Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): a practical guide

What the AEWV is

The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand’s main temporary work visa. It is tied to one job with one accredited employer, so it is not a visa to come over and look for work.

Three things happen in order: the employer gets accredited, the employer passes a job check for the specific role, then the employer sends you a link and you apply. See how the employer side works.

What the job offer must include

The offer must be for at least 30 hours of work a week and pay at least the market rate for the job. The employment agreement cannot include a trial period, unlawful deductions or unfair bonding clauses.

Some work cannot be offered on an AEWV, such as planting, harvesting and packing crops in horticulture and viticulture, or self-employment. Seasonal crop work has its own visas. Browse current New Zealand jobs to see what accredited employers are hiring for.

Your experience or qualification

You need two years or more of relevant work experience, or a relevant qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework, in the same field as the job (a bachelor’s degree or higher can be in any field). The employer also has to be satisfied that you are suitably qualified.

For regulated work, occupational registration comes first: nurses with the Nursing Council, electricians with the Electrical Workers Registration Board, plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers with the PGDB, and some engineers through Engineering New Zealand.

English for skill level 3 to 5 roles

Since 1 June 2026, if the job is classed at skill level 3, 4 or 5, you must show you can speak and understand English, and test results must be no more than two years old. Jobs at skill levels 1 and 2 do not have this AEWV requirement, although an employer or registration board may still test your English. See INZ’s English notice and the current AEWV conditions.

Classification follows the occupation list INZ uses for the role, so ask the employer how the job was classified at the job check.

Pay, hours and your agreement

Check the wage rules for work visas for the role. Compare the hourly rate, guaranteed hours, overtime and any deductions in the written agreement, not a verbal promise. Your rights at work are the same as any New Zealand employee’s: Employment New Zealand explains minimum pay, holidays and leave.

Health checks and police certificates

Depending on your stay and where you have lived, INZ may ask for a chest X-ray or a full medical, and police certificates from your country of citizenship and other countries you have lived in. Read the police certificate rules before ordering anything, as certificates have validity periods.

Step by step

1. Find a role that matches your experience and is open to overseas applicants.
2. Send a tailored English CV with your references.
3. Interview, then get the offer and employment agreement in writing.
4. The employer completes accreditation and the job check.
5. You receive the link from the employer and apply online with your evidence.
6. INZ assesses your application and may ask for more information.
7. Once the visa is granted, read its conditions, then book travel and confirm your start date.

How long you can stay, and changing jobs

The total time on one or more AEWVs is up to five years for most jobs and three years for roles at skill level 4 or 5; after the maximum, you normally need to spend 12 months outside New Zealand. Details are on INZ’s stay limits page.

Your visa names your employer, job and region. A new employer or a big change to the job usually needs a variation of conditions or a new visa: check the rules on changing jobs first.

Bringing your partner and children

Partners and dependent children apply for their own visas, and the options depend on your job and pay. Check INZ’s family rules for AEWV holders for each person before you count on a second income or school place.

From AEWV to residence

An AEWV can be a first step, not a promise. Roles on the Green List can lead to residence directly (Tier 1) or after 24 months of work in the role (Tier 2). The Skilled Migrant Category awards points for qualifications, pay or registration and also has a skilled work experience pathway. Each has its own age, English and evidence rules.

Papers to prepare in your home country

Most delays come from evidence that is incomplete or does not match. Put your papers in order before the employer sends an application link, using your passport name throughout and explaining any change of name.

• Proof of work: references on company letterhead with your dates, weekly hours and duties, backed by contracts, payslips or tax records. Immigration New Zealand treats a CV as a summary, not as proof.
• Qualifications: the certificate and transcript under the exact name the institution used. Many overseas awards need an NZQA International Qualification Assessment for residence or registration; some are on NZQA's list of qualifications exempt from assessment.
• Registration: regulated work such as nursing, electrical, plumbing and gasfitting needs New Zealand occupational registration before you can do the job, which is a separate process from the visa.
• Police certificates: request them only when INZ or Home Affairs asks, and from every country the rules list for you. Follow INZ’s police certificate instructions.
• English: a recent accepted test result or evidence of a listed exemption, where the visa or the registration board requires one.
• Translations: documents not in English need a translation that meets INZ’s translation rules; you cannot translate your own papers.

Keep scanned copies in one folder with clear file names. It saves days when an employer, adviser or case officer asks for a document again.

Paid job offers and unlicensed advice

In New Zealand it is unlawful for an employer or recruiter to charge you for a job offer, and INZ declines an AEWV when money was offered or paid for one.

• Check that the business is an accredited employer and that the written offer matches the advert.
• Keep the employment agreement, messages and every receipt.
• Only licensed advisers (or people exempt by law) may give New Zealand immigration advice: see INZ’s advice page.
• Never pay through a link someone sends you out of the blue.

INZ’s scam guidance lists the warning signs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for an AEWV without a job offer?

No. You need an offer from an accredited employer who has passed a job check for the role and sent you the application link.

How much experience do I need?

Two years or more of relevant experience, or a relevant qualification at NZQCF level 4 or higher in the same field as the job.

Do I need an English test?

Yes for jobs at skill level 3 to 5, with results no more than two years old. Jobs at skill levels 1 and 2 do not have this AEWV requirement.

How long can I stay on an AEWV?

Up to five years in total for most jobs, or three years for skill level 4 and 5 roles, after which you normally spend 12 months outside New Zealand.

Can my partner work in New Zealand?

It depends on the partner visa they can get, which depends on your job and pay. Check INZ’s family rules for each person.

Can an employer charge me for the job?

No. Charging for a job offer is unlawful, and INZ declines an AEWV where money was paid or promised for one.