New Zealand Accredited Employer Work

Summary

New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa, or AEWV, is the main temporary work visa for people with a job offer from a New Zealand employer that is accredited by Immigration New Zealand. It is employer-sponsored, so the job and employer matter as much as the applicant.

This is often the first New Zealand route for people who do not already qualify for a direct residence pathway.

Eligibility

You may be a fit if:

• You have a full-time job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.
• The employer has completed the required employer steps, including any job check or role-specific requirements.
• The job meets the skill, pay, and work-experience or qualification rules for that role.
• You meet English requirements if they apply to the job.
• You meet New Zealand's health, character, identity, and document requirements.
• You have not exceeded any maximum-stay or stand-down rules that apply to your situation.

Since March 2025, the old across-the-board median-wage requirement no longer applies to most AEWV roles. Employers still need to pay at least the New Zealand minimum wage and the market rate for the job, and some roles or residence pathways can still have higher wage rules.

What This Route Allows

The AEWV can let you live in New Zealand and work in the approved job for the accredited employer. Later residence planning should be matched to the role, skill level, income, and skilled-residence category, with employer accreditation, job-check, pay, and work-history records kept from the start.

Some family members may be able to join you if your job, pay, and visa conditions support a dependant application. Confirm the dependant file before relying on it: relationship records, income threshold, health and character checks, and whether the family member receives work authorization, study rights, or residence only.

What This Route Is Not

This is not an open work visa. You cannot simply move to New Zealand and work for any employer.

It is also not permanent residence by itself. If your goal is to stay long term, you should check whether the job can lead to a residence pathway, such as the Skilled Migrant Category or a Green List route.

Next Steps

1. Confirm the employer is accredited by Immigration New Zealand.
2. Confirm the role, pay, hours, and location match the AEWV rules.
3. Ask the employer whether the job check or other employer-side requirements have been completed.
4. Gather evidence of your qualifications, work experience, English ability if required, passport, medicals, and police certificates.
5. Apply once the employer sends the AEWV application link.
6. If long-term residence is your goal, check early whether the job can support a later residence application.

Sources

• Immigration New Zealand - Accredited Employer Work Visa
• Immigration New Zealand - AEWV key information and statistics
• Immigration New Zealand - AEWV and median wage changes
• Immigration New Zealand - Wage rates for work visas
• Immigration New Zealand - Accredited employer register