The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand's main work visa for skilled migrants. To qualify, you need a job offer from an accredited employer in a role that has passed a Job Check. The AEWV costs from NZ$1,540 to apply — a NZ$480 application fee plus a NZ$1,060 immigration levy — lets you stay for up to 5 years (3 years if your job is skill level 4 or 5). The job must be at least 30 hours a week and pay at least the New Zealand market rate for the role. The median wage of NZ$35.00/hour no longer sets AEWV pay, but it still decides whether you can bring your partner and whether your job counts toward residence. See our AEWV wage rules guide.
INZ currently decides 80% of applications within 5.5 weeks.
2026 policy update: The immigration median wage rose to NZ$35.00/hour on 9 March 2026, which changes the pay needed to support a partner's visa and for residence. INZ also recognises 134 National Occupation List (NOL) occupations at skill levels 1–3 for AEWV job checks, 47 of them added in March 2026.
At a Glance: Key AEWV Numbers for 2026
| Requirement | Current Figure |
|---|---|
| Application fee | NZ$480 |
| Immigration levy | NZ$1,060 |
| Total migrant cost | NZ$1,540 |
| Pay requirement | At least the market rate for the job |
| Minimum hours | 30 hours a week |
| Employer standard accreditation | NZ$775 |
| Employer high-volume accreditation | NZ$1,280 |
| Job Check fee | NZ$735 |
| Maximum stay | 5 years (3 years for skill level 4–5 jobs) |
| Processing time | 80% within 5.5 weeks |
| Partner work visa | Yes, if you earn NZ$28/hour+ in a skill level 1–3 job (higher for level 4–5) |
| Pathway to residence | Yes — after 2 years (Skilled Migrant) or direct (Green List Tier 1) |
The Three-Stage AEWV Process
The AEWV requires employer involvement before the migrant can apply. The three stages are sequential — you cannot skip ahead.
Stage 1: Employer Accreditation
Before hiring any migrant worker, the employer must be accredited by Immigration New Zealand.
Types of accreditation:
| Type | Who it's for | Annual migrant limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Most employers | Up to 5 | NZ$775 |
| High-Volume | Larger employers | 6+ | NZ$1,280 |
| Triangular employment | Labour-hire / placement | Varies | NZ$4,060 |
What INZ checks:
- Genuine, operating NZ business
- No history of worker exploitation
- Good workplace practices and compliance
- Adequate HR systems (high-volume only)
Processing: 10–15 working days. Accreditation lasts 12 months for first-time applicants, 24 months on renewal.
If your employer isn't yet accredited, they can apply while you wait overseas — it doesn't block your offer but does delay the timeline.
Stage 2: Job Check
For each migrant role, the accredited employer must get the specific position approved. The Job Check confirms:
- The role is genuine, full-time (at least 30 hours a week) and pays at least the market rate for the job
- The employer genuinely advertised locally and couldn't find a suitable NZ candidate
- Employment terms are legal and meet NZ standards
Advertising requirements: Employers must advertise on a national job site such as Seek or Trade Me for at least 14 days for skill level 1–3 and NOL jobs, or 21 days for level 4–5 jobs, which also need good-faith engagement with Work and Income. Jobs on the Green List that meet its requirements, or paying at least NZ$70/hour, don't need advertising.
Pay is checked against the market rate, which is the range a New Zealander would be paid for the same work, not the median wage. INZ approves a pay range at the Job Check and confirms the actual rate when you apply. Paying at least NZ$28/hour in a skill level 1–3 role also lets the worker support a partner's visa later. See how INZ calculates AEWV pay.
Job Check fee: NZ$735. A successful Job Check generates a Job Token — a unique code you use in your visa application. Tokens are valid for 6 months.
Stage 3: Migrant Application
With the Job Token in hand, you apply for the AEWV itself — a NZ$480 application fee plus a NZ$1,060 immigration levy (NZ$1,540 total).
What you need:
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid 6+ months beyond intended stay |
| Job Token | From approved Job Check |
| Employment offer letter | Must match the Job Check |
| Qualifications evidence | Degrees, diplomas, trade certs |
| Work experience evidence | References, payslips, tax records |
| Police certificate(s) | If you are 17+ and your total time in NZ will reach 24 months: your country of citizenship and every country you lived in for 5+ years since 17 |
| Medical certificate | Chest X-ray for stays over 6 months (unless from a low-TB country); full medical for stays over 12 months |
| English language evidence | For skill level 3–5 jobs: IELTS 4 or equivalent, unless exempt. See English tests |
AEWV Conditions and Rights
Once granted, your AEWV:
- Ties you to the named employer, job and location; you can't work a second job
- May let your partner get a work visa, depending on your job and pay (see partner visas)
- Lets you support visitor visas for your partner and children and student visas for dependent children
- Gives you publicly funded healthcare only if your visa(s) let you stay 2 years or more. See public health eligibility
Changing Employers on an AEWV
To change employer, job or location, apply for a Job Change. The new employer must be accredited and have an approved job check for your role. Wait for approval before you start. See changing jobs on an AEWV.
Where an adviser helps: the AEWV is only as secure as your employer's accreditation and your job check. If your hours are cut, you're asked to do a different job, or your employer loses accreditation, a licensed adviser can tell you whether you need a Job Change, a new visa or another route before you breach your conditions.
Total Cost Summary
| Who pays | Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Standard accreditation | NZ$775 |
| Employer | Job Check | NZ$735 |
| Migrant | AEWV application fee | NZ$480 |
| Migrant | AEWV immigration levy | NZ$1,060 |
| Migrant | Medical examination | NZ$350–600 |
| Migrant | Police certificate (NZ) | Free–NZ$45 |
| Migrant | Police certificate (overseas) | Varies by country |
| Migrant total | ~NZ$2,000–2,300 | |
| Employer total | ~NZ$1,510 |
See the full NZ immigration fee schedule for all government fees.
Pathway to Residence
The AEWV is explicitly designed as a stepping-stone to residence:
Option 1: Skilled Migrant Category
Migrants in skilled jobs (ANZSCO skill level 1–3, or level 4–5 at higher pay) can apply for Skilled Migrant Category residence if they're 55 or younger. Since 24 August 2026 there are three pathways:
- Points-based: 6 points from qualification, registration or income, plus NZ skilled work experience
- Skilled Work Experience: 3 years' relevant experience plus 2 years' skilled NZ work, paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold
- Trades and Technician: a level 4+ qualification, 2.5 years' post-qualification experience plus 1.5 years' skilled NZ work
The SMC uses ANZSCO, not the National Occupation List.
Option 2: Green List Straight to Residence (Tier 1)
Certain high-demand occupations (doctors, engineers, some nurses) can apply for residence directly without working for 2 years first. This is the fastest residence pathway for AEWV holders.
Option 3: Green List Work to Residence (Tier 2, 24 months)
Other Green List roles require 24 months on the job before a residence application, but once completed, the residence process is streamlined.
Common AEWV Problems — and How to Solve Them
"My employer's accreditation was declined"
Usually happens because: evidence of exploitative practices in the past, business can't demonstrate genuine NZ operations, or inadequate HR systems (for high-volume). An immigration adviser can review the decline reason and advise on how to re-apply.
"The Job Check failed — pay is below the market rate"
INZ wasn't satisfied the pay matches what a New Zealander would earn for the same work. Options: (1) raise the offer to within the market range, which may mean re-advertising if it moves outside the advertised range, (2) give better evidence of how the rate was set, such as industry pay data or what New Zealand staff in the role earn, or (3) check the hourly calculation. For salaries, INZ divides by the maximum contracted hours.
"My Job Token expired before I could apply"
Job Tokens last 6 months from Job Check approval. If yours has expired, the employer needs to submit a new Job Check (another NZ$735). Avoid delays in gathering medical and police certificate documents to prevent this.
"My application has been pending for more than 35 working days"
You can contact INZ and ask for an update. Complex cases (health issues, character concerns, incomplete documents) take longer. See visa processing delays for escalation steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for an AEWV before leaving my home country?
Yes. AEWV applications can be lodged onshore or offshore. Most people apply offshore before travelling to NZ.
Does the AEWV allow me to study?
Yes, for short courses. You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period, plus any study your job requires. Longer study needs a student visa or a change to your conditions.
What happens if I'm made redundant while on an AEWV?
Your AEWV only lets you work for the employer, in the job and location on your visa, so you can't simply start another job. To keep working, you need a new job with an accredited employer that has an approved Job Check, then you apply for a Job Change, a variation of conditions or a new visa. Get advice quickly. There is no automatic grace period for finding new work.
Can my children attend school on an AEWV?
Children can attend school if they hold the right visa. AEWV holders in skill level 1–3 jobs can usually support visas for their dependent children. Those in level 4–5 jobs generally can't, so children would need a visa in their own right.
Is there an age limit for the AEWV?
No specific age limit applies to the AEWV itself, though health and character requirements apply to all applicants.
Can an AEWV job be part-time?
No. The job offer must be for at least 30 hours of work a week. Pay is assessed as an hourly rate against the market rate for the role. See how INZ calculates AEWV pay.
Getting help
Many AEWV applications with an experienced accredited employer are straightforward. A licensed immigration adviser helps with skills evidence, job changes, partner visas and planning residence. If your employer loses accreditation, you lose your job, or INZ declines, talk to an adviser or immigration lawyer about your options.
Tell us your situation and we'll introduce you to a licensed adviser or immigration lawyer. It's free to ask.