The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a new work visa framework introduced by the New Zealand Immigration in 2019.
AEWV replaces the previous six work visas with a simplified process for quick application approval. This system is designed to make the employer assessment for skilled residence applications faster and more convenient in the future.
Under the AEWV system, employers must obtain the accredited employer status to hire overseas immigrants and sponsor them for a work visa.
This new system aims to support an economy less reliant on low-wage temporary workers, better address productivity, skills, and infrastructure challenges, and raise the skill levels of immigrants, making it easier for businesses and regions to fill genuine skill shortages.
The process for applying for an employer-sponsored work visa involves three steps:
- Employer to apply and become the Accredited Employer
- Employer to apply for Job Check
- Individual to apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa
Step 1: Becoming Accredited Employer
Employers can apply for one of the four categories: Standard accreditation, High-volume accreditation, Franchisee Accreditation, and Controlling third-party accreditation.
Most employers choose to apply for Standard Accreditation (able to support five or fewer employees) or High-volume Accreditation (able to support more than five employees) based on the number of employees they need to sponsor.
Basic requirements for employer accreditation include:
- Genuine business
- Sound financial position
- Minimize the risk of exploitation
- Compliance with immigration and employment law
If you are interested in Accredited Employer, PRESS HERE to fill in the evaluation form, and we will contact you to provide the free evaluation.
Step Two: Job Check Application
Employers apply for a Job Check, which give the employer the “quota” to support overseas immigrations.
- Advertise the job in the labour market and prove the inability to find a suitable local candidate (Note: Positions on the Green List and those with double the NZ median wage are exempt from this requirement).
- Provide a complete employment contract and job description.
- Ensure that the content of advertisements and employment contracts meets the immigration requirements.
Step Three: apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa
- After Job Check approval, the employer receives a token to issue to the employee they want to sponsor.
- Employees must meet the educational and work experience requirements of the Job Check.
- Employees must have good health and conduct.
This process is structured to ensure that employers meet certain criteria, jobs are genuine and advertised appropriately, and employees possess the required qualifications and characteristics.
If you are interested in Accredited Employer Work Visa, PRESS HERE to fill in the evaluation form, and we will contact you to provide the free evaluation.