New Zealand Immigration made new amendments to employer accreditations on 7 April 2022 for launching Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). It is planned to launch an AEWV on 4 July 2022. 

What is AEWV?

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is for skilled immigrant workers. It leads to their permanent residence in New Zealand. Further, It is a Temporary Work Visa. 

The main purpose of this is to assist local businesses that need to hire skilled foreign workers. They need to employ them if they cannot find any individual in New Zealand suitable for the job. But Government stresses that employers' priority should always be to first find the person from their own homeland. If they don't see the right candidate or there is a shortage of labour only then they can recruit an employee from overseas.

Replacing Some Types of Temporary Work Visas

This visa replaces the six types of Temporary Work Visas. That is why these types are closed by the immigration department. These include the following.

• Silver Fern Job Search Visa

• Essential Skills Visa

• Long-Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa

• Silver Fern Practical Experience Visa

• Essential Skills Approval in Principal Visa

• Talent Accredited Employer Work Visa 

It is vital to highlight that the AEWV policy does not apply to a few visa types. It includes partnership visas, working vacation visas, or student visas with work rights.

Why Were Amendments Made? 

The goal of these amendments, according to the government, is to lessen the possibility of businesses misusing migrant employees. Also, it also ensures that firms adhere to particular employment and immigration rules.

To hire a migrant worker for the business, an employer must first get accredited. The accreditation is a 3 step process explained below. 

Accredited Employer Work Visa - 3 Steps to Get Accreditation

There is a three-check process to get accreditation. It is essential to know that you have to go through this process even if you went through it in an earlier system. 

This process involves three steps. Employers have to pass these checks to get accreditation. 

Employer check

There's a need to verify that your business is feasible enough. The employer check has two levels.

High-volume accreditation level
Employers who desire to have 6 or more migrant employees on AEWVs at any time should use this option.

Standard accreditation
Employers may have up to 5 migrant employees on AEWVs.

Job check

To pass this step, an employer must pay the market rate. Overall, that particular job should be in compliance with labour, immigration, and commercial regulations. A Labour Market Test is taken for it. 

Migrant check

The visa candidate must meet medical and character criteria (not previously involved in any illegal activities). Also, that individual should possess the necessary skills and experience.

 Accredited Employer Work Visa Fees

Following is the list of fees involved in the whole process.

• High-volume: NZD $1220

• Standard accreditation: NZD $740

• Upgrade fee, from standard to high accreditation: NZD $480

• Franchisees: NZD $1980

• Reconsideration application (for rejected employer accreditation): NZD $240

• A fee for placing migrants with regulating third parties: NZD $3870

Accredited Employer Work Visa Dates to Apply

The dates to apply for the above checks are as below. 

• Apply for accreditation: 23 March 2022

• Job Check Submission: 20 June 2022

• Application for AEWV by migrant worker: 4 July 2022. Employees can apply only if the first two steps by the employer are passed.