AEWV extension: Further details released

Immigration New Zealand has issued further details on the government's one-off extension move for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

The AEWV was launched on July 4, 2022, as part of the government's plan to allow more migrants offshore to apply for a work visa and work for an accredited employer.

Under the AEWV, employers may be accredited to hire migrants on visas for up to three years. But to qualify, they must at least pay the NZ median wage and prove that they cannot find local talent suitable for the role.

Employers who received accreditation on or before the launch date had an expiry date set on July 4, 2023, to align with the date that the accredited employer work visa applications opened.

But in a move to address the talent crunch in the country, Workplace Minister Michael Wood said employer accreditations will be extended by another 12 months if their first accreditation is applied for by July 4, 2023.

Further accreditation expansion details

According to Immigration NZ, the one-off extension "removes the administrative burden of reapplying while employers are getting used to the new system."

"Employers who apply before 4 July 2023 will now effectively receive a 24-month first accreditation," the agency said in its latest notification.

In an example, Immigration NZ said employers who will apply for accreditation in April 2023 will receive an expiry date set in April 2025.

Employers who previously applied for accreditation, for example in September 2022, will also have their accreditation date automatically extended until September 2024, according to Immigration NZ.

In addition to the extended expiry dates, the agency also reminded employers to check if they hold the correct accreditation type for the employment that they want to place work visa holders in.

"If employers don't hold the correct accreditation type, they should apply for the correct accreditation type to ensure that they comply with immigration requirements," the agency said.