Starting from March 2025, new changes will be applied to New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), Immigration New Zealand has announced.
The new changes come following reforms to the AEWV announced by the Government of New Zealand in December 2024, to make the settings more flexible and responsive to the differing needs of businesses in specific sectors and regions, VisaGuide.World reports.
The changes that will be implemented from March 2025 include:
Removal of Median Wage Requirement From AEWV & Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV)
Starting from March 10, 2025, employers will no longer be obliged to meet a median wage threshold in order to hire migrants under the AEWV and seasonal SPWV policies. Instead, employers are required to pay at least the New Zealand minimum wage (currently NZD $23.15 per hour, increasing to NZD $23.50 on April 1).
However, through a statement, Immigration New Zealand emphasizes that employers are still required to pay migrant workers the same as New Zealand workers in similar roles (the New Zealand market rate).
In addition, Sector Agreements which offered an exemption to the median wage will also be abolished.
Migrants’ Work Experience Requirement Reduced to 2 Years
From next month, the work experience requirement for migrants will be reduced to two years from the existing three-year requirements.
However, employers will still have to ensure that their workers meet the threshold, and applicants are still required to provide evidence that they meet the two-year requirement.
New Amendments to Engage With the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)
Starting from March 10, the requirement for employers to engage with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will become declaration-based, according to New Zealand Immigration’s statement.
They will need to declare in good faith that they have advertised lower skilled roles (ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5) with MSD and interviewed candidates who may be suitable for the role. Employers will be required to retain evidence of their engagement as they may be requested to provide it.
Extended Visa Duration for Less-Skilled Workers
Starting from next month, the visa duration for new Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level four and five, which are the less skilled, will be extended to three years, aligning with the total time they can stay in New Zealand on one or more Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV).
Increased Income Threshold for Supporting Dependent Children
From March this year, the income threshold will also be increased to NZD $55,844 from NZD $43,322.76.
This is 80 per cent of the median wage, in line with the annual 40-hour work week. It will be updated each year in line with the changes to the median wage.
Amendments to Occupation Classifications
New Zealand Immigration has also announced that from March 10, several roles will be classified from ANZSCO skill level four to three, in order to align with their skill level in the National Occupation List (NOL):
- Cook
- Pet groomer
- Kennel hand
- Nanny
- Fitness instructor
- Scaffolder
- Slaughterer
In addition, four other roles will be recognized as ANZSCO skill level three when the employer emphasizes that the job requires either three years of work experience or a level four qualification as part of the Job Check.
This aims to ensure that skilled workers can be retained in certain industries. The roles include:
- Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator
- Excavator Operator
- Forklift Driver
- Mobile Plant Operators Not Elsewhere Classified
In addition to the above-mentioned changes, from February 28 this year, the income requirement for holders of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in order to support partners with open work rights will increase to NZ$26.85 per hour while the Parent Category sponsorship income threshold will also surge, reaching NZ $104,707.20.
According to Immigration New Zealand, from April 2025, Interim Visas for AEWV applicants will be introduced in order to allow some migrant workers to continue being employed or start employment while waiting for visa approval from NZ authorities.
The new changes aim to bring significant benefits to several industries that are being subject to difficulties when attempting to find local workers.