Accredited Employer Work Visa(AEWV) NZ
It is important for migrant workers and their employers to clearly understand the details of the AEWV.
Last Updated: 3rd November 2026
Accreditation
From 4 July 2022, employers can support temporary migrant workers on the AEWV; migrant workers can apply for an AEWV only with an offer of employment from an accredited employer.
It is important for migrant workers and their employers to clearly understand the details of the AEWV.
If you are a New Zealand employer and would like to employ international workers, you probably want to know what is the procedure to employ foreign staff and how to become an accredited employer NZ.
Getting accreditation would bring you potential benefits as follows:
Benefits To Your Organisation
Being an accredited employer under Immigration Laws assists your organisation to
How To Become An Accredited Employer?
In order to lodge an application under this category, an applicant’s employer must have previously been granted accreditation.
An employer can apply to be considered as an Accredited Employer if they can demonstrate.
- They are a viable and genuine operating business, and can provide evidence of financial stability.
- They have a history of compliance with Immigration, employment and business standards.
- They have HR policies of a high standard to provide settlement support activities to migrants.
How the AEWV Scheme Launched (2022)
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) was introduced in three stages in 2022. Employer accreditation is now an ongoing requirement for any NZ employer hiring migrant workers on an AEWV.
AEWV scheme launch: Key milestones
Employer Accreditation Application Opened
INZ’s Job Check System Opened
The Accredited Employer Work Visa(AEWV) Opened
Why need to prepare for accreditation?
- All New Zealand employers who want to hire migrants on an AEWV must hold employer accreditation.
- AEWV accreditation applications will be available online only.
Standard accreditation
High-volume accreditation
Triangular Employer Accreditation
Process To Employ Migrants
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand’s main employer-sponsored temporary work visa, open since 4 July 2022.
Standard Processing Timeframes
Processing times change weekly. As at November 2026, INZ reports most employer accreditations and Job Checks completed within about 2 weeks, and 80% of AEWVs within 5 weeks.
See INZ’s current wait times
Getting Accredited
Employer accreditation is the first step. Before you can hire a migrant worker on an AEWV, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) must confirm that your business meets New Zealand’s employment, immigration and business standards.
As at November 2026, Standard accreditation costs NZD $775 (up to 5 AEWV workers), High-volume NZD $1,280 (6 or more) and Triangular NZD $4,060. Your first accreditation lasts 12 months. Most applications are completed within about 2 weeks, but times change weekly, so check INZ’s current wait times.
Before you apply, get your supporting documents ready, including evidence of financial stability, your compliance history and your HR and settlement support policies.
Accreditation must be renewed before it expires. Renewals last 24 months for Standard and High-volume accreditation, and 12 months for Triangular accreditation.
Viable and Genuine Operating Business
Completed Employer Learning Modules
Compliant with Immigration, Employment and Business Standards
Employees to Complete Learning Modules
Pay Recruitment Costs
Provide Settlement Support
Passing The Job Check
Once you are accredited, you must apply for a Job Check for each job you want to fill with a migrant worker. As at November 2026, a Job Check costs NZD $735. The Job Check verifies that:
- The job pays at least the market rate for the role and meets other legal wage requirements, such as the New Zealand minimum wage. At the job check stage, INZ approves a pay range. The worker’s actual pay rate is confirmed when they apply for the visa.
- The job’s terms and conditions comply with New Zealand employment laws and standards
- The job is for a minimum of 30 hours a week.
- You have advertised the job to New Zealanders, unless an exemption applies.
Know Your Job’s Skill Level (ANZSCO and NOL)
Your job’s skill level decides how long you must advertise, whether you need to engage with Work and Income, and how long the worker can stay. Immigration New Zealand is replacing ANZSCO with the National Occupation List (NOL) for AEWV. NOL occupations are not recognised for other visas, such as the Skilled Migrant Category, so use ANZSCO for those.
Tips: Ensure to apply a job check with the correct ANZSCO or NOL Code. If you apply for a job check for a skill level 1, 2, and 3, but INZ assess it as being level 4, or 5, then the Job Check application may be declined and you will need to apply again using the correct code and skill level. Some job titles are often inflated, so the role sounds more senior than the actual work. “Chef” and “Cook” are common examples.
Do You Have to Advertise the Job?
Usually yes. You must advertise for at least 14 days for ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 jobs, and at least 21 days for skill level 4 to 5 jobs. For most skill level 4 to 5 jobs you must also engage with Work and Income.
You do not need to advertise if the job is on the Green List and meets its requirements, pays at least NZD $70.00 an hour, is on the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) jobs list, or follows a business sale or restructure.
Key Pay Thresholds (from 9 March 2026)
| Threshold | Amount (NZD per hour) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration median wage | $35.00 | The base figure INZ uses for several pay settings |
| Advertising exemption (2× median) | $70.00 | Jobs paid at least this do not need to be advertised |
| 5-year maximum stay (1.5× median) | $52.50 | Skill level 4 to 5 roles paid at least this can stay up to 5 years instead of 3 |
The general median wage requirement for AEWV job checks was removed in March 2025. Employers must pay at least the market rate for the role.
If you offer the job to a migrant but do not hire them, you can offer the job to another suitable applicant. You do not have to redo the job check unless it has expired.
Lodging The AEWV Application
Once your Job Check is approved, you (as the employer) can send the migrant worker a job offer, job description, employment agreement and job token. The job token is a unique link from INZ that connects the worker’s AEWV application to your approved Job Check, and the worker can’t apply without it. The worker then applies online, uploads their documents and pays the visa fee.
As at November 2026, INZ’s fees are:
| Types | Who Usually Pays | INZ Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard accreditation (up to 5 AEWV workers at any one time) | Employer | NZD $775 |
| High-volume accreditation (6 or more AEWV workers at any one time) | Employer | NZD $1,280 |
| Upgrade from Standard to High-volume accreditation | Employer | NZD $505 |
| Triangular accreditation | Employer | NZD $4,060 |
| Job Check | Employer | NZD $735 per Job Check |
| AEWV visa application | Worker (some employers choose to cover it) | From NZD $1,540 per applicant |
Employers cannot pass their accreditation, recruitment, and job check costs on to a worker. Fees are set by Immigration New Zealand and can change, so check INZ’s current fees before you apply.
Documents the Worker Needs to Lodge
- Signed job offer, employment agreement and job description
- Passport scan and an acceptable visa photo
- Evidence of job experience, skills and qualifications (2 years’ relevant experience or a Level 4+ qualification)
- Evidence of occupational registration, if your job needs it
- Evidence of English language ability, for skill level 3 to 5 jobs
- Police certificates (less than 6 months old) if the worker is 17 or older and will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand in total
- Chest X-ray or medical certificate, if required
- English translations of any documents not in English
How Long Does the AEWV Application Take?
As at November 2026, INZ completes 80% of AEWV applications within 5 weeks. Times can vary by job and documents, so check INZ’s current wait times.
How Long Can the Worker Stay on an AEWV?
The maximum stay is usually 5 years. It is 3 years for skill level 4 or 5 roles, unless one of these applies:
- the job is on the Green List
- the job is recognised at skill level 3
- the worker is paid at least NZD $52.50 an hour
Other exceptions may apply, so check INZ’s page on how long you can stay on an AEWV. When the worker reaches the maximum stay, they must spend 12 months outside New Zealand before applying for another AEWV.
Seasonal Jobs and Jobs the AEWV Cannot Be Used For
The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) opened on 8 December 2025 under the AEWV framework. The GWSV allows a stay of up to 3 years, but the worker must spend 3 months in a row outside New Zealand each year. The PSV allows a stay of up to 7 months.
The AEWV cannot be used for planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops in the horticulture or viticulture industries, or for foreign crew of fishing vessels. Different visas apply to these jobs.
Not sure which accreditation type or documents you need? Speak with our team of legally qualified specialists, including Licensed Immigration Advisers and lawyers.
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