you continue to meet INZ criteria. Renew early to avoid any disruption to hiring.
Costs and compliance
There are separate INZ fees for accreditation, job checks, and visa applications. Accredited employers must meet ongoing obligations, including:
- paying at least the market rate and providing the agreed terms
- keeping good records for monitoring and renewals
- not passing recruitment, accreditation, or visa related costs onto the worker
Work with us
If your business needs to hire offshore or maintain your accredited status, we can help with:
- accreditation applications and renewals
- job checks and labour market testing where required
- AEWV visa applications and compliance support
Complete the below enquiry form to discuss your role, timelines, and the best approach for your business.