Work visa holders

You must check that the work visa a migrant holds will let them work for you. Some migrants can only work for a specific employer.

Changes to temporary work visas

In 2022 we changed the way employers recruit some migrants for temporary work. If you are an accredited employer you can invite workers to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

From 29 October 2023, accredited employers cannot use trial periods in employment agreements when hiring people on an AEWV.

Accreditation for the AEWV

Accredited Employer Work Visa

From 27 November 2023, there is a maximum continuous stay and longer visa length for the AEWV.

Maximum continuous stay and longer visa length for the AEWV

Checking a migrant's work visa

It is your responsibility to check that a migrant has a visa that lets them work for you. The quickest and most reliable way to find out is to use our online tool, VisaView. It holds information about the work rights for every migrant.

VisaView

You need a RealMe login to use VisaView.

Log in to VisaView with RealMe

If a migrant already has a work visa

A migrant already in New Zealand can only work for you if:

  • they have an open work visa — that is, their visa is not based on a job with a specific employer, or
  • before they start working for you, they:
    • apply to change the conditions of their current visa so you can employ them, or
    • get a new visa that lets them work for you.

If they do not have an open work visa, they can only work for you if you are the employer named on their visa.

Varying the conditions of a temporary visa

If a migrant has completed study in New Zealand

Graduates can apply for a Post-study work visa which lets them work for almost any employer for 1, 2 or 3 years, depending on their qualifications.

Post-study work visa

Graduates holding a work visa

Being a good employer

All workers in New Zealand — citizens and migrants — have the same rights.

Complying with immigration and employment law