Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

If your employer has obtained the Employer Accreditation and passed a Job Check for your role, the next step is applying for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The visa is granted with conditions tied to the specific employer, occupation, and location approved at the Job Check stage — so the terms of your offer of employment need to match what was approved before you apply.

There are three types of visa available under this framework: the regular AEWV, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, and the Peak Seasonal Visa. Which one you apply for depends on the type of job token your employer holds.

Applying for an Accredited Employer Work Visa

What You Need to Apply

Your application must be submitted online using the approved INZ form and must include:

• A copy of your signed employment agreement
• A copy of your signed offer of employment
• The job token number provided by your employer
• Evidence that your offer of employment matches the terms approved in the Job Check (occupation, location, hours, and remuneration)
• Medical insurance covering the period of employment, if you are applying for a Peak Seasonal Visa for a period of more than three months

The signed offer of employment does not need to be a separate document from the employment agreement, provided it is signed by both you and your employer and contains all the required information about the role.

Matching the Job Check

INZ will check that the terms of your employment offer are consistent with what was approved at the Job Check stage. The following details must match:

• The location of the job
• The occupation
• The hours of work — the minimum guaranteed hours must be no less, and the maximum must be no more, than those in the Job Check
• The remuneration — your pay must fall within the range approved at the Job Check stage
• The direct employer

All other terms and conditions must be the same as, or more favourable than, those declared in the Job Check. If there is a discrepancy — for example, if the employment agreement offers fewer hours than were approved — INZ may decline the application.

Eligibility Requirements

Skills Threshold

All AEWV applicants must meet a minimum skills threshold. This is satisfied by demonstrating either:

• At least two years of relevant work experience, supported by documentation from a third party such as reference letters, certificates of employment, payslips, or tax certificates. A CV alone is not sufficient unless it is accompanied by supporting documents not written by the applicant, or
• A qualification at Level 4 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).

A Bachelor’s degree or higher is treated as relevant to any employment offer, regardless of field. Other qualifications and work experience are relevant where they are in the same field or industry as the job offered.

If your qualification was gained outside New Zealand, you will generally need an NZQA International Qualification Assessment (IQA) unless the qualification is a Bachelor’s degree at Level 7 or higher.

The skills threshold does not apply where the role pays at least $70.00 per hour (or the equivalent annual salary), or where the occupation appears on the Green List and you meet the relevant requirements for that occupation.

English Language

If your role was assessed at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 at the Job Check stage, you must meet a minimum standard of English. This requirement does not apply to Global Workforce Seasonal Visa or Peak Seasonal Visa applicants.

Acceptable evidence includes:

• Results from a recognised English language test taken in person at a test centre (remotely sat tests are not accepted). The minimum scores required are:

Test results must be no more than two years old when you lodge your application.

• Citizenship of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, or Republic of Ireland, combined with at least five years of work or study in one or more of those countries, or in Australia or New Zealand; or
• A qualification at Level 7 or above (Bachelor’s degree or higher) gained in one of those countries after at least two years of study there, or a Level 8 or higher qualification after at least one academic year of study there.

If INZ has already assessed your English language proficiency in a previous application and accepted it, you will not need to provide evidence again.

Other Requirements

In addition to the skills threshold and English language requirements above, you must meet the general work visa requirements that apply to all applicants, including health and character requirements.

Visa Duration and Maximum Continuous Stay

Regular AEWV — How Long Can You Stay?

A regular AEWV holder can accumulate a maximum continuous stay in New Zealand before being required to spend at least 12 consecutive months outside the country. The length of the maximum continuous stay period depends on the role:

Five years applies to:

• Roles at ANZSCO skill level 1–3
• Roles on the Green List
• Roles in the care workforce or transport sectors that meet applicable remuneration thresholds for residence
• Roles paid at or above 1.5 times the median wage in the Skilled Migrant Category

Three years applies to roles at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 that do not otherwise qualify for the five-year period.

The maximum continuous stay period runs from your first entry to New Zealand after the visa is granted, not from the date the visa was issued. Time spent in New Zealand on other visa types — such as a visitor or student visa — does not count toward the maximum continuous stay period and does not reset it.

Once you reach the end of your maximum continuous stay, you must spend 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand before you can be granted a further AEWV. An application for a further AEWV will be declined if you are in New Zealand and have already reached the end of your maximum continuous stay period.

Visa Conditions

An AEWV is granted with conditions that specify:

• The employer you may work for
• The occupation you may work in
• The location where you may work
• A requirement to work full time (at least 30 guaranteed hours per week)
• The minimum remuneration level
• A requirement to provide evidence of remuneration payment if requested by INZ

Holders of a regular AEWV may not be placed in a triangular employment arrangement (where a third party directs and controls your day-to-day work) unless the Job Check specifically approved such an arrangement.

If your circumstances change — for example, if you change employers or move to a different location — you will need to apply for a Job Change or a new AEWV before the change takes effect. Working outside your visa conditions can affect your immigration status and your ability to obtain visas in the future.

What Happens If Your Employer’s Accreditation Changes

If INZ has concerns about your employer’s accreditation, it may postpone a decision on your visa application while those concerns are investigated. If your employer’s accreditation is suspended, INZ may hold your application until the suspension ends. If accreditation expires or is revoked, INZ may decline your application.

If you are already in New Zealand on an AEWV and your employer’s circumstances change, it is worth seeking advice promptly — the options available to you will depend on timing and the specific circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a job token? A job token is issued to your employer when their Job Check application is approved. It authorises them to support one AEWV application for the approved role. You will need the job token number from your employer to submit your visa application. A token is generally valid for six months from the date it was issued.

Can I bring my family to New Zealand? Regular AEWV holders may be eligible to support a work visa for a partner and visitor or student visas for dependent children, provided your remuneration meets the minimum income threshold. Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa holders are not eligible to support family member applications.

Can I change employers while on an AEWV? Your visa is tied to the employer, occupation, and location named in the conditions. If you want to change employers, you will generally need to apply for a Job Change using a job token from the new employer, or apply for a new AEWV. You should not start work with a new employer before the relevant application has been approved.

What if my pay has changed since the Job Check was approved? Your remuneration must fall within the range approved at the Job Check stage. If your employer is offering you more than the approved maximum, that is generally not a problem. If the rate is lower than approved, INZ may decline your application unless a specific exception applies.

What if my visa application is declined? There is no statutory right of appeal against a declined AEWV application, but you may be able to request reconsideration within 14 calendar days of the decision. A fee applies. You may also have the option of making a new application. Legal advice at this stage can help identify whether the grounds for decline are contestable and what the best approach is.

What English language test should I sit? Any of the tests listed in the table above are acceptable. IELTS is the most widely used, but the choice depends on your circumstances and which test you are most comfortable with. Whichever test you choose, it must be sat in person at a test centre — at-home or remotely proctored tests are not accepted by INZ.

How MK Law Can Help

The AEWV application process is procedurally straightforward in many cases, but the requirements around evidence, remuneration calculations, and matching the Job Check terms can be more involved than they appear. Errors or inconsistencies in the application are a common reason for delays and declines.

MK Law advises visa applicants on whether they meet the eligibility requirements, what evidence to gather, and how to present their application. We also advise on reconsideration requests and next steps where an application has been declined.

If you are an employer at an earlier stage of the process, see our pages on Employer Accreditation and the Job Check.

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