New Zealand visaWork in New ZealandNew Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa for Indian professionals and tradespeople
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is the main work route to New Zealand: the employer first gains accreditation (NZD 740) and a job check (NZD 735) proving the role was advertised and pays the market rate, then the Indian worker applies online for NZD 1,540 with the job token. Since 10 March 2025 there is no median-wage threshold, but ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 roles need 2 years' relevant experience or a matching qualification and an English test, and are capped at 3 years; level 1 to 3 roles get up to 5 years and a path to Skilled Migrant residence. Decisions take 4 to 8 weeks after the job check, and a chest X-ray, medical and Indian police certificate are standard.
7 min read Verified 30 October 2026 against immigration.govt.nz · How we verify
New Zealand accredited employer work visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies for the AEWV?
- A worker with a full-time offer (at least 30 hours a week) from an accredited employer for a role that passed the job check, who meets the role's skill requirements: for ANZSCO level 1 to 3 occupations the qualifications or experience the employer requires; for level 4 and 5 occupations at least 2 years' relevant experience or a level 4 qualification, plus English at IELTS 4.0 overall or equivalent. Indian engineers, IT professionals, nurses, chefs, construction trades, truck drivers and dairy workers all use this visa; Green List roles such as registered nurses, civil engineers and electricians also unlock Straight to Residence or Work to Residence.
- What does it cost?
- NZD 1,540 for the worker's visa, paid online by card; the employer pays NZD 740 for standard accreditation (NZD 1,220 for high-volume), NZD 735 per job check and any recruitment advertising, and by law cannot recover these from the worker. Add the panel clinic medical and chest X-ray (INR 5,000 to 8,000), the Indian police certificate and, for level 4 and 5 roles, an IELTS or PTE test. There is no skills levy or health surcharge. Vistolane charges the NZD 1,540 fee at the official rate and shows its service separately.
- How long does it take from India?
- Accreditation takes about 10 working days, the job check 2 to 4 weeks, and the worker's visa 4 to 8 weeks for most Indian applicants once the medical and police certificate are in; Immigration New Zealand prioritises Green List roles and complete files. Plan 3 to 4 months from offer to arrival, longer when the employer is not yet accredited.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Accredited Employer Work Visa, up to 5 years (ANZSCO 1 to 3) or 3 years (ANZSCO 4 to 5) |
| Government fee | NZD 1,540 worker's visa; employer pays NZD 740 accreditation and NZD 735 job check |
| Processing | Job check 2 to 4 weeks; visa 4 to 8 weeks for most Indian files |
| Pay | Market rate for the role; no median-wage threshold since 10 March 2025 (Green List and some sectors keep their own thresholds) |
| Skills | ANZSCO 4 to 5 roles: 2 years' experience or level 4 qualification plus IELTS 4.0 |
| Hours | At least 30 hours a week with one accredited employer |
| Family | Partner work or visitor visa and children's visas depending on pay and skill level |
| Verified | 30 Oct 2026 against immigration.govt.nz |
The three-stage system: accreditation, job check, worker visa
| Stage | Who applies | Requirements | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer accreditation | New Zealand employer | Genuine business, no immigration or employment breaches, settlement support commitments; standard (up to 5 migrants) or high-volume | NZD 740 standard; NZD 1,220 high-volume | About 10 working days |
| Job check | Employer | Role advertised nationally for 14 days (21 for ANZSCO 4 to 5), market-rate pay, 30 hours or more, employment agreement | NZD 735 per check | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Worker's AEWV | Indian worker with the job token | Skills and experience for the role, English for level 4 to 5, health, character | NZD 1,540 | 4 to 8 weeks |
From 10 March 2025 Immigration New Zealand removed the median-wage requirement from the AEWV, so the employer must pay the New Zealand market rate for the role rather than NZD 33.56 an hour, but the Green List, the Skilled Migrant Category and the partner visa rules still use median-wage multiples. ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles (for example kitchen hands, caregivers, labourers, drivers) need 2 years' relevant work experience or a level 4 qualification, an English test at IELTS 4.0 overall (or PTE 29, TOEFL iBT 31) and are limited to 3 years with a 12-month stand-down abroad before a new AEWV, unless the role is on the Green List or pays 1.5 times the median wage.
Level 1 to 3 roles (engineers, software developers, accountants, nurses, electricians, chefs, early childhood teachers) get a visa of up to 5 years and count their time toward the Skilled Migrant Category; Green List Tier 1 roles qualify for Straight to Residence immediately, Tier 2 after 2 years of work. The employer must honour the employment agreement for the hours and pay stated in the job check, and the worker may change jobs only by obtaining a new job check with the new accredited employer.
Fees and who pays them
| Item | Fee | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Employer accreditation | NZD 740 standard; NZD 1,220 high-volume | Employer; cannot be recovered from the worker |
| Job check | NZD 735 per role | Employer |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | NZD 1,540 | Worker (many employers reimburse) |
| Medical and chest X-ray | INR 5,000 to 8,000 | Worker |
| Indian police clearance certificate | INR 500 | Worker |
| English test (ANZSCO 4 to 5) | INR 17,000 to 18,000 | Worker |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | NZD 1,630 | Partner |
New Zealand has no immigration skills charge, health surcharge or sponsorship levy; recruitment costs charged to migrants are an offence under the Employment Relations Act. Vistolane charges the NZD 1,540 fee at the official rate and shows the medical and tests separately.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Employer accreditation
The employer applies in the Immigration Online employer portal (NZD 740) and commits to settlement support; valid 12 months at first grant, then 24.
- 2
Job check
Advertise 14 or 21 days, prepare the employment agreement at the market rate; NZD 735; approved roles produce a job token.
- 3
Worker gathers evidence
Qualifications and experience letters for the role, IELTS 4.0 for level 4 to 5, chest X-ray and medical, Indian police certificate.
- 4
Apply online with the job token and pay NZD 1,540
Upload documents; biometrics at VFS Global India if requested; 4 to 8 weeks.
- 5
Receive the eVisa and start work
Arrive within the visa window; apply for an IRD number; the employer delivers the settlement information within the first month.
Timeline for an Indian hire
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | About 10 working days | Skip if the employer is already accredited |
| Advertising and job check | 4 to 6 weeks | 14 or 21 days of advertising plus the decision |
| Medical and police certificate | 2 to 4 weeks | In parallel with the job check |
| Worker's visa | 4 to 8 weeks | Green List roles prioritised |
| Arrival | Within the first-entry date | Usually 3 to 4 months from offer |
Employers in healthcare, construction and IT routinely bring Indian staff through this route; the slowest step is usually the employer's first accreditation, so ask early whether it is in place.
After arrival: changing jobs, family and residence
AEWV holders may work only for the accredited employer named on the visa; a new job needs a job check by the new employer and a variation or new visa. Partners of workers in ANZSCO level 1 to 3 roles paid at least NZD 28.00 an hour, or any role paid at least NZD 52.50 an hour, qualify for the Partner of a Worker Work Visa with open work rights; otherwise the partner receives a visitor visa, and dependent children attend school as domestic students when the worker earns at least NZD 55,844 a year. The New Zealand partner route page covers the evidence.
Residence follows through the Skilled Migrant Category (6 points from qualifications, registration or income plus years of skilled work in New Zealand), the Green List Straight to Residence and Work to Residence visas, or the sector agreements for care and transport workers with their own residence pathways. Level 4 and 5 workers without a residence pathway must leave for 12 months after 3 years before holding a new AEWV.
Document checklist: applicant
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid beyond the visa length | Bio page scan |
| Chest X-ray and medical examination | Panel clinic eMedical; valid 3 months at lodgement |
| Indian police clearance certificate | Within 6 months; plus any country lived in 12 months or more |
| Qualifications and experience letters | Matching the job check's requirements; 2 years for ANZSCO 4 to 5 |
| English test result (ANZSCO 4 to 5) | IELTS 4.0 overall, PTE 29 or TOEFL iBT 31 |
Employer
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Accreditation approval | Standard or high-volume; current |
| Job check approval and job token | Role, pay, hours, location |
| Employment agreement | Signed; at least 30 hours a week at the market rate |
| Settlement support plan | Information on tenancy, healthcare, IRD, driving |
Family
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate and 12 months of cohabitation evidence | For the partner visa |
| Children's birth certificates | Dependent child visas |
| Payslips showing NZD 28.00 or NZD 52.50 an hour | Partner work rights test |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Skills not matched to the role
Experience letters vague or shorter than 2 years for a level 4 to 5 role.
The fix. Obtain detailed letters on letterhead with duties and dates; add payslips and provident fund records.
English not evidenced
No test for an ANZSCO 4 to 5 job.
The fix. Sit IELTS or PTE before lodging; level 1 to 3 roles are exempt.
Job check inconsistent
Pay or hours in the agreement differ from the job check.
The fix. Ask the employer to align the agreement before the worker applies.
Health or character
Chest X-ray missing, or undisclosed convictions.
The fix. Complete the medical early and declare everything with context.
Employer accreditation lapsed
Accreditation expired between job check and visa decision.
The fix. Check the expiry date and renew before lodging.
Official sources
New Zealand accredited employer work visa questions
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