An accredited employer work visa (AEWV) is a type of work visa issued to foreign employees sponsored by an accredited employer.
You found the perfect employee overseas and are ready to hire-but don't pull the trigger without making sure you're accredited first.
In New Zealand, employers must gain accredited status from Immigration New Zealand before hiring overseas workers.
Once accredited, an employer can sponsor overseas employees for an accredited employer work visa. A temporary visa, the AEWV allows migrants to work in New Zealand for up to five years-but only for accredited employers.
The purpose of the accredited employer program is to ensure that only trusted, compliant employers can recruit international talent once they have shown that no New Zealand resident is able to take the job due to genuine skill or labour shortages. It also seeks to ensure that foreign employees enjoy the same workplace rights as New Zealanders.
What is an accredited employer?
An accredited employer is a business that has been officially approved by the government to hire migrant workers. Prospective applicants can check to see if an employer is listed on New Zealand's public accredited employer list, which is updated routinely.
Being accredited demonstrates that the employer meets compliance, financial stability, and employment standards outlined by the government. It also signals that they are committed to fair treatment, proper workplace conditions, and local labor market testing (when required).
Is becoming an accredited employer right for you?
Becoming an accredited employer opens up access to a wider global talent pool, giving you the ability to recruit skilled workers more easily from overseas, but it comes with a cost. Accreditation and renewal involve application fees that you need to factor into your hiring budget. In New Zealand, a standard accreditation (up to five migrant workers) costs NZD $775 (US$442), and high-volume accreditation (six or more) is NZD $1,280 (US$730), with similar fees for renewal.
Noncompliance with accreditation obligations is serious business, too. Falling short can mean losing your accreditation, being placed on a stand-down list, fines that start at NZD $1,000 (US$570), and facing visa revocations for your staff. But when businesses comply with applicable employment and immigration laws, accredited status can make your company attractive to global sources of talent.
That said, becoming an accredited employer does not give you carte blanche to hire foreign talent. Companies must document good faith efforts to hire New Zealanders first or risk losing their accredited status.
How to apply for accredited employer status
1. Meet eligibility requirements
Before you apply for an accredited employer status in New Zealand, you must:
- Have a legally registered business in good financial standing (one requirement is having positive cash flow for at least six months)
- Demonstrate compliance with employment laws, tax obligations, and immigration requirements
- Provide evidence of fair workplace practices (such as equal pay, safe conditions, and written employment agreements)
For a full list of eligibility requirements, check Immigration New Zealand.
2. Apply for accreditation
Once you've checked that you meet eligibility requirements, you can apply for accreditation online using Immigration New Zealand's RealMe portal. Fill out the application and pay the fee. Your application will either be accepted or declined in anywhere from two days to two weeks, on average. (If your application is declined by Immigration New Zealand, you can petition for the decision to be reconsidered or reapply with a new application.)
Accreditation does not in and of itself allow you to hire an overseas worker. You first must submit what's called a job check, which includes the title of the job you are hiring for, the job description, and the salary. In some cases, you will need to prove that you advertised the job in New Zealand and failed to find local talent.
3. Maintain accreditation
Your first employer accreditation lasts 12 months. Accreditation lapses after a year, so if you plan to continue hiring overseas talent, renew it before the expiration date. Most subsequent accreditations last for 24 months.
Note: Immigration authorities may audit or spot-check accredited employers to ensure that they are meeting their obligations, such as following New Zealand's labor laws. Immigration New Zealand states that "Post-accreditation checks can occur at any time. We aim to check about 16% of accredited employers each year."
How to offer an accredited employer work visa
Step 1: Employer offers the job
After you've secured accreditation, the next step is to provide a written job offer to your chosen candidate. This offer needs to be formal and detailed, including the role, responsibilities, salary, and employment terms. It must also align with labor market requirements set by immigration authorities.
You'll also need to confirm that the wage you're offering meets the minimum pay thresholds for the role's skill level and matches New Zealand market rates-a way to ensure that the position requires genuine skills and is fairly compensated.
Step 2: Employee applies for an AEWV
Once the job offer is in place, your candidate can apply for the accredited employer work visa using the job token you provide from your approved job check (see above). The application is submitted online, and your candidate will need to include their qualifications, work experience, proof of identity, and health and character documentation, along with your accreditation details and the formal job offer.
From there, Immigration New Zealand reviews their application to confirm the candidate meets eligibility requirements, like skill level, qualifications, and English-language ability (where required).
Note: Once your overseas employee arrives, they must only work in the role approved by the immigration authority.
Don't let visa-related bureaucracy slow you down
Hiring international talent and overwhelmed by the visa process? Pebl has you covered. With expertise in 185+ countries worldwide, we take the administrative load off your already busy to-do list.
From managing visa paperwork to onboarding employees compliantly and handling ongoing payroll and benefits, Pebl's Global Immigration service can simplify the entire process-so you can focus on building your team, not navigating red tape. Schedule a call with an expert to learn more.
This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided "as is," and no representations are made that the content is error-free.
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