The New Zealand government announced significant changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in 2025.

Key Points:

  • The changes will be implemented in four different stages throughout 2025.
  • Beginning Jan. 27, 2025, the government will remove the requirement for all current and future accredited employers and recognized seasonal employers to complete Employment New Zealand’s online modules or offer migrants paid time to complete them.
  • In March, five key updates will take place:
    • First, the median wage requirement/thresholds will be removed for all AEWV roles. Employers will still need to pay market rate for the job and location, and this change does not affect existing employment agreements.
    • Second, AEWV migrants will need to earn at least NZ$55,844 (about US$31,595) a year to support dependent children for visas, along with meeting other criteria.
    • Third, AEWV applicants will require two years of relevant work experience (down from three years).
    • Fourth, the visa duration for ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 AEWV holders will be increased to three years.
    • Finally, the current requirement for employers to engage with the Work and Income department will be amended to be declaration-based, and the 21-day time frame currently set for the engagement will be removed.

Additional Information: In addition, the government is introducing greater work rights for interim visas in April and two new pathways for seasonal workers in November. Officials also stated that a new job check process will be introduced in mid-2025 to further streamline the process for low-risk employers and help reduce processing times.

BAL Analysis: More information about these changes is expected in early 2025. These important updates — including removing the median wage threshold, reducing experience requirements to two years and introducing new seasonal visa pathways — are designed to support employers and allow them to better fill skill gaps. The changes are also being implemented to ensure migrants are sufficiently skilled while addressing key issues the government is focusing on in 2025.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.