New Zealand Announces Reforms to Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
New Zealand is set to revise its immigration policies to address the shortage of skilled labour. The government will lower the minimum work experience requirement for foreign skilled workers to two years.
Key changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) include:
- Removal of the median wage threshold.
- Reduction of experience requirements to two years.
- Introduction of new seasonal visa pathways to help employers address skill shortages.
These reforms will be rolled out in four stages starting January 2025.
Additionally, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is redesigning the Job Check process to streamline applications for low-risk employers and enhance processing efficiency. The updated Job Check procedure will take effect in July 2025.
Recent improvements include reducing the median processing time for Employer Accreditation from 62 days to just 14 days, with job check productivity doubling.
Elimination of Median Wage Requirement
New Zealand intends to eliminate wage thresholds for all AEWV and SPWV roles, with the median wage threshold scheduled for removal in March.
However, employers must continue to advertise positions and offer AEWV and SPWV employees wages that reflect the market rate for their role and location.
This update will not impact existing employment agreements, nor will it alter the wage requirements for AEWV or SPWV workers applying for residence permits.
New Earning Threshold
AEWV migrants must earn a minimum of NZ$55,844 annually to sponsor their children, in addition to meeting other eligibility criteria. This threshold has remained unchanged since 2019.
Lowered Experience Requirement for Migrants
The required work experience for migrants will be reduced from 3 years to 2 years.
New Pathways for Seasonal Workers
Starting November 2025, two new visa pathways for seasonal workers will be introduced:
- A 3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers.
- A 7-month single-entry visa for lower-skilled workers.
The current temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until the new options take effect.
Extended Visa Duration for ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 AEWV Holders
Based on feedback from consultations, the visa duration for AEWVs issued for jobs classified as skill levels 4 or 5 under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) will be extended to 3 years.
This change aligns with the maximum continuous stay permitted for these workers, replacing the previous 2-year visa with an optional 1-year extension. Workers currently holding 2-year visas can apply for an additional 1-year AEWV, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
Interim Visas
Starting April 2025, interim work rights will be expanded to include AEWV applicants transitioning from any work visa type or from a student visa that permits work during term time. This change aims to help migrants retain employment while their visa applications are being processed.
Revised Work and Income Engagement Requirement
The requirement for employers to engage with Work and Income will shift to a declaration-based process. Employers must declare that they have made genuine efforts to advertise ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 positions through Work and Income and have interviewed potentially suitable candidates.
Additionally, the mandatory 21-day engagement period with Work and Income will no longer apply.
