Country guide · New Zealand
Working in New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa
New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system means only employers who've been through an accreditation process can hire internationally — which makes the offers more credible.
Last updated May 1, 2026
Quick facts
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Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Employer requirement
Must be accredited by Immigration NZ
Salary requirement
NZD median wage or higher (role-dependent)
Labour market test?
Yes — in most cases
Bring family?
Yes — with qualifying salary
Path to residence?
Yes — via Skilled Migrant Category
How the Accredited Employer Work Visa works
Only employers accredited by Immigration New Zealand can hire international workers under the AEWV. Accreditation comes in two levels — standard (up to 5 migrants) and high-volume (more than 5).
Your employer must check that no suitable New Zealand citizen or resident is available (the labour market test), unless your role is exempt (e.g., above the NZD median wage threshold for certain occupations).
Processing times have improved but can still take 4–8 weeks for the full visa. Your employer should be familiar with the process — if they're not, that's a warning sign.
Pathway to residence
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is the main pathway to New Zealand residence for skilled workers. It uses a points system based on skilled employment, qualifications, age, and time in NZ.
For healthcare, construction, and some engineering roles, the Straight-to-Residence (S2R) pathway offers direct permanent residency without going through a temporary work visa stage first.
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