Key information about the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- SOL New Zealand Immigration
- Jun 3
- 5 min read
The AEWV is the main temporary work visa in New Zealand. It allows a migrant to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer for up to 5 years.
The AEWV scheme is designed to ensure New Zealanders are first in line for jobs and makes it easier for employers to hire skilled migrants where genuine skill or labour shortages exist.
It also helps combat migrant exploitation by ensuring only employers who are accredited can hire migrant workers.
All applications are made through Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Immigration Online.
Accreditation process
There are 3 steps in the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme process — employer accreditation, job check and the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
In order to apply for an AEWV, the employer must first apply for and be granted employer accreditation.
Once an employer has accreditation, they must apply for a Job Check in order to hire a migrant for that role. Before applying for a Job Check an employer may need to advertise to check there are no New Zealand citizens or residents available for the job.
Once a job check is approved, a migrant can apply for an AEWV.
Under the AEWV there are a range of verification steps at the application process through the accreditation, job check and work visa steps, as well as post-accreditation checks.
AEWV processing
We are continuing to review how we allocate AEWV applications for processing. You can find out how we allocate AEWV applications, in our News centre.
Allocation priorities from 16 December 2024
Applications under all 3 gateways are now being allocated from oldest to newest as they reach the under assessment stage.
When your application is ready for assessment you will see 'Under Assessment' on your immigration online portal. While the below groups will not be allocated to a dedicated team, we will continue to monitor and prioritise the following applications:
Job Check and work visa applications for Green List roles.
Job Check and work visa applications where employer accreditation is due to expire in the next 6 weeks or has already expired.
Accredited Employer Work Visa
Applications to extend a work visa up to the maximum period allowed will be prioritised where they are for:
Green List and skill level 4 and 5 roles
Applications where there are 10 or more applications for 1 employer will be grouped for assessment.
Even if your application is allocated first it does not necessarily mean it will be decided in that order.
The quality and completeness of any application has a direct impact on how long it takes for the application to be decided.
You can check the visa requirements for the AEWV on the AEWV visa information page.
Include all the relevant information
Applications that include all the required information are able to be assessed faster.
Incomplete applications are still significantly impacting current processing times. We may assess your application based on the information provided without seeking further information. Incomplete applications may be declined. Make sure you include all the information we need, including Police certificates and English language test results.
If you are applying from overseas, we will only request further information where there is more than 1 month remaining on the job token validity or employer accreditation.
You can check the visa requirements for the AEWV on the AEWV visa information page.
Other reminders to help with faster visa processing
If you need to request an extension, do so as early as possible. A request for an extension will only be granted where there are reasonable and compelling circumstances.
Respond to requests for information or concerns raised within the timeframe provided. Your application may be declined if you do not respond in time.
Make sure you hold a valid employer accreditation. You will need valid accreditation if you have Job Check or work visa applications currently in progress, want to apply for more job tokens, employ new workers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), support an AEWV holder to apply to extend the length of their AEWV up to the maximum period allowed or support a migrant worker to apply for a different visa that requires you to be accredited, such as a Work to Residence or Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Key information and statistics
Accreditation applications opened on 23 May 2022, Job Check applications opened on 20 June 2022 and work visa applications opened on 4 July 2022.
As at 19 May 2025 Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has approved 148,813 AEWV applications since the scheme opened. There are currently 24,334 accredited employers and 81,899 AEWV holders.
On 7 April 2024, changes were announced to the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme. These include:
Introducing an English language requirement for migrants applying for low skilled ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles.
A minimum skills and work experience threshold for most AEWV roles.
For roles that fall into the ANZSCO level 4 and 5, employers will need to engage with Work and Income before approval to bring in migrants will be granted.
Reducing the
maximum continuous stay
for most ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles from 5 years to 3 years.
Disestablishing the franchisee accreditation category and for these businesses to apply to bring in workers from overseas through the standard, high-volume, or triangular employment accreditation.
Post-accreditation checks
Post-accreditation checks can occur at any time. We aim to check about 16% of accredited employers each year. As part of the application process, employers are advised there may be follow-up checks to ensure the undertakings and declarations they make during the application are correct and they are a good employer.
The 16% of post-accreditation checks we undertake are made up from a combination of:
random selection
targeted checks on a sample of all accredited employer types
all controlling third party business models
any businesses that have been referred to us through a complaint or issue raised.
Post-accreditation checks are a routine process introduced as part of the scheme. They are not related to investigations into employers of potential concern involving migrant workers holding an AEWV.
We expect employers to take their responsibilities seriously and comply with AEWV conditions, and there are penalties for employers who do not comply with employment or immigration laws.
As at 19 May 2025
INZ has undertaken 6,517 post-accreditation checks on 4,509 employers. An additional 250 are underway.
Since 1 July 2023 MBIE has received 7,112 complaints against accredited employers. This number only indicates an allegation involving an Accredited Employer has been received, not whether the allegation can be substantiated.
There are currently 73 active investigations on 82 Accredited Employers underway (as some are multiple employers recorded under one investigation case).
855 employers have had their accreditation revoked and 152 have had their accreditation suspended.
32 employers are under assessment to have their accreditation revoked or suspended.
Revoking and suspending employer accreditation
Revocations and suspensions can occur due to a range of reasons, and a number are due to liquidation.
Employers being actively investigated for any breach of accreditation may have their accreditation suspended. Suspending an employer’s accreditation minimises immigration harm where there are reasonable concerns that an employer is not complying with the relevant immigration, employment or business standards.
We can revoke an employer’s accreditation if breaches of accreditation standards are found.
There is a due process followed when considering whether to suspend or revoke an employer’s accreditation. The cases are assessed individually, with all related business areas across MBIE, including INZ, working together.
The vast majority of employers are doing the right thing and treat their migrant workers fairly and well. They are relying on much-needed workers from overseas to fill positions that have been hard to fill within the domestic market.
MBIE — of which INZ is a part — actively monitors employers and will take action where there are concerns.
Comments