NZ Work Visa Guide (2026): The Accredited Employer Work Visa, Explained

Policy update, 1 June 2026: AEWV English language requirements now extend to ANZSCO and NOL skill level 3 roles, and the Active Investor Plus Growth category now allows philanthropy capped at 20 percent of total investment. Read the full update and what to do now >

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is the main work visa for migrating to New Zealand. Big rules changed in 2025 and 2026: median wage is gone, the National Occupation List is rolling out, and 47 new occupations were added in March 2026. Here is what actually matters today.

Quick answer: The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand's primary employer-supported work visa, in place since July 2022 (when it replaced the older Essential Skills Work Visa). To qualify, you need a full-time job offer (at least 30 hours a week) from an accredited New Zealand employer and a job token linked to an approved Job Check. From 10 March 2025, employers are no longer required to pay the immigration median wage for an AEWV; instead, the only fixed pay rate is the New Zealand minimum wage, and employers must still pay the New Zealand market rate for the role. Maximum continuous stay is generally up to 5 years for ANZSCO/NOL skill levels 1 to 3, or up to 3 years for skill levels 4 and 5 (rules can vary depending on when your first AEWV was granted).

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Always verify current rules at immigration.govt.nz before applying.

What Is the AEWV?

The Accredited Employer Work Visa, almost always shortened to AEWV, is the main work visa for skilled migrants entering New Zealand. If you are coming to NZ to take a job and you are not on a Working Holiday Visa or a sector-specific seasonal scheme, this is almost certainly the visa you are applying for.

The AEWV launched on 4 July 2022 and replaced the older Essential Skills Work Visa, which closed to new applications the same day. It also replaced the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa for most cases, although a small Talent visa pathway still exists for migrants already in New Zealand.

The defining feature: your employer must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand before they can hire you. Accreditation means the business has been checked for financial stability, immigration and employment law compliance, and a genuine need for the role. You can verify any potential employer's accreditation status on the official Accredited Employer List before signing anything.

Big Changes in 2025 and 2026 (and Why Most Online Advice Is Now Out of Date)

The AEWV has changed a lot in the last 18 months. If you are reading articles or YouTube transcripts more than a year old, assume some of the advice is now wrong. Here is what changed and when:

Effective date What changed Why it matters
10 March 2025 Median wage requirement removed from the AEWV. Replaced with 'market rate' for the role. Many lower-paid skilled roles became eligible. Most online articles still claim AEWV needs the median wage, which is incorrect as per latest immigration instructions.
August 2025 10 trades occupations added to Tier 2 of the Green List (the residence pathway). Skilled trades migrants on the AEWV got new options for residence after 24 months in NZ.
9 March 2026 Annual median wage rose to NZD $35.00 per hour (up from $33.56). Does not affect AEWV pay directly, but does change Green List income requirements, partner-support thresholds, and SMC residency thresholds.
9 March 2026 47 new occupations recognised under the National Occupation List (NOL) at skill levels 1 to 3. More roles now qualify for the AEWV, including new chef classifications.
9 March 2026 Pet groomer, nanny, and kennel hand reclassified from skill level 3 to skill level 4. These roles now have stricter requirements (English test, shorter stay).

Source: Immigration New Zealand news centre, immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre.

Immigration New Zealand is introducing a second classification system, the National Occupation List (NOL). The NOL will replace the older Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and is being phased in gradually. For now, you use a NOL occupation code only if your role is on the official list of NOL occupations recognised for an AEWV; otherwise, you must use ANZSCO. Other visa categories may still require ANZSCO.

Current AEWV Requirements (2026)

To qualify for an AEWV today, you need to meet ALL of the following:

  1. A full-time job offer from an accredited employer. The role must be at least 30 hours a week and the employer must hold current accreditation under the AEWV scheme. Casual or self-employed work does not qualify.
  2. An approved Job Check for the role. Your employer must have an approved Job Check (and send you a job token) before you can apply. Job Checks normally require advertising and showing genuine efforts to hire New Zealanders first. For lower-skilled roles (ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5), employers also have specific Work and Income (MSD) steps to complete and must advertise for a minimum of 21 calendar days.
  3. INZ Minimum Skills Threshold (in addition to any qualification or experience requirements specified by the employer). Either 2+ years of relevant work experience OR a NZQCF Level 4+ qualification. Experience must be in the same field as the offered role. If you have a bachelor's degree or higher, the qualification can be in any field.
  4. Pay at the market rate for the role. No more median wage. The 'market rate' is what a New Zealander would be paid for the same job in the same region. Pay must also meet the current adult minimum wage.
  5. Occupational registration where required. Regulated professions (nurses, doctors, teachers, electricians, plumbers, engineers, lawyers, and many others) need full or provisional NZ registration before applying.
  6. An English language test result, if your job is ANZSCO Level 4 or 5. Skill levels 1 to 3 are exempt unless asked for evidence later. Citizenship or English-medium study can also satisfy this requirement. Skill level 4 and 5 roles must provide a valid English test result no more than 2 years old with valid scores. Check English requirements for AEWV
  7. Good health and good character. Includes a chest X-ray for stays over 6 months from countries with TB risk, and police certificates for stays of 24 months or longer.
  8. Genuine intention to do the work and meet the visa conditions.

Full requirements: immigration.govt.nz Accredited Employer Work Visa. Verify before applying as rules change.

How Long Can You Stay on an AEWV?

Maximum continuous stay depends on your job's skill level on ANZSCO or the NOL:

  • Skill levels 1, 2, or 3: up to 5 years in most cases.
  • Skill levels 4 or 5: up to 3 years.

If your visa is granted for less than the maximum stay, you can apply for another AEWV before it expires without leaving NZ. If you stay for the full maximum, you usually need to spend 12 continuous months outside New Zealand before applying for another AEWV.

In practice, most skilled migrants use the 3 to 5 years on the AEWV to either get residence (via the Green List or Skilled Migrant Category) or to extend their stay through a sector-specific Work to Residence Visa.

Pay Rules: AEWV vs. Other Thresholds You Will Hear About

This is where most of the confusion happens. NZ immigration uses several different pay thresholds for different things, and it is easy to mix them up. Here is the clean version:

Threshold Current rate (from 9 March 2026) What it applies to
Market rate Varies by role and region (typical NZ pay range for the same job) AEWV pay rate. Set by your employer based on what NZers are paid.
Adult minimum wage Set annually by the NZ government (check employment.govt.nz) Minimum for any AEWV role, but pay must also be at the market rate. Pay cannot go below this.
Immigration median wage NZD $35.00 / hour Used for Green List minimum income threshold, Skilled Migrant Category, and partner-support thresholds. NOT required for general AEWV.
Partner support threshold (skill 1 to 3) NZD $28.00 / hour Indicative income threshold used in some cases for an AEWV holder to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa (partner work rights can depend on the AEWV holder's job skill level and other policy settings).
Partner support threshold (skill 4 to 5) NZD $52.50 / hour (1.5x median) Indicative income threshold used in some cases for an AEWV holder in a skill level 4 to 5 role to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa.
Skill exemption threshold NZD $70.00 / hour (twice the median wage from 9 March 2026) If you are paid at least twice the median wage, you may not need to provide evidence of qualifications or experience for the AEWV (depending on the role and other requirements).

Source: Immigration New Zealand wage rate page, immigration.govt.nz/work/requirements-for-work-visas/wage-rates-for-work-visas.

From AEWV to NZ Residence

The AEWV is a temporary visa, but most people use it as a springboard to permanent residence. There are three main routes:

  • Green List pathway: if your job is on the NZ Green List, you may qualify for either the Straight to Residence Visa (Tier 1) or the Work to Residence Visa (Tier 2, after 24 months on the AEWV). Read more on our NZ Green List Visa Pathway page.
  • Skilled Migrant Category (SMC): a points-based residence pathway for skilled migrants. SMC uses ANZSCO and the median wage to assess eligibility. Useful when your role is not on the Green List but is still skilled.
  • Sector-specific Work to Residence Visas: Care Workforce Work to Residence and Transport Work to Residence are dedicated pathways for those sectors after 24 months of qualifying NZ work.

Each pathway has its own pay thresholds, qualification rules, and timing. Picking the right one early matters because some require you to start clocking 24 months at the right pay rate from day one of the AEWV.

Verify residence options at immigration.govt.nz.

A Quick Look at Green List Occupations

If your AEWV role is on the Green List, you can move on to either the Straight to Residence (Tier 1) or Work to Residence (Tier 2) visa. Here is a curated sample of occupations on each tier, grouped by sector. The full Green List is held by Immigration NZ and changes periodically, so use this as a starting point only.

This is not the full Green List. The examples below are a curated selection of high-demand occupations as of May 2026. The full Tier 1 and Tier 2 lists, along with their ANZSCO codes, registration bodies, qualification requirements, and any pay-rate thresholds, are maintained by Immigration NZ in the residence instructions and change periodically. We deliberately do not reproduce the full list here because it would go out of date silently. Always confirm your exact ANZSCO code, tier, and current requirements at immigration.govt.nz before relying on this overview.

Tier 1: examples (Straight to Residence)

Sector Example Tier 1 occupations (ANZSCO code)
Health and social services General Practitioner (253111), Anaesthetist (253211), Specialist Physician (General Medicine) (253311), Surgeon (General) (253511), Psychiatrist (253411), Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415), Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412), Midwife (254111), Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611), Clinical Psychologist (272311), Physiotherapist (252511), Veterinarian (234711)
Engineering Civil Engineer (233211), Structural Engineer (233214), Electrical Engineer (233311), Mechanical Engineer (233512), Geotechnical Engineer (233212), Telecommunications Engineer (263311)
Construction Construction Project Manager (133111), Quantity Surveyor (233213), Surveyor (232212)
ICT, electronics and telecommunications Software Engineer (261313), Developer Programmer (261312), ICT Security Specialist (262112), Database Administrator (262111)
Education Secondary School Teacher (241411), Primary School Teacher (241213)

Tier 2: examples (Work to Residence after 24 months)

Sector Example Tier 2 occupations (ANZSCO code)
Education Early Childhood (Pre-primary) Teacher (241111), School Principal (134311), Special Needs Teacher (241511), Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (249311)
Trades Electrician (General) (341111), Plumber (General) (334111), Welder (322313), Motor Mechanic (General) (321211), Diesel Motor Mechanic (321212), Drainlayer (334113), Gasfitter (334114), Metal Fabricator (322311)
Construction Building Associate / Site Supervisor (312112), Crane Operator (712111)
Civil machinery operators Excavator Operator (721214), Bulldozer Operator (721213), Loader Operator (721216)
Agriculture Dairy Cattle Farmer / Farm Manager (121313)

For the full breakdown of how each tier works, the residence pathway, processing timelines, and ANZSCO matching tips, see our NZ Green List visa pathway page.

Sources: Immigration New Zealand residence instructions, Appendix 13 (Green List), effective 23 March 2026; Tier 1 occupations and Tier 2 occupations pages on immigration.govt.nz.

When the AEWV Is Not the Right Visa

The AEWV covers most skilled work cases, but New Zealand has several other work visas for specific situations. If your case fits one of these better, the AEWV is not your visa:

Visa Best for Key requirement
Working Holiday Visa Travellers aged 18 to 30 (35 in some countries) wanting to work and travel for up to 12 months. Country-specific cap. UK has 15,000 places in 2026; China 1,000 places opening 2 July 2026.
Post Study Work Visa International students who completed an eligible NZ qualification. Up to 3 years open work rights, depending on your qualification level.
Specific Purpose Work Visa Short-term assignments, secondments, or specialised roles not covered by the AEWV. Specific purpose, fixed end date, evidence of role.
Entrepreneur Work Visa Migrants starting or buying a business in New Zealand. Detailed business plan, capital investment, points threshold.
Partner of a Worker Work Visa Partners of AEWV holders (and other work visa holders). Your partner must have an eligible work visa and meet the pay rate for their visa and role.
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa Partners of New Zealand citizens or residents who want to live together in New Zealand and have work rights. Must be in a genuine and stable relationship, supported by your NZ partner. Visa length up to 3 years depending on how long you have lived together. Dependent children cannot be included in your application.
RSE / Global Workforce / Peak Seasonal Seasonal horticulture, viticulture, and agricultural roles. Approved seasonal employer, specific job lists.
Fishing Crew Work Visa Foreign crew on NZ-flagged fishing vessels. Sea-based seafood sector agreement.
Student and Trainee Work Visa Students or trainees needing to do practical work experience in New Zealand as part of their study or training (including medical/dental trainees, religious trainees, apprentice jockeys, and some students doing practical training). Must meet specific requirements for your field of study or training and provide required evidence. Length varies: up to 6 months for medical/dental trainees or practical training students, up to 12 months for religious trainees, up to 4 years for apprentice jockeys. Dependent children cannot be included.

Source: Immigration New Zealand visa list, immigration.govt.nz/visas.

Common AEWV Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

After 20+ years of guiding migrants through the NZ work visa process, the same handful of mistakes cost people the most time and money. Here is what to watch for:

  • Job offer scams. Scams targeting AEWV applicants are common, especially in India and South Asia. Real NZ employers do not ask migrants to pay for a job offer. If anyone (employer, agent, broker) asks for money in exchange for a job, walk away. INZ will decline your visa if money was paid.
  • Employer not actually accredited. Always verify accreditation on the official Accredited Employer List before signing. Some smaller employers genuinely do not realise their accreditation has lapsed.
  • Wrong ANZSCO or NOL code. Two job titles that sound the same can sit in different skill levels. Match by actual job duties, not the title alone. This is the most common reason an AEWV gets returned.
  • Insufficient evidence of work experience. A CV and a reference letter alone are not enough. You need pay slips, tax records, certificates of employment with employer letterhead, or similar verifiable documents.
  • Missing English test for Level 4 or 5 roles. If your role is at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, an English test result is mandatory unless you qualify for an exemption (citizenship or English-medium study).
  • Counting the wrong start date for residence. For Green List Tier 2 and sector-specific Work to Residence Visas, the 24 months only counts when you are paid the right wage rate. Starting on a sub-threshold pay rate can delay residence eligibility.
  • Trial period clauses in employment agreements. Accredited employers cannot use 90-day trial periods in employment agreements provided with Job Check applications for AEWV roles. Including a trial period can put the employer's accreditation at risk and can delay the Job Check/visa process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main work visa for New Zealand?

Is the Essential Skills Visa still available?

Do I still need to be paid the median wage for an AEWV?

What is the current immigration median wage?

How long does an AEWV last?

Can my partner come with me on an AEWV?

Do I need an English language test for an AEWV?

What is an accredited employer?

Can the AEWV lead to NZ residence?

What is the difference between ANZSCO and the National Occupation List (NOL)?

AEWV applications get returned over small mistakes. Get them right the first time.

An incorrect ANZSCO code, a missing pay slip, a trial-period clause in your employment agreement: any one of these can cost you months of waiting and a fee you cannot reclaim. Kiwi Fern Immigration Services has guided immigrants through New Zealand work visas for over 20 years. Book a paid 30-minute case review and we will tell you exactly where your application stands.

Keep Reading

NZ Green List Visa Pathway

The Green List explained: Tier 1 vs Tier 2, the two real residence visas, and why there is no 'Green List Visa'.

NZ Residency Visa

Skilled Migrant Category, Straight to Residence, and Work to Residence pathways explained.

Jobs in New Zealand

Top industries hiring immigrants, salaries by role, and how to land a job offer from overseas.

Cost of Living in NZ

Honest monthly budgets by city, real numbers for rent, groceries, transport, and healthcare.

Nurse Salary in New Zealand

Registered nurse pay rates, Green List pathway, and NCNZ registration explained.

Teacher Salary in New Zealand

What primary school teachers really earn in NZ, plus visa pathways for foreign teachers.

Related guides

AEWV step-by-step and adjacent reading

Salary guides by profession

Residency pathways from AEWV