New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa in 2026

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored temporary work route. It is employer- and job-linked, not an open work visa.

Core eligibility

A current application normally needs a full-time job offer from an employer accredited for the AEWV. The job must:

  • provide at least 30 hours of work a week;
  • have an approved job check for that position;
  • be genuine and current when the worker applies; and
  • meet the skill, experience, qualification or occupational-registration requirements that apply to the role.

The employer sends the worker the unique application link after the accreditation and job-check steps.

Pay rules: do not use the old median-wage rule

Since 10 March 2025, the AEWV no longer has a general median-wage threshold. Employers must still pay at least the New Zealand minimum wage and the market rate for the job. Separate pay thresholds continue to matter in skilled-residence, family-support and other immigration contexts.

Do not use Skilled Migrant Category wage settings as if they were AEWV minimum pay rules.

Duration and residence

An AEWV can allow a stay of up to five years, depending on the job and the applicable maximum continuous-stay rules. The visa itself is temporary, but the same employment may support a separate residence application through the Skilled Migrant Category or Green List.

Official guidance: AEWV and AEWV/median-wage changes.

Related: New Zealand immigration hub, work visas, methodology, and legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in New Zealand