Work visas
From job offer to a well-prepared application: the AEWV, employer accreditation and job checks, managed with care at every stage.
Work visas
Most work routes start with a job offer from a New Zealand employer. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) runs in stages: the employer holds accreditation, the role passes a job check, and then your visa application is assessed. We work with you and, where needed, your employer so that each stage is prepared correctly from the outset.
How we help
- An honest assessment of whether the role and your background fit the current settings
- Employer accreditation and job checks, handled with your employer
- A documents checklist matched to your situation
- Preparation and lodgement of the application, with updates at each stage
Typically involved
- A job offer from a New Zealand employer
- Evidence of qualifications and work experience
- Identity, health and character documents
- Employer accreditation and job check steps
Requirements at a glance
Key criteria
- Current offer of full-time work (at least 30 hours a week) from an accredited employer, for a role with an approved job check
- Skills: at least 2 years of relevant job experience OR a qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF)
- Pay: average guaranteed pay per hour in the pay period must be at or above the minimum pay threshold; since 10 March 2025 there is no general median-wage requirement, but employers must pay the New Zealand market rate (on par with NZ counterparts) and at least the NZ minimum wage
- English language requirement applies to ANZSCO/NOL skill level 3-5 roles
- Health: chest X-ray if staying more than 6 months and from a high TB-incidence country
- Character: police certificates if aged 17+ and total intended NZ stay is 24 months or more
Evidence commonly needed
- Job offer / employment agreement for full-time work (30+ hours a week) from an accredited employer with an approved job check
- Evidence of 2+ years relevant work experience or an NZQCF level 4+ qualification
- Evidence of meeting the English language requirement (ANZSCO/NOL skill level 3-5 roles)
- Chest X-ray certificate (if staying over 6 months and from a high TB-incidence country)
- Police certificates (if 17 or older and total NZ stay will be 24 months or more)
AEWV visa application (applicant)
Immigration New Zealand’s published settings as at July 2026, summarised for orientation only. Settings and fees change: always check the official Work visas (AEWV) page, or confirm the current position at your consultation.
Please note: visa categories and settings change, sometimes at short notice. Information published online, including on this site, is general information only, not immigration advice. Your consultation is where we assess your individual circumstances against the current rules.
Start with a conversation, not a commitment
Tell Sakshi which pathway you’re considering and where your plans currently stand. Your first phone consultation is free, with the practice behind 7,000+ successful visa outcomes since 2018.