Hire Migrant Workers in New Zealand With Confidence
If your New Zealand business wants to hire migrant workers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), you generally need to become an AEWV-accredited employer and obtain an approved Job Check for the role you want to offer to a migrant worker. Employer accreditation and the Job Check process help ensure that businesses meet New Zealand’s employment standards and that migrant workers are recruited into genuine roles with fair and lawful employment conditions. At Kwik Kiwi Immigration, we assist New Zealand employers throughout the accreditation and Job Check process, helping you understand the requirements, prepare the necessary documentation and navigate the Immigration New Zealand process efficiently.
OUR EMPLOYER SERVICES
How Kwik Kiwi Immigration Can Help
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Accreditation
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Assessing your business and accreditation requirements.
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Helping determine the appropriate accreditation type.
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Preparing the Employer Accreditation application.
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Reviewing supporting business documents.
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Job Check
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Guiding you through advertising requirements.
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Advising on Work and Income requirements where applicable.
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Preparing and submitting Job Check applications.
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Reviewing job descriptions and position requirements.
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Recruitment and beyond
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Guiding employers through migrant recruitment requirements.
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Assisting with the transition from approved Job Check to migrant AEWV application.
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Helping employers understand their ongoing AEWV obligations.
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Providing guidance when business circumstances or accreditation requirements change.
Employer Accreditation
What is Employer Accreditation?
Employer accreditation is the approval that allows a New Zealand business to hire migrant workers under the AEWV framework. Depending on your business and the number of migrants you expect to hire, you may apply for the appropriate type of accreditation.Types of Accreditation
Accreditation Type
Standard Accreditation
For businesses that want to hire up to 5 migrants.
Accreditation Type
High-Volume Accreditation
For businesses that want to hire 6 or more migrants.
There is also a specific accreditation category for businesses that place migrants with third-party businesses, with no limit on the number of migrants that can be hired under that category.
Before applying, your business needs to meet Immigration New Zealand’s accreditation requirements and have the necessary business information and documentation, including details such as your New Zealand Business Number (NZBN), Business Industry Classification (BIC) code and Inland Revenue number.
Job Check
What is a Job Check?
Once your employer accreditation has been approved, you can apply for a Job Check for the position you want to offer to a migrant worker. The Job Check confirms that the role meets Immigration New Zealand’s requirements, including requirements relating to the job, pay, employment conditions and minimum requirements for the position. A Job Check application can include multiple positions where the roles have the same job, pay, location and minimum requirements.
If you advertised the position, you generally need to apply for the Job Check within 90 days of the job advertisement closing.
An approved Job Check is generally valid for 6 months or until your employer accreditation ends, whichever comes first.
Advertising & Work and Income Requirements
Before applying for a Job Check, employers must check whether there are suitable and available New Zealand workers for the role.
Where required, employers may need to:
- Advertise the position.
- Make genuine efforts to attract and recruit New Zealand citizens and residents.
- Engage with Work and Income for certain roles.
- Meet additional requirements depending on the skill level of the position and the type of seasonal visa involved.
For some seasonal visa situations, different rules apply. For example, employers hiring workers through the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) do not need to advertise or engage with Work and Income, while employers using the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) may have an endorsement option through Work and Income.
The AEWV Employer Process
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Step 1 — Employer Accreditation
Apply to Immigration New Zealand for the appropriate type of employer accreditation. We can help you understand the accreditation requirements and prepare your application and supporting documents.02
Step 2 — Advertise the Position
Where required, advertise the role and make genuine efforts to recruit suitable New Zealand workers.03
Step 3 — Work and Income
For applicable roles, engage with Work and Income and meet the relevant requirements before submitting the Job Check.04
Step 4 — Job Check
Submit the Job Check application for the position. The Job Check confirms that the role meets the relevant Immigration New Zealand requirements.05
Step 5 — Recruit Your Migrant Worker
Once the Job Check is approved, you can identify a suitable migrant worker, check that they have the required skills, experience or qualifications, offer them the position and ask them to apply for their AEWV.06
Step 6 — Meet Your Employer Obligations
Accredited employers must continue to meet their obligations, including providing migrant workers with information about living and working in New Zealand, supporting them to settle and not passing recruitment costs on to migrant workers.What Can Accredited Employers Use Their Accreditation For?
AEWV accreditation allows eligible employers to hire workers through the Accredited Employer Work Visa system.
Accredited employers can also hire seasonal migrant workers through the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), subject to the relevant requirements.
Employer accreditation can also be relevant when supporting certain residence applications, including:
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Work to Residence Visa
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Straight to Residence Visa
A Job Check is not required to support these residence visa applications, although other requirements apply.
How Kwik Kiwi Immigration Can Help
At Kwik Kiwi Immigration, we work with New Zealand employers to make the accreditation and Job Check process easier to manage.
Our Employer Services Include:
Assessing your business and accreditation requirements.
Helping determine the appropriate accreditation type.
Preparing the Employer Accreditation application.
Reviewing supporting business documents.
Guiding you through advertising requirements.
Advising on Work and Income requirements where applicable.
Preparing and submitting Job Check applications.
Reviewing job descriptions and position requirements.
Guiding employers through migrant recruitment requirements.
Assisting with the transition from approved Job Check to migrant AEWV application.
Helping employers understand their ongoing AEWV obligations.
Providing guidance when business circumstances or accreditation requirements change.
Stay Compliant. Recruit With Confidence.
Hiring migrant workers involves important responsibilities for New Zealand employers. From employer accreditation and advertising to Job Check approval and migrant worker recruitment, each stage must be completed correctly.
At Kwik Kiwi Immigration, our team can help you navigate the process and reduce the administrative burden, so you can focus on running and growing your business.