The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a temporary visa which gives individuals the right to live and work in New Zealand for up to five years.
To be eligible, applicants must have a job offer from an accredited employer for at least 30 hours per week. This visa is a potential pathway to long-term residence in New Zealand and allows holders who meet the minimum income requirement to sponsor visas for their partner and children.
Related news: AEWV updates
Who can apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
To be eligible for an AEWV, individuals must:
- Have received a job offer from an accredited employer in New Zealand for a minimum of 30 hours work per week
- Have the necessary qualifications to do the work they have been offered
- Hold any occupational registration required to do the work they have been offered, or hold official confirmation that they are eligible to be registered
- Meet New Zealand’s standard good character and health requirements for visa applicants
- If they have held an AEWV previously, have spent the required time outside New Zealand (in most cases, 12 months) to meet ‘maximum continuous stay’ rules
Important: the AEWV rules have changed several times since 2023. The most recent changes took effect on 10 March 2025 (median wage requirement removed, 2 years’ experience) and 9 March 2026 (new median wage of NZD $35.00 an hour and the National Occupation List). The information below is current as of October 2026.
What does an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) offer?
Individuals granted an AEWV are permitted to:
- Work for an accredited employer in New Zealand, providing they do so for at least 30 hours per week
- Undertake study, either as part of their employment or for up to three months a year if unrelated to their employment
- Apply for New Zealand residence visas such as the Straight to Residence Visa or Work to Residence Visa, provided they are eligible
- Use skilled work experience they have gained in New Zealand towards their points total for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Use their visa as a basis for an application for a work or visitor visa for their partner, or a student or visitor visa for their children
An AEWV may be the most appropriate alternative option for individuals who were previously eligible for the now-closed Talent Work Visa (Accredited Employer) or Long Term Skill Shortage List Resident Visa.
How do I apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
All applicants for an AEWV must first ensure that they have a written job offer from an employer who has been recognised as an accredited employer in New Zealand. This job offer must be included with the application and should include details of the role, a full job description and a contract or other formal employment agreement.
Accredited employers are required to demonstrate that the job they are offering has been advertised in New Zealand, and that there is nobody suitable in New Zealand available to take the job instead.
In addition, applicants should expect to provide:
- proof of their identity
- police certificates from any country they are a citizen of, or that they have spent more than five years in since they turned 17
- in some circumstances, proof of good health or their ‘genuine intention’ to meet the conditions of an AEWV
The visa application charge is NZD $1,540 (application fee plus immigration levy) for most applicants. Some nationalities pay a different amount depending on where the application is made.
Processing times change often and depend on how complete your application is. We check the current timeframes for you when we prepare your application.
Key AEWV requirements in 2026
- Pay: since 10 March 2025 there is no general median wage requirement. Your employer must pay at least the market rate for the job, and never less than the minimum wage.
- Experience: for roles that need experience, you generally need at least 2 years of relevant work experience (reduced from 3 years).
- Job Check: your employer must pass a Job Check for each role (fee NZD $735) and show they genuinely tried to recruit New Zealanders first. For skill level 4 and 5 roles this includes engaging with Work and Income.
- Employer accreditation: Standard accreditation (up to 5 migrant workers at a time) costs NZD $775, High-volume (6 or more) NZD $1,280 and Triangular employer NZD $4,060.
- National Occupation List: from 9 March 2026 skill levels are assessed using the National Occupation List, which is replacing ANZSCO. 47 more occupations are now treated as skill level 1 to 3.
- Partners: partners of AEWV holders in skill level 1 to 3 roles paid at least NZD $28.00 an hour can get an open work visa. For skill level 4 and 5 roles, the AEWV holder must earn at least NZD $52.50 an hour, or work in a Green List role paid at least NZD $35.00 an hour, or an eligible transport or care role.
- Seasonal work: since 8 December 2025 the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa are available for seasonal roles with accredited employers.
What are the ‘maximum continuous stay’ rules?
New Zealand authorities introduced new rules on 27 November 2023 for all holders of an Accredited Employer Work Visa. These limit the amount of time that AEWV holders can stay in New Zealand without leaving the country and spending a minimum amount of time outside New Zealand, after which they will be able to apply for a new AEWV if eligible.
The maximum continuous stay on an AEWV is 5 years if your role is skill level 1 to 3, you are paid at least NZD $52.50 an hour (1.5 times the median wage), your role is on the Green List, or you are in an eligible transport or care role at the required pay rate. For other skill level 4 and 5 roles the maximum is 3 years (increased from 2 years in March 2025).
Your maximum continuous stay is worked out from all the AEWVs you have held in a row, so it is worth checking your dates before you apply for a new visa or change roles.
Once an AEWV holder has reached their maximum continuous stay, they will usually have to spend at least 12 months outside New Zealand before they can return on another AEWV. Some sector agreements and seasonal visas have their own rules, so talk to us about your situation.
