Accredited Employer Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Purpose	Work for an accredited employer
Stay	Up to 5 years
Cost	From NZD $1,540
Processing	80% within 8 weeks
Job offer	Full-time, minimum 30 hours weekly
Eligibility timing	Normally 12 months outside after maximum stay
Work rights	Specified employer, job and location only
Second job	Not allowed
Study	Up to 3 months yearly
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple-entry condition required for return
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Residence pathway	May lead to residence, depending on job
Family sponsorship	May support partner and children visas
Visa record	eVisa issued if approved
English	Required for skill levels 3–5
Health and character	Good health and character required

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Purpose

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) allows you to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer that has offered you an eligible full-time job.

Your employer must send you a unique online application link, also called a job token.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have a current full-time job offer from an AEWV-accredited employer.
• Be offered at least 30 hours of work each week.
• Have an approved job check for the role.
• Be paid at least the market rate for the job.
• Meet the minimum skill, qualification and employer-specific requirements.
• Hold occupational registration, if required for the job.
• Meet English-language requirements, if applicable.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to comply with visa conditions.
• Apply alone; you cannot include a partner or dependent children.

Your job offer cannot be for:

• Horticulture or viticulture planting, maintenance, harvesting or packing.
• Foreign crew work on fishing vessels.
• Self-employed work.

Stay and Further AEWVs

Your total maximum continuous stay across one or more AEWVs depends on when you first applied, the job skill level and pay rate.

• Most jobs: up to 5 years.
• ANZSCO or NOL skill level 4 or 5 jobs: generally up to 3 years.

If your visa is granted for less than your maximum continuous stay, you may apply for further AEWVs before it expires.

After reaching your maximum continuous stay, you must normally leave New Zealand for 12 consecutive months before becoming eligible for another AEWV.

Job and Skill Requirements

You must meet the AEWV minimum skill requirement through either:

• At least 2 years of relevant work experience, or
• A qualification at NZQCF level 4 or higher.

The experience or qualification must generally be in the same field or industry as the offered job. A Bachelor’s degree or higher may be in any field.

You may not need further minimum-skill evidence if you:

• Have a Green List role and meet its requirements.
• Hold relevant occupational registration based on skills or qualifications.
• Are paid at least NZD $67.12 per hour.
• Previously provided accepted evidence to Immigration New Zealand.
• Hold an eligible sector-agreement or wage-exemption role paid below NZD $29.66 per hour.

Work Experience Evidence

A CV or resume alone is not sufficient. Evidence can include:

• Employment certificates.
• Payslips.
• Tax certificates.
• Reference letters supported by other employment evidence.

Two years of experience need not be consecutive or full-time, but must equal two years of full-time work. Provide evidence of hours worked.

Qualification Evidence

Provide copies of qualifications. If your qualification is below a Bachelor’s degree and obtained outside New Zealand, you must also provide an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA.

English Language

English evidence is required for ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3, 4 or 5 jobs.

You may show English ability through citizenship, study and qualifications, or an approved English-language test. Test results must meet the required score and be no more than 2 years old when applying.

English evidence is not required for skill level 1 or 2 jobs.

An exemption may apply if:

• You previously demonstrated English ability for an AEWV application; or
• You hold a skill level 3 job and your AEWV expires on or before 1 December 2026.

Immigration New Zealand may request further English evidence, including a test.

Health and Character

You must meet health and character requirements.

A chest X-ray is required for stays over 6 months if you are from, or recently spent more than 3 months in, a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis.

Police certificates are required if you are:

• Aged 17 or older; and
• Staying in New Zealand for a total of 24 months or longer.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you apply and cover:

• Countries of citizenship.
• Countries where you spent more than 5 years since turning 17.

Provide an English translation for police certificates not in English. A receipt for a pending police certificate is generally not accepted.

Documents

Provide:

• Signed job offer.
• Employment agreement and job description.
• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo.
• Evidence of experience, skills and qualifications.
• Occupational registration evidence, if required.
• English-language evidence, if required.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Chest X-ray or medical certificates, if required.
• English translations of required non-English documents.

Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure from New Zealand.

Medical and chest X-ray evidence, when requested, must be less than 3 months old when received.

Application Steps

1. Receive the job offer and job token from an accredited employer with an approved job check.
2. Gather evidence, including job, identity, skill, health, character and English documents.
3. Open the employer’s unique link, accept the request and complete the online application.
4. Upload documents and pay the applicable fee.
5. Wait for a decision and provide any further information requested.
6. Check your online account for status updates.

If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa.

Work Rights and Conditions

You may work only:

• In the job stated on your visa.
• For the employer stated on your visa.
• At the location stated on your visa.

You cannot work a second job.

Your employer must provide at least 30 hours of work each week and continue paying the amount listed in your job offer and visa conditions.

If you change employer, job, location, or any combination of these, you must apply for a variation of conditions, a Job Change, or a new visa.

Migrant workers have the same employment rights as New Zealand workers. Your employer cannot charge you for a job or make you pay their recruitment, accreditation or operational costs.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

You may undertake study required as part of your employment. Your employer must pay for required work-related study.

For study longer than 3 months, apply to vary your visa conditions.

Family Provisions

You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your AEWV application.

Depending on your income and job skill level, you may be able to support:

• A visitor or work visa for your partner.
• A visitor or student visa for dependent children.

Travel and Arrival

Your visa is valid:

• From the date you enter New Zealand, if applying from outside New Zealand; or
• From the date it is granted, if applying in New Zealand.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

To travel out of and return to New Zealand, your visa must have a valid multiple-entry travel condition. If you leave without one, your visa will expire.

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before travel. You may be refused entry permission if your circumstances have changed, you no longer meet character requirements, or you refuse biometric collection.

Important Warnings

• Job offer scams are common, particularly in India and South Asia.
• Your application may be declined if you or your agent offered money for a job offer.
• Employment agreements cannot contain unlawful deductions, trial periods or unacceptable bonding clauses.
• Missing required documents, including valid police certificates, may result in refusal.
• Enter identity details exactly as shown in your passport or certificate of identity.