The AEWV is the main temporary work visa in New Zealand. It is a new employer-led work visa process to be followed to hire migrant workers.
It 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 Online. Applicants submit applications and automated checks take place (for example, medical, character, Police checks) before the application is considered by an immigration officer.
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 28 March 2024 Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has approved 115,483 AEWV applications, and there are 33,977 accredited employers.
Accreditation process
Before employers can invite a worker to apply for an AEWV they must:
- apply to us for employer accreditation, and
- advertise the role if they need to, and
- apply for a Job Check.
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.
We constantly review and adjust our settings to ensure they are fit for purpose and strike the right balance between bringing in the migrants that New Zealand needs and protecting the integrity of the immigration system.
The accreditation process
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.
Meeting your AEWV accredited employer obligations
The 16% of post-accreditation checks we undertake is a combination of random selection, as well as:
- targeted checks on a sample from all accredited employer types
- checks on all franchisee and controlling third party business models, and
- checks on any businesses referred to us through a complaint or issue raised.
Post-accreditation checks are a routine process introduced as part of the new 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. There are penalties for employers who do not comply with employment or immigration laws.
As at 28 March 2024:
- INZ has undertaken 3,074 post-accreditation checks and an additional 666 are underway.
- the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has received 2,512 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 184 active investigations on accredited employers underway.
- 202 employers have had their accreditation revoked and 73 have had their accreditation suspended.
- 48 employers are under assessment to have their accreditation revoked and 1 employer is currently under assessment to have their accreditation suspended. Revocations and suspensions are due to a range of reasons, and a number are due to liquidation.
Revoke or suspend employer accreditation
An employer’s accreditation can be suspended if there is an active case to confirm whether the employer or their key people are compliant with immigration, employment or business standards that would prevent them from being accredited if proven. This includes formal investigations or verification and compliance activities.
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 AEWV replaces the previous Essential Skills Work Visa, where checks were done on the employer at the point when a migrant applied for a visa.
Most 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 — which INZ is a part of — actively monitors employers and takes action where there are concerns.
Non-compliance, stand-downs and permanent bans for accredited employers
Job Change process
AEWV holders can apply to vary their employer, job, location, under the Job Change application process. This allows AEWV migrants greater certainty, including if they lose their job.
AEWV processing
We have adjusted our Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) assessment approach. We make more requests for further information from employers to confirm:
- job vacancies are current
- vacancies are genuine, and
- whether employers can support the migrants they plan to hire.
As a result, there is an increase in our processing times for the employer accreditation and Job Check phases of the Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV).
Most applications are taking longer than 10 days to process at present. We recommend with the current processing times employers allow at least:
- 6 weeks to apply for an accreditation, and
- 6 weeks to apply for a Job Check.
We are working to improve the time it takes to process these.
Information on our current processing timeframes:
How long it takes to process an application
We continue to deliver improvements to the Immigration Online platform to:
- raise the user experience, and
- enable us to assess applications in a more efficient and timely way.
If an application has not yet been allocated for assessment, and there is a need for urgent allocation, employers can use the INZ escalation for urgent applications process to request that their application be prioritised, if necessary.
Independent review into AEWV
An independent review into the AEWV was announced by the Minister of Immigration in August 2023.
The findings of the review have now been announced by Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.
Review into the Accredited Employer Work Visa
