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The New Zealand immigration space continues to change. We have prepared a summary to help make sense of the recent Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) changes and other immigration changes.

Median wage rate

For temporary visa applications, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will replace the median wage rate in March 2025 with market rates. This means that:

• Migrant workers support for an AEWV will no longer need to be paid a blanket rate of at least $29.66 per hour or an exempt rate. For example, after March 2025 a migrant worker can be supported to work as a Carpenter on a AEWV if they are paid $24.50 per hour.
• Migrant workers will need to be paid at least market rate for a role and at least minimum wage ($23.50 per hour from 1 April 2025). Market rate will likely be role specific. For example, the market rate for a Civil Engineer will be different to that of a Nurse.

Accreditation and Job Check process

The accreditation and Job Check process is here to stay but with changes including:

1. From 27 January 2025, removal of the requirement for employers and AEWV workers to complete Employment New Zealand modules.
2. From March 2025 INZ will use declarations to meet Job Check labour market test requirements.
3. From July 2025, INZ will introduce streamlining of Job Check applications for low-risk employers. Until this change is implemented, the escalation and allocation priority schedule can be used to help streamline applications.

While the changes will make it easier for employers to meet requirements at the outset, employers should still be vigilant to meet requirements that they declare have been met. The risk of failing to meet requirements that have been declared as having been met, is that employer accreditation could be revoked, or processing of applications will likely be delayed.

Ensuring that decision ready applications are submitted

INZ have already implemented changes to target incomplete applications. Incomplete applications will be at risk of being declined without a request for information, particularly AEWV applications where applicants are overseas and there is less than one month remaining in relation to Job Check validity or employer accreditation.

Changes to the threshold to support dependent child visas applications and partnership visas

From March 2025, INZ will increase the minimum income threshold that workers need to be paid to support a dependent child for a visa, from NZ$43,322 to NZ$55,844. No changes have been announced in relation to the requirement for AEWV holders to work in a skill level 1-3 role to support a dependent child for a visa or a partner for Partnership Work Visa (unless the dependent child or partner already held a visa supported by the AEWV holder on 26 June 2024).

Seasonal workers

Around November 2025, INZ plan to introduce two new seasonal visa categories to support seasonal workers. The current Specific Purpose Work Visa – Seasonal Worker visa category will be extended until the new categories come into effect. These changes will provide further support for employers of seasonal workers.

Residence categories

Until further changes are announced, the median wage rate of $31.61 per hour will still be used for residence applications including e.g. the Skilled Migrant Category and Parent Category. The government have said that the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List will be reviewed in 2025.

Minimum skills threshold

From March 2025, the required number of years of relevant work experience to meet the minimum skills threshold will be lowered for level 4-5 roles from three to two years. This will allow more migrant workers to become eligible to work in lower skilled roles.

Interim visa changes

From March 2025, interim visas issued to AEWV applicants who held any work visa or a student visa will be granted with conditions that allow them to work until their AEWV has been processed. Previously, it was common for AEWW applicants to lose work rights while on an interim visa. This change will help retain work rights of migrant visa holders while they wait for their AEWV to process.

Maximum period of stay

Form March 2025, applicants that have previously not held a AEWV and are approved a AEWV to work in a level 4-5 role will be granted a AEWV that aligns with their maximum continuous stay for three years.

Labour hire accreditation

From March 2025, the required percentage of New Zealand citizens and resident visa holders that are hired out by accredited labour hire companies to complete specific construction labour hire work, has been reduced to 15% of the accredited labour hire company’s construction labour hire pool. This change will allow labour market companies that operate in the construction space to hire more migrant workers.

Moving Forward

Our team of specialists can help with bespoke and practical advice and solutions to help navigate the changing immigration landscape. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help.

Disclaimer: We remind you that while this article provides commentary on employment law, health and safety and immigration topics, it should not be used as a substitute for legal or professional advice for specific situations. Please seek legal advice from your lawyer for any questions specific to your workplace.