Our business is already accredited with Immigration NZ – do we need to reapply under the new system?

Yes, you do. Some employers accredited under the Talent (Accredited Employer) scheme are exempt from paying a fee when they apply to become an accredited employer under the new Accredited Employer Work Visa policy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employer Accreditation in 2024

Q: What has changed with Immigration New Zealand’s employer accreditation and work visa scheme?

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a new temporary work visa that Immigration New Zealand implemented on 4 July 2022. Since that date all employers in New Zealand who want to hire migrant workers must now be accredited and have completed the job check process before they can offer employment to a migrant worker who’s eligible for this new type of visa. Applications for employer accreditation under the previous policy closed on 3 July 2022 and applications for employer accreditation under the new policy opened on 23 May 2022.

Are you up to date on the current rules for Immigration NZ’s employer accreditation system?

Here’s what you need to know about the new employer accreditation requirements rolled out in April 2024.

What has changed with Immigration New Zealand’s employer accreditation and work visa scheme?

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a temporary work visa that Immigration New Zealand, implemented on 4 July 2022. Since that date all employers in New Zealand who want to hire migrant workers must be accredited and have completed the job check process before they can offer employment to a migrant worker who’s eligible for this new type of visa.

Applications for employer accreditation under the previous policy closed on 3 July 2022 and applications for employer accreditation under the new policy opened on 23 May 2022.

The accreditation process involves a three-check process. The process is employer-led, as opposed to the previous system that was instigated by the employee.

To hire migrant workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) the employer will need to:

Apply for accreditation (and be approved),
Apply for a job check to make sure the role they want to fill cannot be done by New Zealanders, and;
Request a migrant worker to apply for a visa. The migrant must have the skills and experience that match the requirements specified in the job check, as well and meeting the minimum skills threshold, among other criteria.

If your business needs input from skilled workers from overseas, you must be approved accreditation and a job check before you can hire migrants.

How long will the accreditation be valid for?

Initial accreditation lasts for 12 months before you need to renew it. Once you renew it will last for:

24 months for standard businesses, as long as it has not lapsed for 12 or more months.
12 months for employers placing migrants with controlling third parties.

When you renew, INZ may ask for evidence that you have completed certain activities that you committed to do during the previous accreditation period. Therefore, it’s important you ensure these have been completed before you submit your application for renewal.

What information does my business need to provide to INZ in our application for accreditation?

To employ migrants on the new Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWVs), all employers must meet the standard accreditation requirements.

These requirements are intended to ensure all employers hiring migrants meet minimum requirements to support and settle migrants, and to comply with employment and immigration laws.

At a high level, the criteria for standard accreditation include:

You need to be a viable, genuine business able to meet one of these financial requirements:

You have not made a loss over the last 2 years;
You have had a positive cash flow each month for the last 6 months;
You have enough capital or external investment for your business to remain viable;
You have a credible two-year plan to ensure your business remains viable.

You must also be compliant with New Zealand immigration law, employment, and business standards.

You and any key people in your organisation cannot be on the Labour Inspectorate stand-down list or permanently banned from hiring migrants – INZ will check this.

If you are a franchisee

Immigration has announced that franchisee accreditation will be discontinued from 16 June 2024. If you currently hold franchisee accreditation or have an application processing, you may continue to hold this accreditation. Once it is time to renew, you will be prompted to apply for standard, high-volume or controlling third party accreditation.

If you are placing migrants with a controlling third party

You must have a history of placing staff in New Zealand for the past 12 months and at least 15% of them must be New Zealand citizens or residents guaranteed at least 30 hours of work each week, unless the employer is placing no more than one employee in a triangular employment arrangement.

However, if you are intending to place Accredited Employer Work Visa holders in some construction occupations and have more than one employee in a triangular employment arrangement, a minimum of 35% of the employees who are placed in triangular employment arrangements must be New Zealand citizens or residents who are guaranteed at least 30 paid hours per week.

If your accreditation is approved, you must meet this requirement during your accreditation period.

If you are a trust, partnership or sole trader

For trusts, partnerships, and sole traders, New Zealand must be the primary place of established residence for the sole trader or at least one partner or trustee.

For trusts, partnerships, and sole traders, the business entity (which has an NZBN) must hold the accreditation, and the employer named on the employment agreement must be one or more of the trustees, partners or the sole trader.

You must not be bankrupt or subject to a No Asset Procedure.

Our business is already accredited with Immigration NZ – do we need to renew?

Whether you need to renew is dependent on what is right for you and your business.

If you intend on continuing to hire migrant workers on AEWVs, support migrant workers on residence pathways and/or support current AEWV holders to apply for their extensions, you will need to renew.

What is the timeframe involved in the employer accreditation process?

There are various steps in the accreditation process, each with different timeframes:

Employer accreditation: Immigration New Zealand processing time is around 10 working days. For renewal applications, immigration currently recommends applying at least 6 weeks before current accreditation expiry.
Advertising the role: Before you can apply for a job check, you need to advertise the role for at 14 to 21 calendar days. Depending on the role, you may be required to engage with the Ministry of Social Development.
Job check: Immigration New Zealand’s processing time is 10 working days – but longer if the application is incomplete.
Migrant’s AEWV application: INZ estimates the processing time to be 20 working days.

What are the costs?

Refer to the Accredited Employer Work Visa page for the costs charged by Immigration New Zealand.

What is required in terms of remuneration?

The job must pay the market rate and at least the New Zealand median wage, which is NZD $29.66 per hour (correct as of June 2024), unless exempt.

What is a Job Check? And what is required for an accreditation job check?

Once you have become accredited, the next step is to apply for a Job Check for each job you want to hire a migrant worker for. If you do not do this, you cannot hire a migrant worker on an AEWV.

If you have multiple positions that have the exact same details (for example it is the same occupation, pay range, region/city, and the same minimum job requirements) they may be covered by the same advertising and proposed employment agreement, therefore, may be included on the one job check.

A Job Check fee is NZD $610 and a reconsideration of declined Job Check is NZD $240. Once a job check is approved, it is valid for six months or until you no longer hold accreditation, whichever is earlier.

What labour market testing do I need to do?

Highly paid jobs (if the job is being paid at least 200% of the median wage) and is not on the Green List do not have to be advertised. Please note that AEWV applicants will need to meet the requirements of the Green List if this is used to avoid labour market testing.

Otherwise, all other jobs must pay at least the median wage (unless exempt) and you must be advertised.

Is there anything special I need to include in the employment agreement?

Yes, and your employment agreement will need to be completely up to date with the latest employment law.

If you’re hiring a migrant worker, you’ll need to include the following in the employment agreement:

The overtime rate of pay, if applicable. If not, this will need to be stated.
Guaranteed hours and actual pay.
The number of hours the employee may be asked to work, including any hours paid at overtime rates.

Stating the minimum and maximum hours worked, and overtime rates, isn’t standard in most employment agreements in NZ. That’s why it’s worth engaging experts (like Consulting HQ) in this area to ensure your submission to INZ includes everything they need, or your application may be delayed or rejected. Contact us for help.