Important adjustments to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme will take impact from 10 March 2025. These updates, introduced by the New Zealand Authorities in December 2024, purpose to make the system extra versatile and conscious of labour market wants.
In case you are making use of for an AEWV, presently maintain one, or make use of migrant employees, these adjustments could have an effect on you. Right here’s what you should know.
Removing of median wage necessities
From 10 March 2025, employers will not must pay AEWV and Particular Goal Work Visa (SPWV) holders at or above the median wage. As an alternative:
- Employers should pay no less than the New Zealand minimal wage (NZD $23.15 per hour, growing to NZD $23.50 per hour from 1 April 2025).
- Pay charges should nonetheless be aligned with the market price for the function and placement.
What about sector agreements?
Beforehand, some industries had sector agreements permitting exceptions to median wage necessities. These agreements will likely be eliminated on 10 March 2025—apart from these providing a residence pathway, which is able to stay unchanged.
Roles beforehand coated by sector agreements will now be handled like different jobs on the similar ability stage. This implies:
- No extra caps or restrictions on visa durations for jobs that have been below sector agreements.
- Employers should nonetheless pay truthful wages primarily based on market charges.
Present AEWV holders ought to proceed to be paid in keeping with their employment agreements and visa circumstances.
Lowered work expertise requirement
At the moment, migrants making use of for an AEWV should have no less than three years of related work expertise. From 10 March 2025, this requirement will cut back to 2 years.
Whereas this makes it simpler for some employees to qualify, INZ will nonetheless require proof of related expertise. Employers stay accountable for guaranteeing their employees meet job-specific ability and expertise expectations.
This modification is meant to assist companies struggling to fill roles whereas nonetheless guaranteeing employees have the required expertise to carry out their jobs.
Longer visa durations for lower-skilled roles
From 10 March 2025, AEWV holders in ANZSCO ability stage 4 and 5 roles will likely be eligible for three-year work visas. This aligns with the utmost steady keep allowed on an AEWV.
Beforehand, some AEWV holders in lower-skilled roles confronted shorter visa durations or caps on how lengthy they might keep. This modification supplies better certainty for each migrant employees and employers.
What if you have already got an AEWV software in progress?
In case your AEWV or job test software is already in progress on 10 March 2025, INZ has suggested that:
- Functions will nonetheless be assessed below the present guidelines on the time of submission.
- In some instances, INZ could determine to use the brand new guidelines if they’re extra beneficial to the applicant.
- Employers and visa candidates don’t must request an exception—INZ will assess purposes mechanically.
In case you are contemplating making use of for an AEWV, it might be useful to know how the upcoming adjustments may have an effect on your state of affairs. INZ’s official steering will present probably the most up-to-date info.
Plan your subsequent steps with professional recommendation
These AEWV adjustments may open new alternatives—or deliver sudden challenges. Whether or not you are making use of for a visa, already maintain one, or are exploring pathways to residency, it’s important to know how these updates have an effect on you.
At VisaAide, we offer professional immigration recommendation tailor-made to your state of affairs. Guide a session at present, and let’s focus on your choices for work and residency in New Zealand.
