Working Visa

A Job Check is a crucial step that must be completed before a migrant can be invited to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). This gate will only be open to an employer once accreditation has been granted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The AEWV work visa is the only work visa available to employers wanting to support a migrant worker, and it replaced the Essential Skills Work Visa on July 4, 2022. The Job Check has been introduced to ensure New Zealanders are not overlooked for the job, employers are offering attractive wages to New Zealanders, and migrants are mostly filling high-paid and skilled jobs.

This visa is the go-to option for many international students after successful completion of their studies. It has open work conditions with provisions for the holder to work for any employer. Previously, people holding a Post Study Work Visa were able to work in any role, for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand. Under the new settings, their visa conditions depend on the qualification they have gained in New Zealand. An applicant may be granted only one Post Study Work Visa, and they will need to show they have NZD $5,000 of available funds The Post Study Work Visa will continue to be valid for up to three years. For most people, the length of the Post Study Work Visa will match the time they have spent studying fulltime in New Zealand. To be eligible, degree level 7 and above students must have spent at least 30 weeks studying fulltime here. Non-degree level 7 and below students must have completed their full qualification here. Partners of students will receive an open work visa if their partner is studying:
• for any master’s or doctoral degree; or
• a level 7 or 8 qualification on the Green List or the Qualifications Eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa list