New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is the main temporary work visa for foreign workers, tied to an employer that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has already approved. If you plan to work in New Zealand for a company, this is almost always the visa you will be on. Here is how it is structured.
The three-check system
Every AEWV application flows through three checks, in order.
- Employer check. The employer must already hold INZ accreditation before they can hire any migrant worker on an AEWV.
- Job check. The specific role must be approved by INZ, including that the pay meets the required threshold, the conditions of the role are acceptable, and any advertising requirements have been met.
- Migrant check. The applicant must meet the skill, English, and health and character requirements for the visa.
All three have to pass for an AEWV to be granted. If the employer is not accredited, there is no point starting the process.
Types of employer accreditation
Accreditation comes in four flavours, chosen by the employer based on how they hire.
- Standard accreditation, for employers hiring a limited number of migrant workers.
- High-Volume accreditation, for employers hiring above the Standard cap.
- Franchisee accreditation, for franchise businesses.
- Controlling Third Party accreditation, for labour-hire arrangements where the employer is not the end employer.
See the INZ employer accreditation page for full details.
What the migrant has to meet
Once the employer and job checks are done, the focus moves to you.
- Skill level of the role. The role's ANZSCO skill level sets the applicable pay threshold and conditions.
- English language ability at the standard INZ threshold for the AEWV.
- Health and character requirements, the same framework INZ applies to most work visas.
- Pay that meets or exceeds the thresholds INZ publishes, which are tied to the New Zealand median wage. Check the current figures on the official AEWV pay rates page rather than relying on an out-of-date number.
Advertising requirement
Most Job Checks require the employer to advertise the role in New Zealand for a minimum period before it can be approved. There are exemptions, including for Green List roles and certain other categories where the labour-market test is not applied. The INZ Job Check page lists the current rules.
Visa duration and family
The maximum length of an AEWV depends on the role's skill level and the employer's accreditation type, and can stretch to several years. INZ updates these settings over time, so the current duration rules are on the INZ AEWV page.
Partners of AEWV holders can usually apply for an open work visa, and dependent children can usually attend New Zealand schools at domestic student rates.
Pathways to residence
The AEWV is a temporary visa, but it is often the first step on a residence pathway.
- Green List Tier 2 (Work to Residence). Some occupations qualify for residence after the required period of AEWV employment in the role. See New Zealand's Green List, explained.
- Skilled Migrant Category. AEWV time counts as skilled New Zealand work experience toward SMC points. See New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category, explained, or estimate your score with our SMC calculator.
Other residence categories exist, including partnership-based visas, but they are outside the scope of this post.
Where to go next
If you want to know whether the AEWV route is likely to work for you, start with the role: pin down your ANZSCO skill level, then check whether any Green List or SMC route applies.
