Introducing the 3-Check Employer Accreditation System

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.

Before hiring a migrant on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) employers will need to:

Step 1: Apply for accreditation under the new employee accreditation system

Employers will either apply for:

• Standard employee accreditation — for those who want to have up to 5 migrant workers on Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) at any one time.
• High-volume accreditation — for those who want to have 6 or more migrant workers on AEWVs at any one time.

Both of the above will be granted for 12 months initially and renewed every 2 years.

All employers must meet standard accreditation criteria. It is important to note that Franchisees and Labour Hire companies will have to meet requirements additional to the above.

Franchisees must be operating in NZ for 12 months and have a history of hiring New Zealanders. Labour Hire businesses must ensure that they place their migrant employees on AEWV only with compliant businesses that have good work practices in place to monitor employment and safety conditions on site, have been contracting labour for past 12 months and demonstrate that 15% of their workforce being placed with other businesses are New Zealanders in full-time employment (at least 30 hours per week).

Franchisees and Labour Hire groups will only be granted accreditation for 12 months at a time, which has to be renewed annually. Currently, accredited employers will need to apply to move into this new regime via a transition pathway. Further details on this are awaited.

Step 2: Job check

The employer applies for a job check. At this stage, it is checked that:

• Employer holds accreditation and continues to meet these requirements 

• Genuine job offer, paid market rate and compliant with employment standards

• Labour Market Test (only required in some cases)

Further details are being worked upon and will be released by INZ in due course.

Step 3: Migrant check

Once the employer has cleared the above two steps, they can invite the migrant worker to apply for the AEWV and this stage is called Migrant Check. An applicant cannot apply if not invited. At this stage, it is checked that:

• Details of the employment meet those provided in Step 2 

• Applicant must be suitably qualified via experience and/or qualifications 

• Must meet health, character and bona fide requirements

Information on processing timeframes and costs are yet to be confirmed.

Questions about the new employer accreditation system?
Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

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