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The Accredited Employer Work Visa - Accredited Employer NZ Opportunities
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is one of the primary pathways for skilled overseas workers to come and work in New Zealand. This visa allows workers to take on jobs in New Zealand with accredited employers who are eligible to hire them.
This pathway has helped countless workers come and improve New Zealand with their essential skills, and if you meet the requirements, it may be the perfect opportunity for you to live and work in New Zealand.
What Is the Accredited Employer Work Visa? – The NZ Accreditation Process
The AEWV is a job-based temporary work visa that serves as one of New Zealand’s prominent work visa options. It is specifically designed to fill skill shortages, allowing overseas workers to fill jobs that New Zealanders currently are not able to. Accredited employers can connect with promising overseas workers and potentially find highly skilled employees to work in NZ.
Accredited Employer Work Visas are being granted for five-year stays, offering workers stability during their time in New Zealand.
The AEWV process involves three key steps:
- Employer Accreditation. Before a NZ employer can hire a migrant worker with the AEWV, they must become accredited and provide accurate information regarding their company and the listed role that needs to be filled. This will ensure that the employer meets all the specific standards and obligations for accredited employers, including providing genuine job offers to eligible candidates and supporting the rights of migrant workers. It is extremely important to know that not just any employer can hire workers with the AEWV, and if you are an employer, you must become accredited before extending any job offers with this visa.
- Job Check. After an employer gains accreditation, they must then undergo a job check. This is where the job offer is officially assessed to see that it meets New Zealand’s employment standards, such as minimum wage requirements. This will verify that the offered job is a genuine position, and that the employer has truly tried to fill the role with a local New Zealand worker before seeking overseas help.
- Migrant Check. The ultimate step in the process is to ensure the overseas worker applying for the AEWV is eligible for the visa and fit for the job. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will assess their qualifications, work experience and other pertinent credentials. The migrant will also need to meet all other important requirements before they apply, such as being in good health and having good character. INZ manages visa applications and will ensure everything is in order before a migrant is granted a visa.
The Key Requirements for The Accredited Employer Work Visa - Employer Accreditation and Worker Criteria
For the AEWV visa application to be successful, both the NZ employer and the potential overseas employee must meet these specific requirements
- Median Wage. The applicant must be paid at least the New Zealand median wage. However, there may be exceptions to this rule if the worker works for a certain industry sector, such as care workforce, hospitality, tourism, and transport. In these sectors, lower wages may be permissible.
- Employee Agreement. The employment agreement must clearly outline the job role, salary, and maximum hours to be worked every week. This is essential, as INZ will use it to determine if the hourly pay rate meets the median wage requirements.
- No 90-Day Trial Clause. Due to multiple cases of migrant exploitation, employment agreements for AEWV holders can no longer include a 90-day trial clause as of October 2023. While it is possible that this may be reinstated for other workers, it is expected that AEWV holders will keep this protection.
How Can Our Immigration Advisers at ASIC Help?
Being granted a work visa can change your life for the better, but the application process can be confusing for NZ employers and employees. Working with an experienced immigration adviser or consultant can streamline the process, improve chances of success and clear up confusion for everyone involved.
Every visa case is unique. Therefore, we at Auckland South Immigration Consultants commit ourselves to personalised support and expert assistance so that we can meet your requirements. We work closely with our clients to ensure we always stay on the same page, and we strongly encourage you to mention any concerns or questions you have. We know that the visa process can be stressful, especially regarding how drastically a visa can improve your life. Therefore, we intend to support you every step of the way.
If you are interested in other visa pathways, such as a visitor visa, student visa or residence visa, our team will be happy to help.