What is New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) lets you work in New Zealand for an accredited employer that has offered you at least 30 hours a week. It can last up to 5 years depending on the job, and the employer sends you the link to the online application.
Who this is for
Health professionals with a job offer from a New Zealand employer.
What the official guidance says
- You apply if you have a job offer from an AEWV-accredited employer; the employer must send you a link to the online application form.
- The employer must be accredited and have an approved job check for your job.
- The job must be at least 30 hours a week.
- You can stay up to 5 years, depending on your job, skill level, pay and when you applied; the total time on one or more AEWVs can be 3 years if your job is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5.
- If your job is ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 to 5, you must show you can speak and understand English; at skill level 1 or 2 you do not need to.
- You may be able to support a visitor or work visa for your partner and a visitor or student visa for dependent children.
- Immigration New Zealand lists the visa cost from NZD 1,540.
What it does not mean
- Any employer cannot sponsor you; it must be accredited and have an approved job check.
- The AEWV is a work visa, not residence. Residence comes through other routes such as the Green List.
- Your partner and children are not included in your AEWV application; they apply for their own visas.
What to do next
- 01Confirm the employer is on the accredited employer list before relying on the offer.
- 02Make sure your New Zealand registration and practising certificate will be in place for your start date.
- 03Wait for the employer’s job check and the application link, then apply.
Questions
Can I apply for the AEWV without a job offer?
No. You need a job offer from an accredited employer, which sends you the link to apply.
Can the AEWV lead to residence?
It is a temporary work visa. Some roles have residence pathways through the Green List; check Immigration New Zealand.
Official sources
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Migo’s New Zealand plans include checking that an employer is accredited before you count on their offer, and your registration and annual practising certificate steps, with links to Immigration New Zealand and your regulator.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.