What is the New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand's primary route for non-New Zealand nationals to work for a specific employer. It is an employer-led, three-stage process: the employer must first be accredited by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), then submit a Job Check for the specific role, and finally, the candidate applies for the visa using a Job Token issued after the Job Check is approved. The visa is valid for up to 5 years, depending on skill level and pay rate. The AEWV does not directly lead to residence, but it is the main gateway to residence pathways, including the Green List and the Skilled Migrant Category.
Note: Information on this page is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
You must meet one requirement for the AEWV: a qualifying job offer that has passed Immigration New Zealand's (INZ) Job Check process. If an employer offers a role and the Job Check is approved, the role has already been verified against INZ's requirements. The employer handles the accreditation and Job Check stages.
You cannot apply for the AEWV without a Job Token — a unique link sent by the employer after INZ approves the Job Check for the specific role. A job token cannot be issued without you receiving a qualifying job offer. The employer must hold a current INZ accreditation (standard or high-volume).
For Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Skill Level 4 and 5 roles, English proficiency is also required. The job offer cannot be for horticultural crop work, foreign crew of fishing vessels, or self-employed work.
2026 salary requirements
Since March 2025, the AEWV has had no set salary threshold beyond New Zealand's minimum wage. However, the market rate remains the key benchmark for several visa conditions. If an employer offers a role knowing you need a visa, the salary will already be compliant — these figures are useful as a reference for understanding what your wage level unlocks.
How the system works: New Zealand uses the median wage and market rate as a sliding scale rather than a single pass/fail threshold. The more you earn relative to the median, the more visa rights you unlock. A worker at NZ$28/hour can support a partner's visa. A worker at NZ$35/hour can access residence pathways. A worker at NZ$70/hour is exempt from most restrictions entirely. This creates a practical incentive for both employers and candidates to target roles paying at or above the median.
What you need to apply
The employer handles the first two stages (accreditation and Job Check). You apply for the visa after receiving a Job Token from the employer. The items below cover the visa application stage — what you submit to INZ.
If you do not have any of the documents below, you can read the FAQs section below for further guidance.
What to expect, step by step
From accepted job offer to starting work in New Zealand typically takes 6–14 weeks. The timeline has three stages — employer accreditation (often already done), Job Check (1–3 weeks), and visa application (2–6 weeks). If the employer is already accredited, the effective timeline is 4–10 weeks.
Most common delay: Insufficient evidence of work experience. INZ explicitly states that a CV or resume alone is not sufficient. Employment certificates must be on employer letterhead, be independently verifiable, and show positions held, dates, and employer contact details. Reference letters must be supported by payslips or tax certificates. Gather this evidence early — obtaining employment records from previous employers in other countries can take weeks.
After offering you the role, the employer submits a Job Check to INZ for the specific position. INZ verifies the role meets NOL requirements, the pay rate is at least the market rate for the job, and the employer made genuine efforts to hire locally (unless exempt — roles paying 2× the median wage or on the Green List are exempt). Processing takes 1–3 weeks.
Once the Job Check is approved, the employer emails you a unique Job Token — a link that enables you to apply for the visa online. You cannot start the application without this link. The employer also provides the job offer, employment agreement, and job description at this point.
Apply online using the Job Token link. Upload your passport, signed job offer, employment agreement, work experience evidence, qualifications, police certificates (if required), and medical certificate (if required). Ensure all non-English documents include certified English translations.
INZ reviews the application. Current processing takes 2–6 weeks. INZ may request additional documents — including further evidence of English ability, medical examinations, or police certificates. Approval rate is approximately 91%.
On approval, you receive an eVisa. Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) within 24 hours before your journey. On arrival, you may need to show evidence of your job offer. The visa is tied to the specific employer, role, and location stated in the Job Check. You cannot work a second job.
Frequently asked questions
The AEWV is tied to the specific employer, role, and location in the Job Check. To change any of these, you must apply for a Job Change or Variation of Conditions. The new employer must also be accredited and submit their own Job Check. You cannot start work with a new employer until the change is approved. You cannot work a second job while on the AEWV — this is explicitly prohibited.
Your partner and children cannot be included in the AEWV application — they must apply for their own separate visas. Whether you can support their visa depends on your wage level. To support a partner for a work visa: NZ$28.00/hour (Skill Level 1–3 roles), NZ$35.00/hour (Green List roles), or NZ$52.50/hour (Skill Level 4–5 roles). To support a dependent child: gross annual income of approximately NZ$58,240 (80% of the median wage). If your income falls below these thresholds, your partner may only qualify for a visitor visa. These thresholds are assessed at the time your partner submits their visa application, not when your AEWV was granted. Learn more here.
Maximum continuous stay is 5 years for Skill Level 1–3 roles, or 3 years for Skill Level 4–5 roles (unless paid 1.5× the median wage or on the Green List). If the length of your visa is less than your maximum continuous stay, you can apply for further AEWVs without leaving. After reaching the maximum, you must leave New Zealand for at least 12 months before applying for another AEWV — unless you obtain residence in the meantime.
Budget NZ$1,000–NZ$2,000 for the candidate. The visa application fee is NZ$750. Add police certificate costs (vary by country), medical examination if required (~NZ$400–$600), and qualification assessment fees (NZQA IQA ~NZ$860 if required). The employer pays the accreditation fee (NZ$740–$1,220) and the Job Check fee. New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs — this is legally prohibited. Please be vigilant and scam-aware.
Not directly. The AEWV is a temporary work visa. However, it is the main gateway to residence through three pathways: the Green List Straight to Residence (if your role is Tier 1), the Green List Work to Residence (if your role is Tier 2 — after 24 months), or the Skilled Migrant Category (being restructured from August 2026). If you earn at least 2× the median wage (NZ$70.00/hour) and work for 2 years, you may also qualify for residence regardless of your occupation.
The Job Check is INZ's verification that the specific role meets immigration requirements — including occupation classification, pay rate, and local recruitment efforts. It is submitted by the employer, not the candidate. Without an approved Job Check, the employer cannot issue a Job Token, and without a Job Token, the candidate cannot apply. If your employer is already accredited, the Job Check is the main step between your job offer and your visa application.
For Skill Level 1–3 roles: no English requirement for the AEWV itself. For Skill Level 4–5 roles: English proficiency is required unless exempt — proved through citizenship, qualifications taught in English, or an approved test (results must be less than 2 years old). INZ may ask for additional English evidence during processing, regardless of skill level. For residence applications (Green List or Skilled Migrant Category): English proficiency is required for the applicant, partner, and dependent children aged 16 or older.
Evidence of at least 2 years of relevant work experience (equivalent full-time — does not need to be consecutive) may be required for AEWV. A CV or resume alone is not sufficient. Evidence must come from someone other than yourself and can include: employment certificates (on employer official letterhead, showing positions held, dates, employer address, and contact details), payslips, tax certificates, or reference letters supported by payslips or tax certificates. Evidence of hours worked must be provided. Country-specific requirements: Filipino applicants should include Social Security System (SSS) records, PhilHealth records, income tax returns, and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Overseas Employment Certificates if they have worked overseas. Brazilian applicants should provide their official work book. Eastern European applicants should provide their official workbook from that country.
A police certificate is required if aged 17 or older and the total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer (including time on previous visas). Must be from countries you are a citizen of and countries you have spent more than 5 years in since turning 17. Must be less than 6 months old at the time of application. From 8 December 2025, INZ no longer accepts a receipt showing a certificate has been applied for (except certificates from Fiji, Hong Kong, or Israel). For Filipino applicants, the acceptable certificate is the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance. Certificates not in English must include a certified English translation.
Job offer scams are common, particularly in India and South Asia. INZ will decline an application if it considers that money was offered or promised to the employer (or their agent) in exchange for a job offer. Before accepting any offer, verify the employer's accreditation on INZ's public Accredited Employer List and check the Immigration Stand-Down List. No legitimate New Zealand employer will charge you fees for a job or ask you to pay their recruitment costs — this is legally prohibited. Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in New Zealand, verified against the INZ-accredited employer register.
Find visa-sponsored jobs in New Zealand
You cannot apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa without a qualifying job offer. Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in New Zealand. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city, and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria and land your dream job in New Zealand.
Other visas you may qualify for
New Zealand's residence pathway for Tier 2 Green List occupations. Work for 24 months in a qualifying role, then apply for residence. Covers software engineers, construction managers, ICT specialists, trades, and education roles. Must be aged 55 or under.
New Zealand's direct residence visa for Tier 1 Green List occupations. No waiting period — apply for residence immediately with a qualifying job offer. Covers 200+ critical shortage roles. Must be aged 55 or under.