To get a New Zealand work visa, most applicants need a job offer from an employer that Immigration New Zealand has already accredited, and they apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) once that employer has passed a job check for the specific role.1Immigration New Zealand. Accredited Employer Work Visa Other pathways exist for recent graduates, seasonal workers in horticulture and viticulture, young travelers on working holidays, and people transferring within a company for a specific project. Which one fits depends on your occupation, your qualifications, and how long you plan to stay.
Work Out Which Visa You Should Apply For
Before you do anything else, match your situation to the right visa. Applying for the wrong one wastes money and months.
The AEWV is the default for anyone coming to New Zealand to take a specific job. It lasts between 7 months and 5 years depending on the skill level of the role, the pay rate, and whether the occupation sits on the Green List. Higher-skilled roles (ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3) and jobs paying at least NZD $52.50 per hour can receive the full five-year term.2Immigration New Zealand. How Long You Can Stay on an AEWV
If your occupation appears on the Green List, you have a faster route. Tier 1 roles let you apply for residence as soon as you start working. Tier 2 roles require 24 months of work at the median wage (currently NZD $35.00 per hour) or the rate specified for your occupation, whichever applies, before you can apply for a Work to Residence Visa.3Immigration New Zealand. Work to Residence Visa Check the current list on the Immigration New Zealand website; it changes.4Immigration New Zealand. Green List Roles – Jobs We Need People for in New Zealand
If you are already working in New Zealand in a skilled role, the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa is a direct route to residency. You must be 55 or younger, have a full-time skilled job or offer with an accredited employer, earn at least 6 skilled resident points, and meet English, health, and character requirements.5Immigration New Zealand. Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Other categories cover specific situations:
- Working Holiday Visa: for people aged 18 to 30 (35 for some nationalities) from countries with a reciprocal agreement, valid up to 12 months (23 months for Canadians, 36 months for UK citizens).6Immigration New Zealand. Who Can Apply for a Working Holiday Visa
- Post Study Work Visa: for recent graduates of New Zealand institutions, up to three years depending on the qualification level. A level 7 degree or above lets you work any job for any employer.7Immigration New Zealand. Post Study Work Visa
- Specific Purpose Work Visa: for people coming for a defined project, secondment, or specialist assignment, including intra-company transfers and independent professionals with at least six years of experience and a relevant degree.8Immigration New Zealand. Specific Purpose Work Visa
- Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa: for seasonal work in horticulture and viticulture with a Recognised Seasonal Employer.9Immigration New Zealand. Visas for Working in New Zealand
The AEWV Application Runs in Three Stages
You cannot apply for an AEWV on your own. The process has three stages, and the first two belong entirely to your employer. Delays almost always originate on the employer side, and there is nothing you can do to hurry those stages along.
Stage 1: Employer Accreditation
Your employer applies to Immigration New Zealand for accreditation, showing they are a legitimate business meeting workplace standards. Accreditation lasts for a set period and covers all future hires, so many employers already have it in place before they start recruiting overseas.10Immigration New Zealand. Applying for AEWV Employer Accreditation – Process Steps Ask your prospective employer whether they are already accredited; if not, expect a wait.
Stage 2: Job Check
The employer then applies for a job check for the specific role. In most cases they must first prove they tried to hire a New Zealander, advertising the position for at least 14 days for higher-skilled roles (ANZSCO levels 1 to 3) or 21 days for lower-skilled roles (levels 4 and 5).11Immigration New Zealand. Applying for a Job Check – Process Steps For lower-skilled roles, the employer must also engage with Work and Income to check for local job seekers. Advertising is not required if the job is on the Green List and you meet the listed qualifications, or if the role pays at least NZD $67.12 per hour.
Stage 3: Your Application
Once the job check is approved, your employer sends you a job token number. You use that number to submit your own AEWV application online, uploading your documents and paying the fee.
Meet the Health, Character, and English Requirements Early
Every work visa carries baseline requirements. Getting these lined up before you apply prevents weeks of back-and-forth.
Health
If your visa allows you to stay longer than 12 months, you must complete a medical examination with an Immigration New Zealand-approved panel physician. Shorter stays typically do not require one unless Immigration New Zealand asks.12Immigration New Zealand. Who Needs an X-ray or Medical Examination In the United States the exam runs roughly $450 to $550. Book early because panel physicians can be weeks out.
Character
You must provide police certificates from every country where you have lived for five or more years since turning 17. Each certificate must be less than six months old when you submit your application.13Immigration New Zealand. Police Certificates Some countries take weeks to issue these, so request them as early as you can while keeping the six-month window in mind.
English Language
Requirements vary by visa. For skilled residence visas (SMC, Straight to Residence, Work to Residence), the principal applicant needs an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5 or a PTE Academic overall score of at least 58. Partners and dependent children need IELTS 5 or PTE Academic 36.14Immigration New Zealand. English Language Requirements for Skilled Residence Visas
Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or Ireland who have spent at least five years working or studying in one of those countries (or in Australia or New Zealand) are exempt from providing test scores. A bachelor’s degree from one of those countries with at least two years of study there also qualifies for the exemption.
Funds (Working Holiday Only)
Working Holiday applicants must show they can support themselves. Most nationalities need NZD $4,200; Malaysian and Singaporean citizens need NZD $2,250; Thai citizens need NZD $7,000; UK citizens need NZD $350 per month of their planned stay.15Immigration New Zealand. Sufficient Funds For employer-sponsored visas, the job offer itself usually satisfies the financial requirement.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Applications go in online through Immigration New Zealand’s website. You will create a RealMe account (New Zealand’s online identity service), complete the form, and upload supporting documents.16Immigration New Zealand. How to Apply for a Visa Online For an AEWV you also need the job token number from your employer.
Have these ready:
- Valid passport with several months of validity beyond your planned stay
- Passport-sized photos meeting Immigration New Zealand specifications
- Police certificates from every country where you lived five or more years since age 17, each less than six months old
- Medical examination results if your visa allows a stay over 12 months
- Employment agreement or offer letter from your New Zealand employer
- Qualification certificates and evidence of relevant work experience
- English language test results, if your visa requires them
What the Visa Costs
Fees change, so confirm the current amount before you pay. The AEWV starts at NZD $1,540.1Immigration New Zealand. Accredited Employer Work Visa The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa costs NZD $6,450. Your employer pays separately for accreditation and the job check; a legitimate employer should not ask you to reimburse those costs.
On top of government fees, budget for the medical exam ($450 to $550 in the US), police certificate fees in each country you need one from, and English language test registration if applicable. If you need certificates from several countries, the total climbs quickly.
After You Submit
Track your application by logging into your Immigration Online account and checking the “Submitted applications” section under the “My Visas” tab.17Immigration New Zealand. Checking Your Visa Application Status
Processing times depend on the category and current workload. For the AEWV, as of early 2026, the average wait is about 3 weeks, with most applications completed within 5 weeks, counting working days only.18Immigration New Zealand. Employer Accreditation, Job Check and AEWV Wait Times Residence visa applications generally take longer.
Immigration New Zealand may ask for additional documents or clarification during processing. If your application is approved, you receive an eVisa through your online account. There is no physical visa sticker in your passport.
If Your Application Is Declined
A decline is not always the end. For temporary work visas like the AEWV, you can ask Immigration New Zealand to reconsider the decision. For residence-class visas like the SMC or Straight to Residence, you may be able to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.19Immigration New Zealand. If Your Visa Is Declined
The decline letter sets out the reasons. Often the problem is a missing document or something on the employer side of the job check rather than a fundamental eligibility issue. Read the reasons carefully before deciding whether to request reconsideration or submit a fresh application with the gap addressed.