New Zealand Work Visa 2026: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Guide

New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is now the country's main temporary work visa. If you want to work in New Zealand, this is almost certainly the route you'll be looking at. It lets you work for an approved employer for up to 5 years and, for the right roles, can lead to residency.

How the AEWV works: a 3-step system

Unlike older visas where the worker started everything, the AEWV is employer-led. There are three stages:

1. Employer accreditation — the company must first be approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) as an accredited employer.
2. Job check — the specific role is checked to confirm it's genuine and meets pay and market rules.
3. Migrant check (your application) — finally, you apply, and your skills, experience, English, health, and character are assessed.

Since the scheme opened, INZ has approved well over 185,000 AEWV applications, with tens of thousands of accredited employers — so it's a well-established route, not an experiment.

Main requirements for you

• A full-time job offer (at least 30 hours per week) from an accredited employer.
• The skills and qualifications the job requires — usually 2 years of relevant work experience, or a relevant Level 4+ qualification.
• Pay at the market rate for the role, and at least New Zealand's adult minimum wage (NZD 23.95/hour from 1 April 2026).
• Good health and character — a chest X-ray may be needed if you stay over 6 months.

English language rules (2026 update)

How long can you stay?

AEWVs are issued for 3 or 5 years, depending on the skill level of your role under the ANZSCO classification. There's also a "maximum continuous stay" — once you hit the limit (for example, 5 years), you may need to leave New Zealand for at least 12 months before applying for another AEWV. Higher-skilled roles generally get the longer durations and better residence options.

The pathway to residency

For many people the AEWV is more than a work visa — it's a step toward staying permanently. Depending on your role, you may be able to move toward residence through:

• The Green List — a list of high-demand occupations with faster or more direct residence pathways.
• Work to Residence — building up qualifying work experience that leads to a residence application.

Recent reforms also removed the old median-wage threshold and reduced experience requirements, opening the door wider for skilled workers.

Practical advice

The whole system depends on finding an accredited employer first. Spend your effort there: target companies that already hold accreditation, present a strong international CV, and make sure your occupation lines up with what New Zealand actually needs. Always apply through INZ's official online system — never through anyone promising guaranteed visas for cash.