Change is a foot in New Zealand Immigration’s work visa space. Instead of a migrant centered approach it is changing to an employer lead approach. Allowing Accredited Employers to employ migrants in jobs they cannot find New Zealanders for. The job must be 30 hours or more per week, paying at least the medium wage currently $27.76 gross per hour . This new Accredited Employer approach is to prevent migrant exploitation.
To access the Accredited Employer Work Visa or AEWV there are 3 steps for employers to follow.
Step 1: Apply to be an accredited employer by paying a fee and having:
- a NZBN unless you are a foreign diplomatic mission,
- a business IRD number,
- completed Employment New Zealand modules.
Step 2: Job Check, pay a fee and provide job information to NZ Immigration:
- an acceptable job offer (30 hours or more per week paying at least the medium wage, currently $27.76 gross per hour), job description and employment agreement. Some jobs are exempt from the AEWV median wage threshold.
- evidence of advertising the job on a NZ job site i.e. SEEK or Trademe and finding no suitable New Zealanders. Note there are some jobs that are exempt from this requirement.
- provide the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) code that best matches the job you are offering based on the INZ view of ANZSCO
Step 3: Invite a suitably skilled migrant to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
Immigration NZ then checks if the migrant meets the requirements for the AEWV and has the skills and experience advertised for. Once all 3 steps are approved, the migrant worker is issued a 3 year Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). And there it is, the new process.
For HR advice on the Employer Accredited Work Visa, get in touch.