Critical Timeline for Employers Ahead of the Accredited Employer Work Visa

Update as of 7 April 2022: 

• INZ released further updates on the fee and estimated processing timeframes for the 3 steps to hiring a migrant on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Find out here!

Update as of 22 March 2022:

• INZ released further updates on the accreditation and job check steps. Please see them here.

Update as of 16 July 2021:

• INZ has deferred the new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) policy from 1 November 2021 to mid-2022.
• INZ has also deferred the new Employer Accreditation system from 1 November 2021 to mid-2022. 
• Official dates and for both the policy and the system are yet to be announced.

This has been a long time coming. After the first announcements in 2019, we finally have a launch date for the new employer accreditation system and a name for the new temporary work visa – Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

We will also see a whole new process come into place – a 3-tiered employed led system where the actual work visa by the foreign worker will only be submitted at the third step.

However, this is not an abrupt transition – it is a phased approach starting 30 June 2021. Here’s what it looks like:

• 30 June 2021 – On this day, 2 current employer policies are closing to new and renewal applications: Accredited Employer (Talent – Accredited Employer) and Labour Hire Accreditation. If any employers want to use these schemes, then their applications must be submitted by 30 June. This date is significant because it provides a very small window for any employers still wanting to be accredited, and support employees on Talent (Work to Residence) Work Visas.

• Late September 2021 – Sometime around the end of September, INZ’s portals will open to accept applications from employers under the new accreditation system. This gives employers wanting their accreditation sooner rather than later, a chance to get a month or so head start.

• 31 October 2021 – This date is critical as it is the last day to submit any Essentials Skills, Talent Accredited Employer (Work to Residence) and Long-term Skill Shortage Skills Work Visa applications.

• 1 November 2021 – The entire process changes with the 3-check system and the full Accredited Employer Work Visa policy officially going live. This simply means that accreditation will be mandatory for any employer supporting a migrant worker on AEWV from 1 November 2021.

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- by Zinnia Manchanda

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