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Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa

21 June 2023

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa

The New Zealand government is introducing changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) from November 2023. These changes will affect people who are not clearly on a pathway to residence.

Maximum continuous stay of five years

Under the new rules, people who do not meet the education, qualification, occupation or wage thresholds for skilled residence pathways will be limited to a maximum continuous stay of five years on an AEWV. This means that after five years, they will need to leave New Zealand for 12 months before applying for another AEWV.

Time spent on other temporary visas will not count

Time spent on other temporary visas, such as a Post Study Work Visa or Working Holiday Visa, will not count towards the five-year maximum continuous stay for AEWV holders. This means that if you have spent two years on a Post Study Work Visa, you will only have three years remaining on your AEWV.

Maximum duration of visa extended to five years

To align with this change, the maximum duration of an AEWV will also be extended from three years to five years. This will apply to new visas, while existing visa holders can apply for a further visa to get up to five years in total (including time already spent on an AEWV).

What does this mean for you?

If you are currently on an AEWV or are planning to apply for one, it is important to be aware of these changes. If you are not on a pathway to residence, you will need to carefully consider your options after five years. You may want to consider applying for a different type of visa, such as a Skilled Migrant Category visa, or you may want to leave New Zealand for a period of time before applying for another AEWV.

If you have any questions about these changes, please contact our immigration team.