Upcoming Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa Category

Significant Changes to New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Coming March 10, 2025

 The New Zealand government has announced major reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) programs, set to take effect on March 10, 2025. These changes aim to increase flexibility for employers and streamline the process of hiring migrant workers.

Key Changes:

1. Removal of Median Wage Requirement:

• Employers no longer need to pay the median wage for AEWV and SPWV workers.
• Compensation must meet or exceed the NZ minimum wage (NZD $23.50/hour from April 1, 2025).
• Migrant workers must receive pay comparable to New Zealand counterparts, reflecting market rates.

• Mandatory work experience for migrants reduced from three years to two years.
• Employers must verify and applicants must provide evidence of experience.

• Employers to declare they've advertised lower-skilled roles (ANZSCO levels 4 and 5) through MSD.
• Documentation of engagement should be retained for potential review.

• AEWV validity for these roles extended to three years, aligning with maximum continuous stay.

• Annual income threshold for supporting dependent children raised to NZD $55,844.
• Corresponds to 80% of median wage, updated annually.
• Previous threshold applies to children with visas or applications before March 10, 2025.

• Certain roles reclassified to ANZSCO skill level 3, including cooks, pet groomers, nannies, fitness instructors, scaffolders, and slaughterers.
• Aligns with transition from ANZSCO to National Occupation List (NOL).

These reforms aim to enhance the AEWV program's adaptability, helping employers address labor shortages while ensuring fair treatment of migrant workers. Employers should familiarize themselves with these new requirements to ensure compliance and optimize recruitment processes. Migrant workers are encouraged to review these changes to understand potential impacts on their employment and residency prospects in New Zealand.

For more information, contact our Immigration Expert Hetish Lochan at [email protected] or 03 441 2743.