New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa – AEWV Guide

You can work in New Zealand for up to five years if you have an Accredited Employer Work Visa. You can work for a reputable company in New Zealand with this visa. You must receive a job offer. Businesses can employ skilled individuals with an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) if they have received Immigration New Zealand accreditation. Employers can engage foreign workers with the help of this form of temporary work visa.

You can also study in New Zealand for up to three months in any given year with this visa. You need to be paid NZD 29.66 an hour. Also, if you are coming to New Zealand on an AEWV, your company will help you settle in. The job law in New Zealand and other agreements say that your boss has to pay all the costs and fees that come with hiring you, both inside and outside of New Zealand. Read on to learn more about how to get a New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Check Also: Specific Purpose Work Visa Jobs SPWV in New Zealand 2025

What is an Accredited Employer Work Visa?

The main type of temporary work visa in New Zealand is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). They are given to people who are not citizens or residents of New Zealand but have a full-time job offer from a recognized company to work in New Zealand.

Its main goal is to give New Zealanders priority when it comes to job openings while still letting approved businesses hire skilled migrants when there are real skill or labor shortages.

Information on AEWV Statistics

113,497 AEWV applications had been accepted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), and 33,596 employers had been approved.

Benefits of New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa

• New Zealand’s Simplified Work Pathway: By enabling foreign workers to work with approved businesses who have undergone New Zealand Immigration’s screening, the AEWV expedites the application process. This streamlines the hiring procedure, enabling competent applicants to find jobs in New Zealand more quickly and effectively.
• Addressing Skilled Labor Shortages: In sectors like healthcare, engineering, information technology, construction, hospitality, and agriculture, the AEWV assists New Zealand companies in addressing skill shortages. This enables businesses to satisfy demand and sustain productivity, which is especially important for industries facing a labor crisis.
• Possibility of Permanent Work and Residency: Employment in New Zealand can open up long-term residency pathways for a large number of AEWV holders. If they fulfill the requirements, workers can switch to different visa categories, which offers a starting point for a secure future in New Zealand and a route to permanent residency.
• Availability of Good Working Conditions and Rights: Holders of an AEWV are entitled to the same protections and working conditions as citizens of New Zealand, including equitable pay, secure working environments, and full employment rights. This guarantees that firms maintain strong labor standards and that foreign workers are treated fairly.
• Dependent and Spouse Visas: Holders of an AEWV may occasionally travel to New Zealand with their spouses, partners, and dependant children. This improves the visa’s family-friendliness and enables workers to support their families while boosting the economy of New Zealand.
• A greater contribution to New Zealand’s economy: The economy of New Zealand benefits from skilled workers’ increased productivity, inventiveness, and tax income. Communities all around the nation gain from the AEWV because it helps companies stay competitive, prosper, and promote general economic growth.
• Assisting with Rural and Regional Development: Where local talent may be hard to obtain, the AEWV helps draw talented workers to rural and regional locations. This promotes balanced economic growth outside of urban areas, helps local enterprises, and advances regional development.
• Increased Employee Job Security: To keep their accreditation, accredited employers must exhibit sound financial standing, adherence to labor regulations, and a dedication to ethical business practices. This promotes job security and stability by giving AEWV holders the assurance that they are employed by respectable companies that uphold high standards.
• Professional Development Opportunities: AEWV holders can improve their talents, work on creative initiatives, and obtain international experience by working in New Zealand. The work environment in New Zealand fosters professional development, enabling employees to broaden their career possibilities and acquire useful knowledge.
• Supporting Inclusion and Cultural Diversity: New Zealand workplaces grow more culturally diverse by hiring qualified individuals from a range of backgrounds. This creates an inclusive atmosphere that enhances workplace dynamics and welcomes fresh viewpoints.
• Skilled Migrant and Other Visas as a Route to Residency: Many holders of AEWVs eventually become eligible for permanent residency through the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. If they meet the residence requirements, this gives international workers the opportunity to remain permanently in New Zealand, bolstering the workforce with seasoned professionals.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be put forward by a recognized company
• You need to have good morals.
• You need to be healthy.
• The AEWV visa rules for your country will tell you what you need to do.
• You need to have a job offer from a real company.
• The skills you need to do the job must be present.

List of Accredited Employers

An approved Accredited Employer by Immigration New Zealand who can hire people from outside of New Zealand on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). An AEWV can only be supported by companies that are approved. From this site

Other Visas that require you to work for an Accredited Employer

• Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
• Partner of a Worker Work Visa
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
• Straight to Residence Visa
• Transport Work to Residence Visa
• Work to Residence Visa

How does an AEWV Work?

To get this visa, you must first find a job that is recognized by the government. If the company isn’t accredited yet, you should find out when they plan to become accredited.

The next thing you should ask the company is if they have a valid Job Check for the job they are offering you. Job checks are okay with Immigration New Zealand, and they’re good for six months after they’re okayed.

One way to get an Accredited Employer Work Visa is to make sure you meet the standards set out in the Job Check. The application will be given to an Immigration Officer, who will then begin the evaluation.

If Immigration New Zealand doesn’t ask for them, you don’t have to give them the physical passport or any other original papers.

If you have an AEWV and keep working at or above the median wage, you may be able to access other ways to get to live in the country. These include the Green List Work to Residence, the Care Workforce Work to Residence, and the Transport Sector Work to Residence.

Required Documents

• Passport
• A photo
• Police certificate
• A promise of work from a real company for at least 30 hours per week.
• Proof that you meet the standards for the job.
• Registration for a job.
• They must be on your visa application.
  • a copy of the job description and hiring contract.
  • a job offer that has been signed.

Job Requirements

You need to show proof of your skills, education, and drive in order to apply for an Accredited Employer Work visa.

• Originals or copies that have been signed off by a notary public.
• Proof that your award is recognized by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
• Previous work experience if
  • What you did.
  • When you worked.
  • How many hours did you work each week?
  • Information on how to reach your employer(s).
  • How does the work experience you have help you get the job in New Zealand?

Make a NZ Style CV

They don’t like stories in New Zealand. Make a CV that companies in New Zealand will want to read. Most companies in New Zealand like curriculum vitae (CVs) that are short and easy to read.

Visa Fee

A NZD 750 application fee is needed to get an Accredited Employer Work visa.

Length of Stay

• Up to 5 years

Processing Time

80% of the applications are processed within 7 weeks.

How to Apply

• Get a Job Offer: You need to get a job offer from a known company. Also, your boss will send you some papers.
• Fill out the online form to apply for a visa: Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will send you an email once they have the papers. The link to the online visa application will be in the email.
• Visa Fee: There are fees that need to be paid for an accredited employer’s work. When you finish the application online.
• Send in the visa application.

More Info

Frequently Asked Questions