Minister of NZ Immigration makes an important announcement.

On 5 July 2022, New Zealand’s Immigration Minister, Michael Wood, announced that the final stage of the Accredited Employer Work Visa opened on Monday, 4 July 2022. This means that employers must be accredited and have completed a job check before they can hire migrant workers.

This is good news for anyone wanting to migrate to New Zealand!. Two of the benefits are:
(i) it is a pathway to apply for residence after two years of working for an accredited employer, and
(ii) you can stay in New Zealand for up 30 months with this visa.

Wood confirmed that access to skilled labour is a major constraint on business and that the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will contribute greatly to bringing in new talent.  The initiative was started by New Zealand immigration by combining six work visas to simplify the immigration process and make it more effective. It creates a system where employers don’t have to be checked for compliance every year, and it also minimises the risk of migrant exploitation.

In true New Zealand style, he also said that connecting the country to the rest of the world is not just about the economy but also about reconnecting families.

People are concerned that the AEWV could make it more difficult to emigrate to New Zealand, but we believe it will now be easier for NZ businesses to fill positions and employ the right people.  It will also ensure that migrants have more certainty about their employment in New Zealand.  To get accreditation, employers must meet specific criteria, e.g., to show that they are financially viable and have a credible plan in place to stay viable. This will give applicants more confidence that they will work for a solid company and earn a market-related salary.

Please click here to schedule an appointment with one of our consultants to discuss how we can have you settled in New Zealand before the end of the year.