We hope this message finds you well. We participated in consultation on reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme through the Recruitment Consulting & Staffing Association (RCSA) and the Licensed Immigration Adviser bodies we belong to. We are writing to inform you about significant reforms that have just been announced for the AEWV scheme, as well as new seasonal work pathways and work rights for more Interim Visa holders. These changes, announced by the Government, will be rolled out during 2025. Below is a summary of the key updates and what they mean for you.
Please note the implementation timeframes may change, so applications for Accreditation, Job Checks, AEWVs and AEWV extensions must be prepared and submitted according to the current rules until we get official notification from Immigration of the start date for any changes. There is no confirmed date for the review of residence application categories that is due to take place next year, so no change to current rules for residence applications.
Key Changes to the AEWV Scheme
From 27 January 2025:
- Accredited employers will no longer need to complete Employment New Zealand’s online modules or offer migrants paid time to do these. This also applies to Recognised Seasonal Employers.
- The percentage of New Zealanders that certain construction sector businesses must employ will reduce from 35% to 15%.
In March 2025:
- Wage thresholds for all AEWV roles will be removed. Employers must still advertise and offer AEWV employees the market rate for their position and location. This change does not affect existing employment agreements or the wages required for AEWV workers to apply for residence. The current median wage required to count NZ work experience or job offer for a residence application is $31.61/hour. This may be reviewed and increased in February 2025.
- Migrants will need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience, instead of the current 3 years. There is no detail available around this, but we assume it relates to the requirement for lower skilled ANZSCO level 4 & 5 roles introduced in April that visa applicants had to have a minimum of 3 years work experience or a level 4 qualification, plus pass an English test, even though NZers only had to be trainable. It looks as though they will be dropping it to 2 years.
- Employers will no longer have to provide evidence of engagement with Work and Income in their Job Check. They will need to declare they have advertised lower-skilled roles with Work and Income and interviewed appropriate candidates.
- The AEWV duration for new migrants in lower-skilled roles will increase to 3 years, aligning with the maximum time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV. Those currently on two-year visas will be able to apply for an additional year. We assume this means you will not require a new Job Check for them to be able to extend for the additional year, however note that this will only be implemented from some point in March 2025. If you have staff on 2-year AEWVs who need to extend their visas before that please get in touch as soon as possible.
- AEWV migrants will need to earn at least NZ$55,844 a year to bring children, along with meeting other criteria. This threshold has not been updated since 2019, and seems much more realistic than the current NZ$43,322.76 threshold.
Further details and an implementation date will be released in early 2025.
Other Announced Changes
- From April 2025: Some work and student visa holders who apply for an AEWV can receive an Interim Visa that allows them to work while their AEWV application is processed.
- Mid-2025: A new Job Check process will be introduced to streamline procedures for low-risk employers and improve processing timeframes.
- November 2025: Two new pathways for seasonal workers will be introduced, including a 3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers and a 7-month single-entry visa for lesser-skilled workers. The existing temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until then.
What This Means for You
- Current AEWV Holders: Review your visa conditions and plan accordingly, especially if you are in a lower-skilled role or planning to bring family members to New Zealand.
- New Applicants: Ensure you meet the updated work experience and wage requirements before applying. This will help streamline your application process and improve your chances of approval.
- Employers: Accredited employers must adapt to the new requirements and ensure compliance with the updated Job Check and wage criteria.
We understand that these changes may raise questions or concerns. Our team is here to assist you in navigating these updates and ensuring that your immigration plans proceed smoothly. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or to schedule a consultation.
Thank you for your attention to these important updates.