New Zealand work visa: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

You must meet INZ's minimum skill requirement: at least 2 years of relevant work experience (equivalent full time, not necessarily consecutive) or a qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework, in the same field as the job unless you hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Qualifications below bachelor level from outside New Zealand need an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA. No further evidence is needed for Green List roles, jobs with occupational registration, or jobs paying at least NZD 67.12 an hour.

For jobs at ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 to 5 you must show you can speak and understand English, through an approved test no older than 2 years or other accepted evidence. Skill level 1 and 2 jobs have no English requirement. You must also meet the employer's own skills requirements and INZ's health and character rules.

The employer must first be accredited by INZ and then pass a job check for the specific role. Once the job check is approved, the employer sends you a unique link to the online application. The job offer must be current, for at least 30 hours a week and paid at least the market rate for the job.

Some work is excluded from the AEWV, such as planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops in horticulture or viticulture, foreign crew of fishing vessels and self-employment; those need other visas.

The visa is tied to the employer that offered you the job. To change employer, job or location you must apply to vary your conditions, apply for a Job Change or obtain a new visa. You may study up to 3 months in any 12-month period. INZ warns that employers and agents cannot charge you for a job or recruitment costs.

Your total time on one or more AEWVs (the maximum continuous stay) is 5 years for most jobs and 3 years for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 jobs. If your visa is shorter, you can apply for further AEWVs up to that limit; after reaching it you must spend time outside New Zealand before another AEWV.