AEWV — Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

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AEWV — Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

6 weeks

Application Fee

4,290 NZD

Stay Duration

5 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Apply Now Official Information

Overview

Employer-sponsored work visa for skilled migrants with a full-time job offer from an INZ-accredited New Zealand employer; can lead to residence.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is Immigration New Zealand's primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa, launched on 4 July 2022 to replace six earlier work visa categories. It requires a full-time job offer (30+ hours/week) from an INZ-accredited employer with an approved Job Check.

Fees start at NZD $1,540 and 80% of applications are decided within 6 weeks (average 3.5 weeks). Maximum continuous stay is up to 5 years for ANZSCO skill level 1-3 roles, or 3 years for skill level 4-5. The job must pay at least the minimum hourly wage for the role; median-wage thresholds were removed in March 2025. The visa can lead to residence via Skilled Migrant or Work-to-Residence pathways.

This visa is ideal for skilled workers with a full-time job offer from an INZ-accredited New Zealand employer planning to use the role as a stepping stone to residence.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

5 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

SMC — Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa

New Zealand

SMC — Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa

ValidityVaries (Permanent residency once granted)

Processing4-18 months

View Visa Details

New Zealand

WTR — Work to Residence Visa

ValidityIndefinite

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Full-time job offer (30+ hours/week) from an INZ-accredited employer with an approved Job Check

Meet one of four AEWV skill pathways: Green List role, pay >= NZD $70/hr, 2+ years relevant experience, or NZQCF level 4+ qualification (bachelor's or higher accepted for any job)

Pay at least the minimum wage rate for the role (median-wage thresholds removed from 10 March 2025)

Occupational registration if required for the role in New Zealand

English language ability for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 roles (unless exempt)

Good health and good character

Genuine reason for coming to New Zealand

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

Education

vocational or higher

Experience

2+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Signed job offer from an INZ-accredited employer

Employment agreement and job description meeting NZ employment-law standards

Evidence of meeting one of the four AEWV skill pathways (qualifications, references, Green List role evidence, or pay rate)

English-language evidence (for ANZSCO 4-5 roles, unless exempt)

Police certificate(s) for good-character checks

Medical certificate / chest X-ray if requested

Evidence of occupational registration if your job requires it

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Maximum continuous stay of up to 5 years (ANZSCO 1-3) or 3 years (ANZSCO 4-5).
Clear pathway to residence via Skilled Migrant Category or sector Work-to-Residence schemes.
Application fee from NZD $1,540 with 80% of decisions inside 6 weeks (average 3.5 weeks).
Four flexible skill pathways: Green List role, NZD $70/hr+ pay, 2+ years experience, or NZQCF level 4+ qualification.
Partners and dependent children can join on linked visas (subject to wage threshold for partner work rights).
Median-wage threshold removed in March 2025 — wage floor is the role's minimum rate, broadening eligibility.
Employer accreditation regime gives applicants stronger protection against exploitation.

Worth Knowing

Requires a job offer from an INZ-accredited employer; cannot self-apply without an employer-issued link.
Visa is tied to the sponsoring employer, job, and location; changes require a Job Change or new visa.
ANZSCO skill level 4-5 roles need English-language evidence and are capped at a 3-year continuous stay.
Partner work rights only unlock when AEWV holder is paid at or above NZD $26.85/hr (annually updated).
Maximum continuous stay triggers a mandatory stand-down period offshore before another AEWV can be granted.
No AEWV without a full-time (30+ hr/week) job offer from a currently INZ-accredited employer.
Must meet one of four skill pathways: Green List, NZD $70/hr pay, 2+ years experience, or NZQCF level 4+.

Application Process

Receive a job offer from an INZ-accredited employer who has an approved Job Check for the role.

Receive the unique online application link from your employer (AEWV cannot be started without it).

Submit the online application via the Immigration NZ portal, attaching your signed job offer, employment agreement, and job description.

Provide evidence you meet the AEWV skill requirements (qualifications, references for 2+ years experience, Green List proof, or pay rate evidence).

Provide English-language evidence if your role is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 and you are not exempt.

Complete health and character requirements: medical certificate and police certificate(s) if requested.

Pay the NZD $1,540 application fee (plus IVL where applicable).

Await the decision; 80% of AEWV applications are completed within 6 weeks (average 3.5 weeks).

Application Forms

Go to application portal

Online AEWV application (via employer-provided link)

Fill online

Verified Claims (25)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps	Receive a job offer from an INZ-accredited employer who has an approved Job Check for the role.; Rec…	immigration.govt.nz
Categories	work	immigration.govt.nz
Fee Breakdown · 0 · amount	1540	immigration.govt.nz
Fees	From NZD $1,540	immigration.govt.nz
Forms	Online AEWV application (via employer-provided link)	immigration.govt.nz
Job Offer Required	true	immigration.govt.nz
Language Req	English required only if your job is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 (and not exempt)	immigration.govt.nz
Application Portal	https://apply.immigration.govt.nz/	immigration.govt.nz

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Overview

Employer-sponsored work visa for skilled migrants with a full-time job offer from an INZ-accredited New Zealand employer; can lead to residence.

This visa is ideal for skilled workers with a full-time job offer from an INZ-accredited New Zealand employer planning to use the role as a stepping stone to residence.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Full-time job offer (30+ hours/week) from an INZ-accredited employer with an approved Job Check

Meet one of four AEWV skill pathways: Green List role, pay >= NZD $70/hr, 2+ years relevant experience, or NZQCF level 4+ qualification (bachelor's or higher accepted for any job)

Pay at least the minimum wage rate for the role (median-wage thresholds removed from 10 March 2025)

Occupational registration if required for the role in New Zealand

English language ability for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 roles (unless exempt)

Good health and good character

Genuine reason for coming to New Zealand

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

Education

vocational or higher

Experience

2+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Signed job offer from an INZ-accredited employer

Employment agreement and job description meeting NZ employment-law standards

Evidence of meeting one of the four AEWV skill pathways (qualifications, references, Green List role evidence, or pay rate)

English-language evidence (for ANZSCO 4-5 roles, unless exempt)

Police certificate(s) for good-character checks

Medical certificate / chest X-ray if requested

Evidence of occupational registration if your job requires it

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Maximum continuous stay of up to 5 years (ANZSCO 1-3) or 3 years (ANZSCO 4-5).
Clear pathway to residence via Skilled Migrant Category or sector Work-to-Residence schemes.
Application fee from NZD $1,540 with 80% of decisions inside 6 weeks (average 3.5 weeks).
Four flexible skill pathways: Green List role, NZD $70/hr+ pay, 2+ years experience, or NZQCF level 4+ qualification.
Partners and dependent children can join on linked visas (subject to wage threshold for partner work rights).
Median-wage threshold removed in March 2025 — wage floor is the role's minimum rate, broadening eligibility.
Employer accreditation regime gives applicants stronger protection against exploitation.

Worth Knowing

Requires a job offer from an INZ-accredited employer; cannot self-apply without an employer-issued link.
Visa is tied to the sponsoring employer, job, and location; changes require a Job Change or new visa.
ANZSCO skill level 4-5 roles need English-language evidence and are capped at a 3-year continuous stay.
Partner work rights only unlock when AEWV holder is paid at or above NZD $26.85/hr (annually updated).
Maximum continuous stay triggers a mandatory stand-down period offshore before another AEWV can be granted.
No AEWV without a full-time (30+ hr/week) job offer from a currently INZ-accredited employer.
Must meet one of four skill pathways: Green List, NZD $70/hr pay, 2+ years experience, or NZQCF level 4+.

Application Process