The Countdown to the Accredited Employer Work Visa is on!
The new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has finally been confirmed and has a start date of 4 July 2022. This will replace six work visas, including the Essential Skills work visa, which is commonly used by our clients.
The new visa will be rolled out in stages:
23 May – Applications Open
20 June – Job Check Opens
4 July – Accredited Employer Work Visas become available
If you are looking to employ a migrant or if your current employee needs to renew their visa soon after 4 July, then it is recommended you start your application when this opens on 23 May.
During this roll out the Essential Skills work visa will still be available to apply for until it permanently closes on 3 July 2022.
Get Started
There will be a backlog with these applications, so it’s important that you first decide if you need to jump in the queue on 23 May, or if you have some time up your sleeve. To ascertain this, we recommend you review current work visa expiry dates for your team, or if you have current recruitment needs which could result in you hiring a migrant worker.
It’s always good practice to ensure your employment documentation, including your Individual Employment Agreement is up-to-date and meets employment legislation and INZ requirements.
Accreditation Options
Consider which AEWV you will need, between ‘Standard Accreditation’ which covers up to 5 migrant workers (application fee of $740) or the ‘High Volume Accreditation’ which covers 6 or more migrant workers (application fee of $1,220).
Additional costs and options apply for upgrades, Labour Hire Companies and Franchisees.
Employer Requirements
A reminder that a key intention of the AEWV is that these applications are Employer led, and therefore along with being a viable and genuine business, complying with immigration, employment and business standards, the Employer will also be responsible for all fees associated with recruitment, accreditation, job checks etc..
There will also be aspects of the applications that are declaration based, including that the Employer agrees they will, within the first month of the migrant’s employment, provide information on how to get an IRD number, relevant training and qualification information and options, specific job or industry hazards, accommodation options, transport options, cost of living, how to access healthcare services, Citizens Advice Bureau services and information about community groups.
Additionally, there is a requirement for anyone within a business that is directly involved with employing AEWV holders, including HR Managers, Leaders, Sole Traders must complete Employment New Zealand’s most recent online modules.
Employer’s must also allow AEWV holders to complete online modules on employment rights during working hours, within the first month of employment.
Online modules can be completed now at employment.elearning.ac.nz.
Job Check Requirements
As always, you are encouraged to train, upskill and employ New Zealand residents and citizens, however in the current recruitment market it is likely that you will need to look further afield, therefore you may need to supplement your team with a migrant worker. In this case, you must apply for a job check for each position you want to hire a migrant worker for. Multiple positions for the same job can be included in one job check if the job details are the same and are all covered by the same advertising (where required) and proposed employment agreement. Job checks are valid for six months and cost a fee of $610.
All jobs must be paid at least the median wage ($27.76 per hour from 4 July 2022) and must be advertised to New Zealanders for a minimum of 2 weeks. Visas for these jobs will be valid for up to 3 years.
If the job is paid at least 200% of the median wage, you do not need to advertise the role and visas for these jobs can be for up to 3 years and can offer a pathway to residence.
If you pass the job check, the migrant worker can then apply for the visa.
Current Work Visa Extensions
INZ has made an exciting announcement for work, and work to residence, work visas that expire between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (inclusive). INZ have granted automatic extensions in the form of a new open work visa, and six-month extension for work to residence visas. This should relieve some time pressure from businesses applying for the AEWV.
If your Employee qualifies for one of the automatic extensions, they won’t need to do anything, except sit back, and wait for the email confirming the extension. We recommend you ensure your team member provides you with a copy of this for their personnel file. If they haven’t received an email, they can check their new expiry date on their visa record from 25 May.
The new open work visa is granted for onshore work visa holders that hold either an Essential Skills Work Visa, Post Study Work Visa, or Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa that expires between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (inclusive).
The new open work visa will replace their current terms and conditions with the below:
valid from 9 May 2022 until two years from the date of expiry of the previous visa
allow the holder to work for any employer anywhere in New Zealand, and
allow the holder to leave and re-enter New Zealand.
There are also new visas for partners and children of work visa holders, and extensions of work to residence visa extensions. We encourage you to check out the Immigration New Zealand website for further information.
For more information on the AEWV
We recommend you click here to check out INZ’s website. If you would like a snap-shot complimentary review of your Employment Agreement, please contact the People Passion team.
Please note, People Passion are not licensed immigration advisors, and this article is provided for general information purposes only. If you need immigration advice, specific to your needs, we recommend seeking specialist support from a licensed immigration advisor.
Krista McDowell
HR Partner