Understanding the Accredited Employer Work Visa: Requirements, Benefits, and Application Process

Understanding the Accredited Employer Work Visa: Requirements, Benefits, and Application Process

New Zealand is a gorgeous country, with bustling cities like Auckland and Wellington being popular destinations for tourists, locals and individuals seeking a new place to work and live. For those who dream of working in New Zealand, the Accredited Employer Work Visa, or the AEWV, presents an excellent pathway to starting a new chapter.

This visa, introduced in July 2022, replaced the Essential Skills Work Visa to offer a more streamlined process for skilled workers wishing to bring their expertise to Aotearoa. If you’re interested in this visa and think that you may be eligible for it, we encourage you to keep reading so that you can become more informed about this amazing opportunity. 

What Is The Accredited Employer Work Visa?

The AEWV is a temporary visa that allows individuals to work in New Zealand for an accredited NZ employer. This visa is meant to help NZ businesses fill roles that they are unable to fill with local workers by bringing in skilled workers from abroad.

To be eligible for this visa, you will need to meet a few requirements:

• A Job Offer From An Accredited Employer. Naturally, you will need a valid job offer from a New Zealand employer who is officially accredited. Accreditation means that Immigration New Zealand has approved the employer to hire workers from overseas. 

• Proper Skills. You must have the skills and qualifications necessary for the job you’re offered. You should have relevant work experience and educational qualifications and fully meet the job requirements to show that you’re fit for the role. 

• Good Identity And Character. You need to provide proof of your identity, such as through a valid passport. Furthermore, you must be of good character, meaning you may have to undergo police checks to ensure you have no criminal convictions. 

• Genuine Intentions. You must genuinely intend to meet your visa’s conditions without ulterior motives. This means you must plan to work for your accredited NZ employer and adhere to New Zealand’s laws and regulations while you are living and working here. 

For more details and the full list of requirements, please visit this page on INZ’s website for information about the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

The Most Notable Benefits Of The Accredited Employer Work Visa

There are many reasons why hopeful overseas workers are choosing NZ’s Accredited Employer Work Visa, including the following benefits: 

Length Of Stay. The AEWV allows you to stay here in New Zealand for up to five years, provided you work for an accredited NZ employer. 

Potential Pathway To Residence. One notable advantage of this visa is its potential to lead to permanent residence. If you’re eligible, you may be able to apply for residence visas such as the Straight To Residence Visa, Work To Residence Visa, Skilled Migrant Category and others.

Bringing Family. If you are granted an Accredited Employer Work Visa, you might be able to support visa applications for your partner and any dependent children. 

Exploring The Application Process

Before you start the visa application process, we highly recommend working with a qualified immigration adviser. The application process can be confusing, but a visa can significantly change your life for the better, so it’s best to be as thorough and informed as possible. An NZ immigration adviser can offer you the support, knowledge and experience needed to enhance your chances of success. 

When searching for your adviser, be sure you pay attention to these qualities:

• View Qualifications. Search for an immigration adviser who is qualified to provide you with immigration advice and services. 

• Check Track Record. Ask about their track record and if they’ve had success with individuals in your situation. 

• Read Reviews. Check their reviews to gauge their reputation. Look for happy clients, mentions of qualities that are important to you such as communication and accessibility and check both newer and older reviews to see if the adviser has been consistently successful. 

• Stay Aware Of Warning Signs. Know what warning signs to look out for and avoid, such as unrealistic promises of success, vagueness around fees and poor communication. 

Once you’ve found the right immigration adviser for you, you can continue with the application process:

Step 1: Secure A Job Offer. To be eligible for this visa, you will need a valid job offer from an officially accredited NZ employer.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents. With help from your immigration adviser, make sure you have all necessary documentation and that everything is valid and in order. 

Step 3: Submit Your Application. When everything is ready, your licensed immigration adviser will submit your application and pay the application fee on your behalf. 

Step 4: Wait For A Decision. Once everything is done, the last step is to wait for your results. For the AEWV, the average wait time is around four months. 

Securing Your New Life In New Zealand

Properly applying for a visa can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have much prior experience with NZ visas – no worries, that’s where we at Visa Matters come into play. We’ve helped plenty of people just like you with their visa applications, including the Accredited Employer Work Visa, and we’d be glad to help you.

Are you ready to start the process? Call us on 0800250200, and we can discuss your situation.

Visa Matters: Let us help you unlock the path to the next chapter in your life.