Accredited Employer Work Visa （AEWV ）- Learn More

 

As of 4 July 2022, the realm of work visas in New Zealand has seen a significant transformation with the introduction of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). This innovative visa framework, which has taken over from the conventional Essential Skills Work Visa, constitutes a fundamental shift in the landscape of temporary work visas. This transition, influenced by evolving immigration and employment law, mandates that all employers intending to hire migrant workers must undergo a comprehensive process of employer accreditation.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has been introduced to replace six of the old temporary work visa categories, and ALL employers need to be accredited if they want to employ migrant workers.

 

Requirements of An Accredited Employer Work Visa

Some of requirements include:

 

  • You must have a job offer from a New Zealand accredited employer
  • Your employer must offer you at least 30 of hours of work per week. They must also pay you at least NZD$29.66 an hour (current median wage rate) unless your occupation is on an exemption list.
  • You must meet the minimum skill requirements set by INZ, and also have the skills and experience your employer has specified
  • In some cases, you must meet the English language requirement
  • You must meet good health and character requirement

3 steps to hiring a migrant on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV):

  • Step 1 – Employer accreditation where the employer’s credentials are assessed
  • Step 2 – Employers can only hire a migrant worker if the job check has been passed. The job check will confirm the job pays the market rate, the terms and conditions comply with New Zealand employment laws, and the employer has done advertising if required.
  • Step 3 – In this last step, the migrant must show that they meet all visa requirements, including having the skills and experience as required by the employer in the employer’s job check application.

Summary of changes

The Government has made changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in April 2024. The key changes are,

 

  • There are now higher work experience and qualification requirements, in addition to the skills and qualifications that your employer has specified

  • Evidence of your qualification must be accompanied by an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if it is below bachelor’s degree level

  • If you job is ANZSCO level 4 or 5, you must also meet the English requirement

  • The maximum continuous stay for people in ANZSCO level 4 to 5 jobs have been reduced to 3 years

What has changed for people with an AEWV

If you applied for your first AEWV before 21 June 2023 and are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job paying at or above the required AEWV wage rate, and currently hold a 3-year AEWV, you will no longer be able to access the maximum time of 5 years.

If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job on a pathway to residence, you will not be affected by changes.

If you apply for a further AEWV on or after 7 April 2024, you will have to meet the updated criteria. If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job you may not be able to stay and work in New Zealand for the maximum time of five years.

 

Access NZ team is here to help

Let us at Access NZ be your guiding light, ensuring your pathway is defined by genuine attempts and the successful completion of each requirement. From securing a job offer that aligns with immigration instructions to providing the correct documents for your application, we’re here to make your dream of working in New Zealand a reality.

If you require assistance, we highly recommend completing our Accredited Employer Work Visa questionnaire here and we will be in touch as soon as we can.

Alternatively you can call us on +64 7  571 1171 or email to info@accessnz.com for help.

 

FAQ

1. What is the difference between the old “Essential Skills Work Visa” and the current “Accredited Employer Work Visa” in New Zealand?

The key difference lies in the accreditation process. The “Accredited Employer Work Visa” (AEWV), introduced on July 4, 2022, replaced the traditional “Essential Skills Work Visa.” Under AEWV, all employers must undergo a thorough accreditation process to hire migrant workers, ensuring compliance with labor laws.

2. What is the “Median Wage Threshold” for the “Accredited Employer Work Visa,” and how does it impact employee and employer? 

AEWV jobs must pay at least NZD$29.66 an hour from 27 February 2023 onwards, unless an exemption applies through a sector agreement. There is currently also a time-limited exemption for some tourism and hospitality roles.

If a job pays at least twice the February 2023 median wage, the employer does not need to advertise the job as part of their Job Check.

4. What is the application process and how long does it take?

The current processing time for AEWV is around 4- 6 months (it could be longer or shorter depending on circumstances). To apply for an AEWV, you would need to have a job offer from a New Zealand accredited employer. As soon as you have a job offer, you should start preparing documents and evidence for your application.

To reduce the visa processing time, we suggest having a “decision-ready” application at submission which includes all the required documents and complete information. Our team of experts can take away the stressing of navigating the complicated work visa rules from you and guide you through this process.

5. What are the common mistakes that people make in the AEWV application? 

Here are some of the common issues and pitfalls of an AEWV application,

  • Wrong ANZSCO code is used in AEWV obstructing future residence pathway
  • Work experience or qualification gained overseas do not match what were specified in the job check or fail to meet INZ’s requirement
  • Information or documents provided differs from what were provided at job check
  • The claimed skill level has been downgraded by INZ, there are different advertising rules and visa durations depending on the skill level
  • Insufficient documentations are provided for the application

We suggest engaging the services of an experience licensed immigration adviser or lawyer at the outset, disappointment can be avoided if the AEWV application is done correctly from the start.