Maximum continuous stay and longer visa length for the AEWV

From 27 November 2023 the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will change to include a maximum continuous stay and a longer visa length.

Working in New Zealand

Summary of changes to the AEWV

From 27 November 2023 we are:

  • introducing a 'maximum continuous stay' for everyone who has an AEWV
  • increasing the length of the AEWV for people earning at least the median wage from 3 years to 5 years, and
  • increasing the length of the AEWV for people in the care workforce sector who are paid at least the level 3 pay rate, from 2 years to 3 years.

Wage rate requirements for visas

Example

If your AEWV is approved from 27 November and you are paid at least the median wage:

  • your visa may last for up to 5 years (visa length)
  • you can spend up to 5 years on 1 or more AEWVs (maximum continuous stay)
  • after 5 years if you want another AEWV you must spend at least 12 months in a row outside New Zealand first (time spent outside New Zealand)
  • once you have been outside New Zealand for 12 months in a row you may be eligible for a further AEWV for up to 5 years.

If you have an AEWV that was approved before 27 November 2023, and you are eligible for the longer visa length:

  • you will be able to apply for the balance of the 5-year or 3-year visa
  • your employer will not need another Job Check if your role and visa conditions remain the same.

Maximum continuous stay

A 'maximum continuous stay' is the total time you can be on an AEWV before you must spend time outside New Zealand to be eligible for another AEWV.

From 27 November, if you are paid at least the median wage, your maximum continuous stay will be 5 years.

Maximum continuous stays are also being introduced for sectors which are exempt from paying the median wage.

AEWV length, maximum continuous stay and time outside New Zealand effective from 27 November 2023
Role Maximum visa length Maximum continuous stay Time you must spend outside New Zealand
Roles paid at least median wage 5 years 5 years 12 months
Care workforce sector roles paid the level 4 pay rate 3 years 5 years 12 months
Care workforce sector roles paid the level 3 pay rate 3 years 3 years 12 months
Construction and infrastructure sector roles paid below median wage 2 years 2 years 12 months
Transport sector roles paid below median wage 3 years 5 years 12 months
Seasonal snow and adventure tourism sector roles paid below median wage 7 months 5 years 12 months
Tourism and hospitality sector roles paid below median wage 2 years 2 years 12 months
Meat processing sector roles paid below median wage 7 months 7 months 4 months
Seafood processing (onshore) sector roles paid below median wage 7 months 7 months 4 months
Note

The changes do not apply to you if you are employed on a Fishing Crew Work Visa and working at sea.

For the care workforce you can check the level 3 and level 4 pay rates at Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.
Support workers' minimum wage rates update — Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

Maximum visa length is not always the same as the maximum continuous stay

The maximum visa length is not always the same length of time as the maximum continuous stay.

If the maximum continuous stay is longer than the maximum visa length for your role, any further AEWVs you get can only be approved for up to the length of the maximum continuous stay.

Example

You are a bus driver in the transport sector paid below median wage.

  • Your maximum visa length is 3 years.
  • Your maximum continuous stay is 5 years.
  • You can get a 3-year AEWV (the maximum visa length).
  • At the end of 3 years you can apply for a second AEWV, but the visa length can only be up to 2 years. This is because your total maximum continuous stay is 5 years.

Calculating time for maximum continuous stays

We count your maximum continuous stay from the date:

  • your first AEWV was issued, or
  • you arrived in New Zealand on an AEWV, if your AEWV was issued while you were outside New Zealand.

Unless you have already spent the required time outside New Zealand, any time spent on an AEWV approved before 27 November 2023 — including time spent on an AEWV paid below the median wage — will count towards the new maximum continuous stay.

Your maximum continuous stay will not reset until you spend the required time outside New Zealand.

Note

You can have multiple shorter AEWVs that add up to your maximum continuous stay. For example, if your maximum continuous stay is 5 years, it can include a 3-year visa and a 2-year visa.

Your maximum continuous stay cannot include time spent on:

  • temporary visas such as visitor and student visas
  • other work visas such as post study, partnership or working holiday visas
  • an Interim Visa.

When you reach your maximum continuous stay

When you reach the maximum continuous stay, you must leave New Zealand for at least the required amount of time to be eligible for another AEWV. Refer to Table 1.

You must spend at least 12 months in a row outside New Zealand if you are paid:

  • the median wage or above, or
  • below the median wage in a role other than meat and seafood processing.

You must spend at least 4 months in a row outside New Zealand if you are paid below the median wage in a meat or seafood processing role.

At any time, if you have spent the required time outside New Zealand, even if you have not yet reached the maximum continuous stay period:

  • you will be eligible for another AEWV
  • your new AEWV visa length will be the maximum for your role, and
  • the maximum continuous stay of your AEWV will be reset.

If you are on a pathway to residence

You will be able to apply for another AEWV without spending 12 months out of New Zealand if you can show you are on a pathway to residence.

This could include, for example, if you meet the skill threshold — occupational registration, qualification or income — but need more time to complete your skilled work experience.

We will provide more information on recognised pathways to residence in the future.

Length of AEWV for roles paid at least the median wage

The maximum length of an AEWV is increasing from 3 to 5 years.

This applies to all applications approved from 27 November 2023 where the job or job offer is paid at least the median wage.

If you have an existing AEWV

From 27 November, you will be able to apply for another AEWV to receive the visa balance of 5 years if you:

  • have, or had, an AEWV approved before 27 November 2023, and
  • have a job or job offer paying at least the median wage at the time you apply for another AEWV.

If you have already spent 12 months outside New Zealand, you may be eligible for an AEWV for up to 5 years.

Note

You do not have to wait until your current AEWV expires to apply for the balance of 5 years. 

Example

You currently have a 3-year AEWV. On 27 November you apply for a second AEWV to claim the longer maximum visa length. You will receive a new AEWV with a visa length of 2 years. Your total balance over the 2 visas is the maximum visa length of 5 years. Your new visa starts when your current one ends.

Length of AEWV for care workforce roles paid below median wage

The maximum length of an AEWV for a care workforce worker paid the level 3 or level 4 pay rate is increasing from 2 to 3 years.

This applies to all applications approved from 27 November where the job or job offer is paid at the level 3 or 4 rate.

For workers paid at the level 3 pay rate, this increase will give you enough time to complete the level 4 qualification and move to the higher pay rate and pathway to residence. If you move to the level 4 pay rate, you will be able to apply for a further AEWV to get the maximum continuous stay of 5 years.

For workers paid at the level 4 pay rate, this increase will give you time to apply for residence after you have completed the required 2 years of work experience at the level 4 pay rate.

If you have an existing AEWV as part of the care workforce sector

From 27 November you will be able to apply for a further AEWV to get the visa balance of 3 years if you:

  • have, or had, an AEWV as part of the care workforce sector agreement approved before 27 November 2023, and
  • have not spent the required amount of time outside New Zealand.
Note

You do not have to wait until your current AEWV expires to apply for the balance of 3 years.

Example

You currently have a 2-year AEWV as part of the care workforce sector. On 27 November you apply for a second AEWV to claim the longer maximum visa length. You will receive a new AEWV with a visa length of 1 year. Your total balance over the 2 visas is the maximum visa length of 3 years. Your new visa starts when your current one ends.

Employers with workers applying for their AEWV balance

You can support your employee to apply for their visa length balance if you are paying at least the median wage, or you employ them as part of the care workforce sector agreement.

When you can reuse a job token

You will not need to do another Job Check for the role and you can reuse the existing job token, if:

  • your employee has an AEWV on 26 November 2023
  • you offer them the same role, in the same location, and
  • you pay them at least the amount listed in their current AEWV conditions.