Today, the Immigration Minister unveiled several amendments aimed at reinforcing the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program. These adjustments are scheduled to be implemented on April 7, 2024.

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-the-accredited-employer-work-visa-aewv

For additional details on the implications of these changes for both AEWV holders and their employers:

Applicants for ANZSCO Skill Level 4 & 5 Occupations

• a relevant qualification at level 4 or above of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) – Evidence of your qualification must be accompanied by an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if it is below Bachelor’s degree level OR
• at least 3 years’ relevant work experience

AND

• If the job is ANZSCO level 4 or 5, you need to show that you can speak and understand English.

Shorter visa length and stay in New Zealand for some jobs

For certain occupations, there will be adjustments to the duration of visas and the permitted length of stay in New Zealand. Specifically, for jobs classified at ANZSCO levels 4 and 5 that offer a salary at or above the AEWV’s stipulated wage rate, the maximum duration for an AEWV will now be two years. Following this period, visa holders have the opportunity to extend their stay by an additional one year through a new Job Check.

Moreover, the cumulative period one can remain in New Zealand on one or multiple AEWVs will be capped at three years. Upon reaching this limit, individuals must depart from New Zealand for a mandatory break, usually lasting 12 months, before they are eligible to apply for another AEWV.

These modifications will be applicable to those who have submitted their initial AEWV application after April 7, 2024, or before June 21, 2023.

However, certain jobs at ANZSCO levels 4 and 5 will be exempt from these changes. This exemption includes positions that are:

• Listed on the Green List,
• Part of transport and care sector agreements, with a residence pathway,
• Paying wages at 1.5 times the median wage.

The visa length and the total allowable period of stay for roles at ANZSCO levels 1 to 3 will continue to be up to five years.

For Accredited Employers:

Employers seeking to hire for positions at ANZSCO Skill level 4 or 5 are now required to:

• Extend their job advertisements to a period of 21 days, up from the previous 14 days,
• Engage with Work and Income, and
• Justify in writing in their Job Check application the reasons for not employing any New Zealand candidates who applied and were deemed suitable and available.

It’s mandatory for employers to initiate a consultation with Work and Income prior to submitting their Job Check application.

Should there be a New Zealand job seeker who fits the criteria of being suitable and available and they were not hired, the employer’s Job Check submission will be declined.

“The new rules for AEWV applications have made it much harder for people looking for unskilled work to get jobs. Now, everyone needs at least three years of work experience and to be pretty good at English before they can even apply. This means a lot fewer people can apply for these jobs. Because of these tougher rules, we need to think again about why we have the Accredited Employer Work Visa program and if it’s really helping fill jobs that are needed. Also, these rules mean we have to work with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) more, which makes us wonder how government agencies help with job issues. As we deal with these changes, it’s important to talk about how we can make sure the new rules help everyone and keep our local economies and communities strong..“