How New Zealand Employers Can Recruit Overseas Workers

The following information has been prepared with advisory firm Marley Loft to explain the process of becoming accredited with Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

If your business, like many across New Zealand, is struggling to find suitable Kiwis to fill positions, you may be starting to look abroad if you have not already. New Zealand employers looking to employ overseas workers need to be accredited with INZ before they can support an offshore candidate applying for an Accredited Employer Work Visa.

The accredited employer NZ process involves three main steps before an overseas worker can commence employment in your business. These requirements apply to businesses that want to hire migrant workers where suitable New Zealand citizens or residents are not available.

Step One – Apply for Employer Accreditation

Before hiring overseas workers, a business must first apply for employer accreditation with Immigration New Zealand. 

There are different types of accreditation depending on the number of overseas workers you wish to recruit and how your business operates:

  • Standard accreditation is for businesses hiring up to five migrants.
  • High-volume accreditation is for businesses hiring six or more migrants.
  • Triangular accreditation applies to businesses that employ migrants and place them with controlling third parties.

The application fee starts from NZD $775 for standard accreditation. High-volume accreditation costs NZD $1,280, while triangular accreditation costs NZD $4,060. Initial accreditation is generally valid for 12 months. Standard and high-volume accreditation may be valid for 24 months when renewed.

To obtain accreditation, you will need to demonstrate that your business:

  • is viable and genuinely operating;
  • complies with New Zealand employment and immigration laws;
  • has appropriate workplace practices;
  • provides the required settlement support information to overseas workers; and
  • has key people who meet the relevant business, employment and immigration standards.

Step Two – Does the Job Pass the Job Check?

Businesses are encouraged to train, upskill and employ New Zealanders before recruiting an overseas worker.

Before applying for a job check, employers may need to advertise the position and engage with Work and Income, depending on the skill level and type of role. The employer must make genuine attempts to determine whether suitable and available New Zealand workers can fill the position.

To meet the job check requirements, you will generally need to provide:

  • a compliant proposed employment agreement;
  • details of the position and its requirements;
  • evidence that the role pays the relevant market rate; and
  • evidence of advertising and engagement with Work and Income where required.

A job check application can include multiple positions where the job, pay, location and minimum requirements are the same. The INZ application fee is NZD $735. Once approved, the job check is valid for six months or until the employer’s accreditation expires, whichever occurs first.

After submitting the application, employers can log in to Immigration Online to check job application status and view their approved jobs.

Step Three – The Overseas Worker Applies for a Work Visa

Once Steps One and Two have been approved, the employer can offer the candidate the position and invite them to apply for their Accredited Employer Work Visa through Immigration Online.

For candidates researching an AEWV visa NZ application, the applicant will generally need to:

  • meet the standard identity, character and health requirements;
  • provide an offer of full-time employment from an accredited employer;
  • demonstrate that they have the relevant qualifications, skills or work experience;
  • provide evidence of occupational registration if it is required for the role;
  • meet English language requirements where these apply; and
  • meet any requirements relating to their maximum permitted stay in New Zealand.

Depending on the role and the applicant’s circumstances, an AEWV may be granted for up to five years. If the position is on Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the Green List, the applicant may also have a pathway to residence immediately or after completing 24 months of eligible work in New Zealand.

This may provide a pathway for skilled candidates considering immigration to New Zealand. An AEWV holder cannot include their partner or dependent children in the same work visa application, but they may be able to support separate work, visitor or student visa applications for eligible family members.

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