ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) lets migrants with job offers from accredited New Zealand employers live and work in New Zealand.

MORE ABOUT THE ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA

WHAT THIS VISA ALLOWS:

Accredited Employer Work Visa holders can:

  • Live and work in New Zealand for an accredited employer for up to:
    • Three years, if they earn at or above the New Zealand median wage
    • Two years, if they earn below the Zealand median wage
  • Only work for the employer who offered the visa application for the length of the visa - a change in situation necessitates a variation of conditions or a new visa application
  • Study for up three months in any 12-month period, or undertake any studies as required by their job

THE REQUIREMENTS:

To apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa, candidates must:

  • Have an offer of full-time work from an accredited employer
  • Earn at least the New Zealand median wage unless the job is exempt
  • Have the necessary skills, qualifications and work experience to perform the job offered
  • Have occupational registration, if required
  • Not need to spend 12 months outside of New Zealand as part of a stand-down period
  • Meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements

In addition to these requirements, suitable New Zealanders must not be available to do the job the employer has offered to the migrant. However, a waiver to this requirement does apply in some cases.

THE AEWV OFFERS THREE RESIDENCE CATEGORIES:

Accredited Employer Work Visa applicants are eligible for one of two residence categories:

To be eligible for a Straight to Residence Visa, the applicant must:

  • Work for an accredited employer or have a  job offer from one
  • Have an occupation that’s on Tier 1 of the Green List
  • Meet the requirements set out on the Green List for their occupation
  • Have a role that’s full-time (at least 30 hours per week), genuine, and permanent or at least a 12-month fixed-term contract. Independent contractors are also eligible under certain circumstances.

To be eligible for a Work to Residence Visa, the applicant must:

  • Be employed in an occupation on Tier 2 of the Green List or hold an offer of employment for one
  • Meet the requirements set out on the Green List for their occupation
  • Have a role that’s full-time (at least 30 hours per week), genuine, and permanent or at least a 12-month fixed-term contract
  • Have worked for 24 months in New Zealand in a role and met the role’s requirements on Tier 2 of the Green List

Immigration New Zealand will count acceptable work towards your Work to Residence Visa if the applicant has or had an AEWV or another work visa or Critical Purpose Visitor Visa that was held or applied for before 4 July 2022.  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

An accredited employer is accredited by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to hire workers from overseas under the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

The Green List is an occupation list with 85 hard-to-fill roles in critical sectors of New Zealand’s economy. AEWV applicants don’t have to work in a position on the Green list, but those who do are eligible to fast-track their residence or eligible for a work-to-residence pathway.

The dependent spouses or partners of AEWV visa holders will get a visitor visa to enter New Zealand. Most spouses and partners who want to work in New Zealand must apply for an AEWV in their own right. These applications open in December 2022.

AEWV applicants with children can only support their dependent child’s visitor or student visa if they earn at least NZD43,322.76 each year.

Accredited Employer Work Visa holders who earn at or above New Zealand’s median wage can live and work in New Zealand for up to three years. Those visa holders who earn below the median wage can only live and work in New Zealand for up to two years.

However, eligible AEWV holders can apply for a Straight to Residence Visa or Work to Residence Visa.

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