Hiring someone from overseas on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has three INZ steps (accreditation, job check, the worker's visa), then your obligations as an employer once they start.
Checked with INZ on 29 October 2026.
Before you start: do you need a visa at all?
People who already have open work rights don't need you to be accredited: residents, citizens, Australians, and holders of partner, post-study or working holiday visas. Check their visa conditions with INZ's VisaView before they start.
The steps
| Step | Who | Typical time (most within) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Accreditation | You | 1 week |
| 2. Advertise (14 or 21 days) and, for skill level 4 and 5, engage with Work and Income | You | 2 to 3 weeks |
| 3. Job check | You | 1.5 weeks |
| 4. Job offer and job token to the worker | You | |
| 5. AEWV application | The worker | 5 weeks |
| 6. Arrival and onboarding | Both | First month |
- Get accredited. See employer accreditation.
- Advertise unless the job is exempt (Green List, NZ$70.00 an hour or more, or seasonal list). See job check guide.
- Apply for the job check. One job check can cover several identical positions.
- Offer the job: at least 30 hours a week, at least the market rate, matching the job check. Give the worker the job token.
- The worker applies for their AEWV, with skills evidence (usually 2 years' experience or a level 4+ qualification), English for skill level 3 to 5 jobs, and medicals or police certificates where needed.
Where an adviser helps: the steps are simple on paper, but a mismatch between the ad, the job check, the employment agreement and the worker's evidence is what turns a 6-week process into months. A licensed adviser can line them up from the start, especially for your first hire or for workers recruited from overseas.
Recruiting from overseas
- You can't charge the worker for the job or pass on recruitment, accreditation or job check costs, including through an agent.
- Check what any overseas agent charges workers. INZ declines AEWVs where money was offered or promised for a job.
- Some countries have their own exit rules for workers, such as the Philippines. See hiring from the Philippines.
Onboarding and your obligations
- Give the worker a written employment agreement matching the job check, and pay what you offered.
- Provide the required settlement information within their first month.
- Keep records: employment agreements, wage and time records, leave, PAYE, health and safety, recruitment.
- Keep the job as approved. If duties, hours, pay or location change, the worker may need a Job Change and you a new job check.
- Tell INZ if the worker stops working for you.
- Expect post-accreditation checks. See INZ compliance visits.
Supporting the worker's family and residence
Depending on the job and pay, AEWV holders can support visas for their partner and children. Many go on to residence through the Green List or Skilled Migrant Category, which also need an accredited employer. See Green List.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to hire someone on an AEWV?
Often 6 to 10 weeks from accreditation to visa, longer if you need to advertise for 21 days or the worker's documents take time.
Can I hire someone already in New Zealand on a different visa?
Yes, if they have open work rights, or by going through the job check so they can apply for an AEWV or a Job Change.
Who pays for the AEWV?
The worker usually pays their own visa fee; you pay accreditation and job check fees and can't pass them on. You can choose to pay the worker's visa costs.
Can a migrant work for me while their AEWV is processing?
Only if their current visa allows it.
What happens if my worker resigns?
Tell INZ. The worker needs a Job Change with another accredited employer, or another visa.
Getting help
Experienced employers often manage straightforward hires. A licensed immigration adviser helps with your first international hire, skill level 4 and 5 roles, groups of workers and anything that changes after the job check. If a worker has been charged fees or INZ raises compliance concerns, talk to an immigration lawyer or adviser.
Tell us about your business and we'll connect you with a licensed adviser or immigration lawyer. It's free to ask.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand, "Employer accreditation for the AEWV", "Applying for a job check: process steps", "Meeting your AEWV accredited employer requirements" and wait times (immigration.govt.nz), read 28–29 October 2026.