New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa: A Guide for Foreign Workers

The AEWV is a temporary visa for eligible people who have a qualifying job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer. It allows the holder to work in the job covered by the visa, subject to its conditions. It is not open permission to work for any company.

A visa can be granted for up to five years, depending on the job, skill level, pay, and rules in effect when you apply. Some workers may later qualify for a residence pathway, but they must meet separate requirements. An AEWV does not automatically grant permanent residence.

Check Immigration New Zealand’s official AEWV guidance for current eligibility and application details.

Employers must hold the appropriate AEWV accreditation to hire migrant workers through this route. They must also have an approved job check for the vacancy. Accreditation relates to the employer; the job check confirms that the particular role meets the scheme’s requirements.

You must still meet immigration criteria and show you have the skills and experience required. Check the employer’s status and ensure the written offer matches the role discussed during recruitment.

The offer must be current when you apply, provide at least 30 hours of work a week, come from an accredited employer with an approved job check for that position, and pay at least the market rate for the work. The AEWV does not cover self-employed work, foreign fishing crew, or jobs involving planting, maintaining, harvesting, or packing crops in the horticulture and viticulture industries.

After the hiring steps, the employer should provide a signed offer, employment agreement, job description, and unique online application link, often called a job token. Check duties, hours, location, pay, and contract period.

New Zealand employers and their agents must not charge migrant workers for a job or pass recruitment costs on to them. This includes recruitment fees and the employer’s accreditation and job-check costs. Your own visa fee and personal document expenses are different. You should never have to buy a job offer.

Applicants generally need either at least two years of relevant work experience or a qualification at Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework. The experience or qualification must usually relate to the same field or industry as the job. A bachelor’s degree or higher can be in any field to meet this minimum qualification requirement, although you must still meet the employer’s requirements for the role.

In certain circumstances, you may not need to provide additional evidence to show you meet the minimum skill requirements. These exceptions include an eligible Green List role where you provide evidence that you meet its requirements; qualifying occupational registration supported by evidence of the skills or qualifications required to obtain it; being paid at least NZD $67.12 an hour, the threshold specified in Immigration New Zealand’s AEWV guidance; or having already provided acceptable evidence of a Level 4 or higher qualification or at least two years of relevant work experience with an earlier visa application. These exceptions have specific conditions and do not apply automatically to every Green List worker, registered professional, or repeat applicant. Check the official AEWV guidance before applying.

A CV alone is not sufficient evidence of work experience. Evidence may include employment certificates supported by payslips or tax records. If your overseas qualification is below bachelor’s level, you may need an International Qualification Assessment. Some occupations also require professional registration.

English-language requirements apply to AEWV applicants whose job is classified at ANZSCO or National Occupation List (NOL) skill levels 3 to 5. Jobs at skill levels 1 or 2 do not have this specific English requirement.

Applicants who need to demonstrate English may qualify through specific citizenship and work-history conditions, or through study or qualifications completed in certain countries. For example, eligible citizens of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States must generally have spent at least five years working or studying in one of those countries, Australia, or New Zealand. Certain bachelor’s or postgraduate qualifications may also qualify, but only if they meet the country, duration, and evidence conditions set by Immigration New Zealand.

Alternatively, applicants can take an approved English test in person at a test centre. Results must meet the required score and be no more than two years old when applying. Exemptions may apply if you demonstrated English ability in a previous AEWV application. A transitional exemption also applies to some applicants whose current AEWV expires on or before December 1, 2026, and who apply for another AEWV for a skill-level 3 job. Check the official AEWV English-language requirements to confirm eligibility.

Applicants must meet health and character requirements and have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand. Depending on their circumstances, medical examinations, chest X-rays, police certificates, or translations may be required.

Find a vacancy matching your experience and check the employer and job details. After the hiring steps, the employer provides the application link and supporting documents.

Prepare the evidence required for your circumstances: passport, photograph, signed offer, employment agreement, job description, qualifications, work-experience proof, and any registration or English evidence. Police certificates, medical documents, and translations may also be required.

Use the unique link to complete the online application, upload documents, and pay the fee. Check names, dates, and employment details for consistency, and follow official instructions.

Immigration New Zealand currently lists the AEWV application fee as starting from NZD $1,540. Its processing-time page reports that 80% of AEWV applications are processed within five weeks. Processing-time calculations use working days, excluding weekends and public holidays. These figures can change, and processing times are estimates rather than guarantees. Check the official work visa wait times and AEWV page before applying.

Budget for personal expenses such as translations, medical checks, police certificates, or qualification assessments. Avoid non-refundable travel plans based only on an expected decision date.

The maximum continuous stay on a regular AEWV is five years for many skill-level 1 to 3 jobs and some other qualifying roles. Some jobs that would otherwise have a three-year maximum stay may qualify for five years if the worker meets the applicable criteria, including earning at least NZD $52.50 an hour. Other eligibility conditions may apply, so check the official rules for your occupation and application date.

After reaching the maximum continuous stay on a regular AEWV, you normally need to spend 12 months outside New Zealand before you can get another. The visa is tied to the employer, job, and location specified in your conditions. If these change, you may need a Job Change, a variation of conditions, or a new visa before starting the new arrangement. An AEWV does not permit you to take a second job.

You can study for up to three months in any 12-month period, or undertake study required as part of your employment. Check your eVisa for your personal conditions.

Before investing significant time or money, check that:

• The employer is accredited and the job has an approved job check.

• The offer is current, provides at least 30 hours a week, and pays at least the market rate.

• Your experience, qualifications, English evidence, and any occupational registration meet the requirements.

• You have the necessary documents and have checked current fees and processing estimates.

• No employer or agent is asking you to pay for a job or cover recruitment costs.

• You understand the visa’s duration, work restrictions, and study conditions.

A strong application starts with a credible job, clear employment documents, and evidence that matches the role. Verify the employer, read the offer closely, and consult current Immigration New Zealand guidance before making major financial commitments.

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