Reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa in 2025: What You Need to Know

18 December 2024

On 17^th December 2024, the Government has announced major reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, aimed at addressing skill shortages, streamlining processes, and improving outcomes for employers and employees. These changes, rolled out in stages throughout 2025, will have far-reaching implications for both accredited employers and migrant workers. Here's a detailed breakdown of the changes and what they mean for you.

Key Changes for Employers

Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules

From 27 January 2025, Accredited employers and Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) will no longer need to complete Employment New Zealand’s online modules or offer paid time for migrant workers to complete them.

INZ will instead provide employers and workers with links to freely available Employment New Zealand or INZ webpages that set out employment rights and obligations at the most appropriate points in the immigration process.

Reducing the domestic workforce threshold for certain construction roles

From 27 January 2025, construction sector businesses will see the domestic workforce threshold reduced from 35% to 15% for certain roles, increasing hiring flexibility.

Removing the median wage requirement

From 10 March 2025, the median wage threshold for all AEWV roles will be removed. Employers must still advertise roles and offer AEWV employees the market rate based on their position and workplace location. This change does not affect existing employment agreements.

Note: Median wage will continue to apply for residence and is currently $31.61/hr.

Sector Agreements which provided an exemption to the median wage will be removed alongside this change. Sector Agreements which offer residence pathways will continue to do so, with no changes to the wage rate required to gain residence.

The removal of sector agreements means that roles previously covered by sector agreements for below median wage jobs are no longer subject to restrictions such as caps or limitations on visa duration and instead will be treated the same as other jobs of the same skill level.

Streamlined Job Check process

Effective 10 March 2025: Employers will no longer have to provide evidence of engagement with Work and Income in their Job Check. They will need to declare they have advertised lower-skilled roles with Work and Income, and interviewed appropriate candidates. Employers will be required to retain evidence of their engagement as they may be requested to provide it. This can be done alongside recruitment employers will already be undertaking in the domestic labour market.
Mid-2025: Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will introduce a re-designed Job Check process, streamlining approval for low-risk employers and reducing processing times.

Reduced work experience requirement for migrants

From 10 March 2025, migrants will need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience, instead of 3 years currently. This ensures migrants are sufficiently skilled while addressing key issues raised during consultation. Additionally, migrants still need to meet any work experience requirements of the Job Check.

Recognition of higher ANZSCO skill levels

With INZ transitioning from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to the National Occupation List (NOL), there are differences with the classification of some roles.

So that applicants are not disadvantaged, from 10 March 2025 the following occupations will be treated as ANZSCO skill level 3 to align with their skill level in the NOL:

Cook (351411)
Pet groomer (361113)
Kennel hand (361115)
Nanny (421113)
Fitness instructor (452111)
Scaffolder (821712)
Slaughterer (831212)

There are also 4 other roles that will be recognised as ANZSCO skill level 3 where the employer has specified that the job needs either 3 years of work experience or a level 4 qualification, as part of the job check. This ensures skilled workers can be retained in certain critical jobs. These 4 roles are:

Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operator (721111)
Excavator operator (721214)
Forklift driver (721311)
Mobile plant operators not elsewhere classified (721999)

Introducing new pathways for experienced seasonal workers

In November 2025, two new pathways for seasonal workers will be introduced:

A 3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers.
A 7-month single-entry visa for lesser-skilled workers.

The existing temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until then.

Key Changes for Employees

Median wage changes

From 28 February 2025, AEWV holders who want to support a partner will still be required to meet the wage threshold, which is increasing to NZD $26.85 an hour.

Removing the median wage requirement

From 10 March 2025, Wage thresholds for all AEWV roles will be removed. It will be replaced by market rate instead. However, median wage of $31.61/hr will continue to apply for residence.

Wage requirements for bringing family

From 10 March 2025, AEWV holders must earn at least NZ$55,844 annually to bring dependent children. This threshold, unchanged since 2019, ensures financial stability for migrant families. It will be updated annually in line with changes to the median wage.

The previous income threshold will continue to apply where a child held a visa on, or had applied for a visa, before 10 March – this ensures that children who are already here do not have to leave if their parent can meet the old threshold but cannot meet the new one.

Reducing the experience requirement for migrants

From 10 March 2025, migrant candidates will need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience, instead of 3 years currently. Additionally, migrants still need to meet any work experience requirements of the Job Check.

Increased visa duration for lower-skilled workers

From 10 March 2025, AEWV holders in ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 roles will receive 3-year visas, aligning with the maximum time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV.
Migrants currently on 2-year visas can apply for an additional 1-year extension if requirements are met.

Interim visa work rights

From April 2025, work rights will be extended to Interim Visa holders transitioning from other work or student visas to an AEWV. This ensures continuity of employment while applications are processed.

New seasonal work opportunities

In November 2025, the introduction of multi-entry and single-entry seasonal visas creates more opportunities for workers to participate in New Zealand’s seasonal workforce, with structured pathways to support varying skill levels.

Timeline of Changes

27 January 2025:

Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules.
Reduction of domestic workforce thresholds for certain construction roles.