New Zealand has a small population and persistent shortages in health care, construction, engineering, farming and hospitality. Its main answer is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), a temporary work visa that lets approved employers hire from overseas when they cannot find staff locally.
The rules were loosened in 2025 and adjusted again since, and a lot of online advice is out of date. This guide sets out how the visa works in late 2026, what it costs and how to avoid the scams that target hopeful applicants.
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How the system works
The AEWV is employer-led. Three things must happen, in this order:
- Employer accreditation. The business is approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to hire migrant workers.
- Job check. The employer shows that the specific role is genuine, pays the right rate and, in most cases, was advertised to New Zealanders first.
- Visa application. Once the job check is approved, the employer sends you a link. You complete the online application and pay the fee.
You cannot start an AEWV application on your own. If nobody has sent you an application link from INZ’s system, you do not yet have a real route to this visa, whatever a recruiter may say.
Requirements for the worker
- A full-time job offer of at least 30 hours a week from an accredited employer with an approved job check
- Skills evidence. Either two or more years of relevant work experience, or a relevant qualification at level 4 or above on the New Zealand qualifications framework. If you hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, it does not have to be in the same field as the job
- Proof of that experience from third parties, such as employer reference letters, payslips or tax records. A CV by itself is not accepted
- English language ability for jobs at skill levels 3 to 5, which covers most trade, service and labouring roles. Jobs at levels 1 and 2 are exempt
- Good health and character, including a chest X-ray for stays over six months from countries with higher tuberculosis rates, and police certificates for stays of two years or more
Qualifications below degree level from overseas usually need an International Qualification Assessment from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). You can skip the skills evidence if your job is on the Green List and you meet its requirements, or if you hold a New Zealand occupational registration that already required similar proof.
Pay
Until March 2025 most AEWV jobs had to pay at least the national median wage. That requirement has been removed. Employers must now pay the market rate for the role and location, and never less than the legal minimum wage. The pay stated in your offer is written into your visa conditions, and the employer must keep paying it for as long as you work there.
How long you can stay
| Job skill level | Maximum continuous stay |
|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3 (managers, professionals, technicians and trades) | Up to 5 years |
| Levels 4 and 5 (lower-skilled roles) | Up to 3 years |
When you reach the maximum, you normally have to spend 12 months outside New Zealand before you can be granted another AEWV. The clock does not apply if you move on to a residence visa in the meantime.
What it costs
The visa fee is from NZD 1,540. On top of that, budget for medical examinations, police certificates, an English test if you need one, an NZQA assessment if your qualification requires it, and your flight. INZ decides 80% of applications within about five weeks.
New Zealand law forbids employers and agents from charging you for the job itself or passing on their recruitment costs. A demand for a “job fee”, “placement fee” or “visa slot fee” is a sign of fraud or exploitation.
Can your family come?
Partners and children cannot be included in an AEWV application. They apply for their own visas. Whether you can support a partner for a work or visitor visa, and children for student or visitor visas, depends on your job’s skill level and how much you earn. Workers in lower-skilled roles often cannot sponsor family at all, so check this before you accept an offer if you do not want to be separated for several years.
Conditions while you are there
- You may work only for the employer, in the role and location stated on your visa
- You must work at least 30 hours a week and cannot take a second job
- To change employer, the new employer must be accredited with an approved job check, and you must apply to vary your visa or apply for a new one
- You can study for up to three months in any 12-month period
The Green List and routes to residence
The AEWV is temporary, but some jobs lead to residence. New Zealand’s Green List names occupations it most wants to keep:
- Tier 1, Straight to Residence: roles such as many doctors, engineers, ICT specialists, registered nurses and construction project managers. You can apply for residence immediately with a qualifying offer
- Tier 2, Work to Residence: roles including a number of trades, teachers and allied health workers. You can apply for residence after two years of work in the role
Workers outside the Green List may still qualify through the Skilled Migrant Category, which awards points for qualifications, professional registration or income, combined with skilled work experience in New Zealand. Requirements for each list are detailed and specific, so read the entry for your exact occupation.
Jobs that commonly sponsor
- Health: registered nurses, aged care workers, doctors, midwives, physiotherapists
- Construction and trades: carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, civil engineers, quantity surveyors
- Agriculture: dairy farm workers and managers, livestock roles, machinery operators
- Transport: truck and bus drivers, diesel mechanics
- Hospitality: chefs and restaurant managers
- Technology: software developers, analysts and network engineers
- Education: secondary and early childhood teachers
Regulated professions need New Zealand registration first. Nurses apply to the Nursing Council, teachers to the Teaching Council and electricians to the Electrical Workers Registration Board. Starting registration early makes you far more attractive to employers.
How to find an accredited employer
- Search SEEK New Zealand and Trade Me Jobs for your occupation with the word “accredited” or “visa”
- Check the Health New Zealand careers site for health vacancies, and the careers pages of large regional employers
- Ask the employer directly for the name its accreditation is held under, and confirm that the visa link you receive comes from INZ’s online system
- Prefer employers with a real website, a New Zealand Business Number you can look up on the public companies register, and a landline or office address
Scams and exploitation to watch for
In recent years many migrants paid thousands of dollars for AEWV jobs that turned out not to exist or offered far fewer hours than promised. Protect yourself:
- Never pay for a job offer or for the employer’s accreditation or job check
- Be cautious of offers made without any interview
- Read the employment agreement. It must state your hours, pay rate and location, and guarantee at least 30 hours a week
- Keep your own passport. An employer has no right to hold it
- If you are exploited after arrival, you can report it to Employment New Zealand. A special visa exists to let exploited migrant workers leave a bad employer quickly
Related guides
- Getting Your Degree Recognised Abroad: WES, UK ENIC, ZAB and Other Credential Evaluations Explained
- How to Verify a Job Offer From Abroad: 12 Checks Before You Pay or Travel
- How to Write a CV and Cover Letter for Jobs Abroad: Country-by-Country Rules and Examples
Official sources
- Immigration New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa
- Immigration New Zealand: Green List occupations
- NZQA: recognition of overseas qualifications
- Employment New Zealand: migrant exploitation
Figures were checked in October 2026. Immigration settings in New Zealand change frequently, so confirm current rules and fees with Immigration New Zealand before you apply. This article is general information and not immigration advice.
