New ZealandEmployment

AEWV work visa in New Zealand

A work visa for those who have received a full-time job offer from an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand. The visa ties the holder to a particular employer and position and, under certain conditions, can lead to residence.

Threshold

The fee is from NZD 1,540.

Processing time

80%

of applications — within 8 weeks

Work

Work with an accredited employer. Study is allowed for up to 3 months in every 12 months.

Source: Immigration New Zealand — Accredited Employer Work Visa

Who can obtain it

There is one basic condition — a job offer from an accredited employer. Beyond that, the ways of evidencing your qualifications differ.

Conditions for all applicants

A full-time job offer of at least 30 hours a week from an employer that has passed accreditation and holds an approved job check for that position
Pay no lower than the market rate for that position
English — if the position is at skill level 3–5 under ANZSCO or the NOL
Good health, good character and a genuine intention to come to New Zealand

Evidencing your qualifications

2 or more years of relevant work experience in the occupation
Or a level 4 or higher qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF); a bachelor's degree or above counts in any field
Occupational registration in New Zealand, where it is mandatory for the position

When qualifications do not have to be evidenced

The position is on the Green List of occupations in demand and the applicant evidences that they meet its requirements
The pay is no lower than NZD 67.12 an hour — twice the 2024 median wage
The pay is below NZD 29.66 an hour (the median wage as at February 2023) under a sector agreement in meat processing, seafood processing, care work or tourism and hospitality

What it costs

Fee for assessing an AEWV application	1 540 NZD

Documents to gather

The set of documents depends on how the qualifications are evidenced and on the applicant's country, but the basic set includes the following.

A signed job offer, a description of the position and an employment agreement from the accredited employer
The original passport or certificate of identity
Third-party evidence of work experience — employment certificates on the employer's official letterhead, payslips, tax statements; a CV or a reference letter alone is not enough
Copies of qualification documents; if the qualification is below bachelor's level and was obtained outside New Zealand — an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA
Confirmation of occupational registration in New Zealand, where the position requires it
Police certificates no more than 6 months old — if the applicant is aged 17 and over and the total period of stay in the country will be 24 months or more; certificates are needed from countries of citizenship and countries where the applicant has lived for more than 5 years since turning 17
A chest x-ray result — if the stay will exceed 6 months and the applicant is a citizen of a country that is not low-incidence for tuberculosis, or has spent more than 3 months in such a country over the last 5 years
Evidence of English language ability — if the position is at skill level 3–5 under ANZSCO or the NOL

How the process runs

Everything is done through an account on the Immigration New Zealand website once the employer has sent an invitation to lodge an application.

1
The job offer
An accredited employer with an approved job check offers full-time employment and sends the job offer, the position description, the employment agreement and a unique link (a job token) for lodging the application.
2
Gathering the documents
The applicant gathers translations, evidence of experience and qualifications and, where necessary, undergoes a medical examination and obtains police certificates.
3
Lodging the application and paying the fee
The application is lodged online through the employer's link, the documents are attached and the fee is paid.
4
Assessment of the application
80% of applications — within 8 weeks
Immigration New Zealand assesses the application and may request the original passport, medical examination results or further evidence of English.
5
The decision and the grant of the visa
On approval the applicant receives an eVisa and can enter New Zealand to work for the named employer.

Who you can bring with you

The AEWV does not give status to a partner and children directly — they need a separate visa.

Partner

A partner cannot be included in an AEWV application. The AEWV holder can support a separate visitor or work visa for their partner — the conditions depend on the pay and the skill level of the AEWV holder's position

Dependent children

Dependent children cannot be included in an AEWV application. The AEWV holder can support a separate visitor or student visa for them

Renewal and the grace period

The maximum continuous period of stay on one or more AEWVs is 5 years for most positions and 3 years for positions at skill level 4–5 under ANZSCO or the NOL. While the term of the visa granted is shorter than that maximum, you can apply for a further AEWV without leaving New Zealand, before the current visa expires. Once the maximum period has been used up, you have to spend at least 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand before applying for a new AEWV.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	AEWV work visa	Skilled migrant visa	Green List residence
Visa term	Up to 5 years depending on the job offered; for occupations at skill level 4–5 the term is reduced to 3 years	A resident visa with no limit on the period of residence	A resident visa with no limit on the period of residence
Grounds	A full-time job offer from an employer that has passed accreditation and a job check	The Skilled Resident Points system plus skilled employment with an accredited employer	Work in an occupation on Tier 1 of the Green List of occupations in demand
Money	The fee is from NZD 1,540	The fee is from NZD 6,450	The fee is from NZD 6,450
Work	Work with an accredited employer	The right to live, work and study in New Zealand with no limit of time	The right to live, work and study in New Zealand with no limit of time

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Yes, the visa can lead to resident visas depending on qualifications and employment conditions.

Frequently asked questions about AEWV work visa

Who can obtain an AEWV work visa?

You need a full-time job offer of at least 30 hours a week from an employer that has passed accreditation and holds an approved job check for that position, with pay no lower than the market rate. Also required are 2 or more years of relevant experience or a level 4 or higher NZQCF qualification, English for positions at level 3–5, good health, good character and a genuine intention to come to New Zealand.

What does the visa cost and how long does an application take?

The fee is from NZD 1,540. 80% of applications are assessed within 8 weeks.

Can you go with a partner and children?

A partner and dependent children cannot be included in the AEWV application itself. The AEWV holder can support a separate visitor or work visa for their partner, and a visitor or student visa for dependent children.

For how long is an AEWV granted?

Up to 5 years depending on the position, the skill level, the pay and the date of lodgement. For positions at skill level 4–5 under ANZSCO or the NOL the maximum continuous period of stay on an AEWV is 3 years.

What do you do when the maximum period of stay on an AEWV runs out?

You have to spend at least 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand before applying for a further AEWV. If, however, the term of the visa granted is shorter than the maximum continuous stay allowed, you can apply for a new AEWV before the current one expires, without leaving the country.

Does the AEWV lead to residence?

The visa page states it directly: the Residence option is “Can lead to a resident visa: Yes”. The move to residence goes through separate resident visas — for example on qualifications or on the Green List of occupations — where their own conditions are met.

What kinds of work is the AEWV not granted for?

The job offer cannot be for planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops in horticulture and viticulture, for a position as a foreign crew member on a fishing vessel, or for self-employment. Those kinds of work need a different work visa.

Other ways to move to New Zealand

Every route in one list — migration programmes: New Zealand.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.