Hold tight, migrant job seekers and accredited employers—New Zealand’s strongest work visa, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), is present process a change of epic proportions in 2025!
With 148,813 AEWV functions accepted, 24,334 accredited employers, and a present migrant workforce of 81,899 AEWV holders, the scheme is underneath the highlight like by no means earlier than. As the federal government tightens compliance screws and strengthens labor market equity, right here’s the whole lot it’s good to know on this thrilling rollercoaster replace on the AEWV system.
What Is AEWV?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand’s foremost momentary work visa, permitting expert migrants to work with accredited employers for as much as 5 years—however that’s altering for some.
It’s a 3 (03) step course of:
- Employer Accreditation
- Job Check (and promoting if wanted)
- Migrant Visa Application
All functions are made by the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Online Portal.
New AEWV Reforms: What’s Changed Since April 2024?
As of April 7, 2024, main modifications hit AEWV processing. Here’s a quickfire rundown of what’s already in place:
- English Language Requirement for ANZSCO degree 4 & 5 (low-expert) roles
- Minimum Skills and Experience Thresholds for many roles
- Work and Income Engagement Mandatory for low-expert job approvals
- Stay Limit Cut to 3 years for many ANZSCO degree 4 & 5 roles (was 5 years)
- Franchisee Accreditation Disestablished
These updates goal to prioritize New Zealanders, preserve honest labor requirements, and eradicate loopholes that enable exploitation of migrants.
Post-Accreditation Updates as of May 19, 2025
Immigration New Zealand just isn’t messing round. As of May 19, 2025:
- 6,517 checks accomplished on 4,509 employers
- 250 further checks underway
- 7,112 complaints filed since July 1, 2023
- 855 employers’ accreditations revoked
- 152 suspended
- 73 lively investigations involving 82 employers
- 32 employers underneath evaluation
Let that sink in: the integrity of the AEWV system is underneath heavy scrutiny—and rightly so. Post-accreditation checks are each random and focused, together with:
- All third-get together enterprise fashions
- Complaints-flagged employers
- Randomized accredited employer samples.
AEWV Updates Timeline Snapshot
- Employer Accreditation Opened: 23 May 2022
- Job Check Launched: 20 June 2022
- AEWV Applications Started: 4 July 2022
- As of May 2025: Over 148,813 AEWV Visas Approved.
What’s Next?
The MBIE and INZ promise steady monitoring, reforms, and employer crackdowns as the system evolves. Migrants are inspired to maintain documentation prepared, comply with updates, and apply solely by trusted employers.
For employers, compliance is non-negotiable. A single misstep can set off suspension or revocation—and spoil your credibility within the AEWV system.
References
148,813 New Zealand AEWV Work Visas Approved as of May 2025 – New Stats Revealed FULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
