What is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in NZ?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a new visa type that is designed for employers who want to hire migrants to New Zealand in certain roles. It’s particularly applicable to those who want to hire a number of workers from overseas.
The AEWV was introduced in New Zealand on 4 July 2022 by Immigration New Zealand. The visa is employer-led, rather than employee-led, so businesses who want to hire overseas talent are in charge of getting their AEWV first before hiring.
How do employers apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa?
Employers must apply for the AEWV through Immigration New Zealand. In order to be eligible for the visa, the business must have a New Zealand business number, be registered with Inland Revenue and in a good financial state. They must also have no recent history of non-compliance.
There are four different levels of accreditation:
- Standard: to hire up to five migrant employees
- High volume: to hire six or more migrant employees
- Franchisee: for businesses that are part of a franchise, no limit on the number of employees
- Controlling third party: for businesses who place migrants with third parties while being the direct employer named in the employment agreement
A fee is required in order to apply, and Immigration New Zealand estimates that most visa applications are processed in around 10 working days.
Once granted, initial accreditation lasts for 12 months, and can be renewed after that period for between 12-24 months, depending on your accreditation level. If an AEWV holder leaves your employment, Immigration New Zealand asks that you notify them.
How can employers hire an employee from outside New Zealand on the Accredited Employer Work Visa?
There are three key steps to hiring on the terms of the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
1. Advertise the role locally in New Zealand first
Before moving to international recruitment, you may be required to advertise your role locally, to check that no New Zealand citizens or residents are available for the job. The role must be listed for at least two weeks on a national job website.
You do not need to advertise locally if you are hiring for a role on Immigration NZ’s Green list or will be paying at least twice the NZ median wage. The median wage is currently $27.76 an hour as of November 2022, and will be $29.66 an hour from 27 February 2023.
2. Submit a job check
Everyone hiring under the AEWV has to submit a job check to Immigration New Zealand. You are required to submit a number of documents, including a job description and evidence of any advertising that you have had to do. A job check is estimated to take around 10 working days to process.
3. Ask the chosen migrant employee to apply for their visa
Once you’ve found the right overseas talent for the role and the job check has been approved, then you can ask the migrant employee to apply for their own Accredited Employer Work Visa visa. They will require an employment agreement and signed employment offer.
It’s up to the employer to provide their chosen candidate with a link to apply through their AEWV online account. This will take around 20 days. Once that’s approved, they can commence employment.
What are my other options for hiring overseas talent?
There are a number of visas and options available for New Zealand employers when it comes to hiring people from overseas, including working holiday visas and sponsorship.
For a full list of what is available, check out Immigration New Zealand.
Consider an Employer of Record like Employment Hero’s Global Teams
If all this sounds like a lot, it doesn’t have to be. Employment Hero offers an alternative that doesn’t require employers to get their own visas in order to hire overseas talent. Instead, they can use our Employer of Record service, known as Global Teams.
Global Teams can connect you with the best international talent and allow you to hire legally in a number of different countries, without the need for any additional compliance or tax.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is current as at 14-Nov-2022, and has been prepared by Employment Hero Pty Ltd (ABN 11 160 047 709) and its related corporate bodies (Employment Hero). The views expressed in this article are general information only, are provided in good faith to assist employers and their employees, and should not be relied on as professional advice. The Information is based on data supplied by third parties. While such data is believed to be accurate, it has not been independently verified, and no warranties are given that it is complete, accurate, up-to-date or fit for the purpose for which it is required. Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in such data and is not liable for any loss or damages arising directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on, use of or inability to use any information provided in this article. You should undertake your own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions or relying on the information in this article.
