New Zealand: New Accredited Employer Work Visa Launch Announced
November 1, 2021
Country / Territory
Share
At a Glance
- The New Zealand government has announced that the previously-postponed launch of the new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) process will proceed on July 4, 2022.
- Employers can file applications for Employer Accreditation under the new rules as early as May 9, 2022 to support AEWV applications starting July 4, 2022.
- The government will stop accepting applications for certain categories of work visas that will be replaced by the AEWV starting November 1, 2021.
- Certain affected visa holders will benefit from new rules that allow them to change employers and maintain their pathway to residence in New Zealand.
The situation
Immigration New Zealand announced that the previously-postponed launch of the new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) process will proceed on July 4, 2022. Employers can file applications for Employer Accreditation under the new rules as early as May 9, 2022, to support AEWV applications starting July 4, 2022.
A closer look
| CHANGE | DETAILS | IMPACT |
| Launch of the new Accredited Employer Work Visa and closure of certain existing visa categories |
|
|
| Change of employers for existing Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Visa holders |
|
|
| Continued pathway for residence |
|
|
Background
- Increasing skill levels of foreign migrants. The new visa is in line with the government’s aim to decrease reliance on lower-paid temporary workers, increase productivity, address infrastructure challenges and ultimately increase the skill levels of foreign nationals migrating to New Zealand.
- Simplified process. With this new visa, the government is seeking to support businesses and regions in New Zealand in filling skills shortages by simplifying the visa application process and streamlining labour market tests for higher-paid roles.
- Long-awaited implementation. Changes to the current process has been contemplated by the New Zealand government as early as 2019 and the implementation of which has been delayed a second time from its earlier expected implementation date of November 2021.
Looking ahead
New Zealand is expected to continue to implement immigration policies that favor higher-skilled foreign nationals in order to upskill the economy and pass knowledge to local workers. We will report on related developments.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
