Becoming An Accredited Employer In New Zealand: Benefits And Requirements

If you are a New Zealand business owner, you may be interested in becoming an NZ-accredited employer. These kinds of businesses can sponsor skilled migrant workers to come and work for them in New Zealand. This can be a great way to attract and retain talented employees who give your business a competitive edge.

Of course, your business must meet a few requirements before you can apply to become an accredited employer. You’ll have to meet this criteria, pay a fee and apply for the status.

What Is An Accredited Employer?

An NZ-accredited employer is a business accredited by Immigration New Zealand and is allowed to employ workers with an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). It’s a smart way for employers to search for and hire even more skilled workers. 

Becoming accredited is especially important because the Essential Skills work visa category closed in 2022 and was replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Companies that employed Essential Skills workers needed to apply for accreditation if they wanted to keep those workers employed. 

There are several levels of accreditation, and which level you need will depend on your business type. The four levels for NZ accredited employers are:

• Standard Accreditation. This is for standard businesses that wish to hire up to 5 migrants.
• High-Volume Accreditation. This is also for standard businesses, but these businesses wish to hire 6 or more migrant workers.
• Franchisee Accreditation. This level is for businesses that are part of a larger franchise. This accreditation does not limit how many migrants you can hire.
• Controlling Third Party Accreditation. This level is for businesses that place migrants with third parties while still being the direct employer. This level also does not limit the number of migrants you can hire. 

There are several benefits to becoming an accredited employer. New Zealand businesses that wish to grow their company and become more successful may want to become an NZ-accredited employer because:

• It Gives You Access To A Much Wider Pool Of Talent. Skilled migrant workers are more likely to consider working for an accredited employer, as they know that they will be able to work legally in New Zealand and that they’ll be treated fairly. This gives you access to a much wider pool of talent and, thus, more options when searching for the best workers for your business. This is a very important and advantageous benefit for New Zealand businesses that are looking to expand their companies and who need more employees to support their work. 
• It Will Improve Your Company’s Reputation. Becoming an accredited employer shows that your business is committed to employing and supporting skilled migrant workers. This can improve your company’s reputation and give you more attention from the general public, which can attract even more customers.
• It Can Reduce Recruitment Costs. NZ-accredited employers are more likely to have their applications for skilled migrant workers approved, which means that you will save money on recruitment costs. Making smart financial decisions should always be one of your top priorities as a company.

How A Business Can Become An Accredited Employer

There are a number of requirements that businesses must meet to become accredited employers. First of all, only businesses that are genuine New Zealand businesses can apply for accreditation. Your company must be a real business operating legally under New Zealand’s laws. 

You must also meet a few requirements to apply to be an NZ-accredited employer.

If you’re a standard business, you must meet at least one of these criteria:

• You’ve not made a loss in the last 2 years.
• You’ve had a positive cash flow for 6 months.
• You have enough capital or investments to remain viable.
• You have a 2-year plan to stay viable.
• Your business complies with NZ’s immigration laws and employment and business standards.

If your business is a franchise, you must meet at least one of these criteria:

• You’ve been trading as a franchise for a minimum of 12 months
• You have at least 12 months of experience with a similar business that deals with the same goods and services.

If you’re placing migrants with a third party:

• You have a history of placing staff with New Zealand parties for at least the last twelve months. Of these staff, at least 15% must be NZ residents, and they must be given at least 30 work hours a week.

Whom To Call If You Need Assistance

Navigating the world of immigration law and accreditation requirements can be very confusing, so we at Auckland South Immigration Consultants are here to help. You can visit our site to learn even more about your opportunities and what we can do for you.

For direct assistance with your situation, you can also contact us by calling us on +64 9 279 7283 or by using our form on our contact page.

Expand your business and make the most of your opportunities with Auckland South Immigration Consultants.