Accredited Employer Work Visa, explained

What the AEWV is

The Accredited Employer Work Visa is a temporary work visa for people who have a genuine job offer from a New Zealand employer that is accredited by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). It is employer-linked, which means your visa conditions are usually tied to a specific employer, role and location.

The AEWV is not a residence visa by itself. It gives you permission to work in New Zealand under the conditions approved by INZ. For some people, it becomes part of a bigger plan: work in New Zealand first, then assess whether a residence pathway is available through the Green List, Skilled Migrant Category or another route.

In simple terms, the AEWV process has three main layers:

- **Employer accreditation** — the employer must be approved to hire migrants under the AEWV system. - **Job check** — the specific job must meet INZ’s requirements, including pay and job conditions. - **Migrant visa application** — you must meet the personal requirements for the visa, such as identity, health, character, qualifications or experience where relevant.

Because AEWV rules and settings change regularly, treat this page as general information only. If you want to understand whether your offer is likely to work, start with Yimin’s [free eligibility checker](/eligibility-checker/) and then confirm your situation with a licensed immigration adviser.

Accredited employers and job checks

For an AEWV, the employer must be accredited with INZ before they can support your visa application. Accreditation is INZ’s way of checking that the employer meets certain standards, understands their responsibilities and is allowed to hire migrant workers under the scheme.

After accreditation, the employer generally needs a job check for the specific role. The job check looks at whether the role, pay, hours, location and employment terms meet immigration requirements. Depending on the role and current policy settings, the employer may also need to show that they have tested the local labour market or that the role falls into an exempt or shortage category.

Once a job check is approved, the employer can normally send you a job token or invitation so you can apply for the visa. This token links your visa application to that approved job. You should check that the job details in your offer match what is being used for the visa application — including title, duties, pay rate, hours and work location.

A common misunderstanding is that any New Zealand job offer is enough. It is not. For AEWV purposes, the employer, the job and you as the applicant all need to meet the relevant requirements. If you are unsure whether the employer is accredited or whether the job check is suitable, a licensed adviser can verify this before you spend money or make major plans.

The median-wage requirement

Pay is a key part of the AEWV system. INZ uses wage and salary settings to decide whether a role can support a visa, how long a visa may be granted for, and whether the role may connect to future residence options. These settings can include a median-wage check, occupation-specific thresholds, sector rules or exemptions.

The exact wage figures and rules change over time, so it is safer to focus on the principle: **your offered pay must meet the current immigration requirement for your role at the time you apply**. Some roles may need to be paid at or above the relevant threshold. Some sectors may have special rules. Some residence pathways also have their own pay requirements, which may be different from the temporary work visa requirement.

You can read more in our plain-English guide to the [AEWV median-wage requirement](/aewv-median-wage-explained/). Before relying on any number, confirm the current rate with INZ or a licensed adviser, because policy settings can change and the timing of your application matters.

Also remember that immigration pay requirements are not only about the headline salary. INZ may look at hours, whether the pay is hourly or salaried, whether the employment agreement is genuine, and whether deductions or unpaid work affect the real rate. If the pay is borderline, irregular or hard to prove, get professional advice before applying.

From job offer to visa

The AEWV journey usually starts with a written job offer and employment agreement from an accredited employer. Your employer handles the accreditation and job check parts. You handle the migrant visa application, although many applicants choose to use a licensed immigration adviser or immigration lawyer for support.

A typical pathway looks like this:

1. **Employer accreditation** — the employer is approved by INZ to hire migrant workers. 2. **Job check** — the employer gets INZ approval for the specific role. 3. **Job token or invitation** — the employer sends you the link or token for your visa application. 4. **Your visa application** — you provide identity documents, employment details, qualifications or experience evidence, and health and character documents if required. 5. **INZ assessment** — INZ checks the employer, job and applicant requirements before making a decision.

Your documents matter. Depending on your situation, you may need a passport, employment agreement, job description, qualification records, evidence of work experience, police certificates, medical checks, translations, and proof of professional registration if your occupation requires it in New Zealand.

If your occupation is regulated — for example, some health, education, engineering or trades roles — you may need New Zealand registration or recognition before you can work lawfully. Nurses, for example, often need to think about registration, English language evidence and immigration together. If you are in healthcare, see our guide to [New Zealand immigration for nurses](/nz-immigration-for-nurses/) as a starting point.

Do not resign, move countries or pay large non-refundable costs until you understand the immigration risk. A job offer is important, but it does not guarantee visa approval.

Moving from AEWV toward residence

Many people use the AEWV as a stepping stone, but it is important to be realistic: **an AEWV does not automatically lead to residence**. Your residence options depend on your occupation, pay, qualifications, experience, age, English ability, health, character and whether your role fits a current residence pathway.

Common pathways that may be relevant include:

- **Green List Straight to Residence** — for some high-demand roles where eligible applicants may be able to apply for residence without first working in New Zealand for a long period. - **Green List Work to Residence** — for certain roles where you may need to work in an eligible job for a required period before applying. - **Skilled Migrant Category** — a points-based residence route for skilled workers who meet the current criteria. - **Other family or partnership pathways** — if you have an eligible partner who is a New Zealand citizen, resident or qualifying visa holder.

If your long-term goal is residence, plan before you accept a role. The job title alone is not enough. INZ may look at the actual duties, pay, qualifications, registration and whether your employment matches the immigration definition for that pathway.

Yimin has a dedicated guide on [transferring to residence from AEWV](/transferring-to-residence-from-aewv/). Use it to understand the main routes, then speak with a licensed adviser to confirm whether your current or proposed job can support your longer-term plan.

Risks and common mistakes

The AEWV process is structured, but mistakes are common. Some are small and fixable; others can lead to delays, visa decline, loss of time or serious stress for you and your family.

Watch out for these issues:

- **Assuming any job offer is enough** — the employer must be accredited and the job must meet AEWV requirements. - **Not checking the pay threshold** — wage rules can change and may differ by role, sector or pathway. - **Mismatched documents** — your employment agreement, job description and visa application should be consistent. - **Weak evidence of experience** — if your role requires relevant work experience, provide clear, verifiable proof. - **Ignoring occupational registration** — some jobs require New Zealand registration before you can work. - **Changing employer, role or location without checking visa conditions** — AEWV conditions are often specific, and changes may require a new visa or variation. - **Using unlicensed immigration agents** — only licensed immigration advisers or lawyers can provide personalised immigration advice in New Zealand, unless an exemption applies.

Another risk is planning only for the work visa and not for the bigger picture. For example, a role may be good enough for temporary work but not ideal for residence. Or it may support residence only if your pay, duties or registration meet a specific threshold later.

If something feels unclear, pause and check before applying. It is usually easier to fix a strategy before lodgement than after INZ has concerns.

Check your eligibility free

Yimin’s free eligibility check is designed to help you understand your likely direction before you commit to a full immigration consultation. It is not a visa decision and it is not personalised immigration advice, but it can help you organise the key facts: your job offer, employer status, occupation, pay, qualifications, work experience and residence goals.

After you complete the check, we can help identify which pathway may be worth exploring and whether your case should be reviewed by an IAA-licensed immigration adviser or immigration lawyer. This is especially useful if you are comparing AEWV with study, partnership, Green List or Skilled Migrant options.

Start here: [Free eligibility check](/eligibility-checker/). It is free, independent and built to give you a clearer next step.

Talk to a licensed adviser

If you already have a New Zealand job offer, are close to applying, or want to understand whether your AEWV can lead to residence, it is worth speaking with a licensed professional. A licensed immigration adviser can confirm the current INZ requirements, review your documents, assess risk and advise on the best way to present your application.

Yimin is not a licensed immigration adviser and does not provide personalised immigration advice. We explain the process in plain English, help you understand the questions to ask, and connect you with trusted licensed advisers when professional advice is needed.

If you would like help with next steps, [book a free intro call](/contact/). We will help you understand what information to prepare and match you with a licensed adviser where appropriate.