WA4.11 Maximum Continuous Stay (10/03/2025)

1. Holders of an Accredited Employer work visa (AEWV) have a maximum continuous stay period, after which they must be outside New Zealand for a minimum of 12 consecutive months before they are eligible to be granted a further first AEWV (see note below). 
2. An application for a further AEWV must be declined if the applicant is in New Zealand and has completed their maximum continuous stay period. 
3. An application from a previous AEWV holder who has completed their maximum continuous stay period while in New Zealand, is now outside New Zealand, and who has not spent 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand, cannot be approved. For the avoidance of doubt, a previous AEWV holder outside New Zealand can apply for an AEWV before the expiry of the 12 months, but cannot be granted that AEWV if it will allow travel to New Zealand before the expiry of the 12 months.
4. Where an applicant is outside New Zealand when the first AEWV is granted, the maximum continuous stay period must be counted from the first date of entry to New Zealand after the grant of the visa.
5. A person who has spent the required time outside New Zealand can be granted an AEWV for the duration allowed by WA4.15. Once they reach the maximum continuous stay period again, they must once again spend the required time outside of New Zealand.

Notes:
A person’s first AEWV refers only to the first such visa in any particular period of maximum continuous stay.
Following the expiry of a person’s first AEWV, they may remain in New Zealand and hold another type of visa (e.g. a visitor visa or a Working Holiday visa) but this will not count towards the 12 months they are required to be outside of New Zealand.
The maximum continuous stay period excludes any time spent on an interim visa between Accredited Employer work visas or time spent on any other temporary or work visa (e.g. a student or visitor visa, or Specific Purpose work visa).

WA4.11.1 Determining Maximum Continuous Stay period

The maximum continuous stay period for an AEWV holder is either:

1. five years if the holder’s application for their first AEWV was made between 21 June 2023 and 6 April 2024 (inclusive), and the role approved was paid at or above $29.66 at the time of approval; or
2. if the holder is not described in (a) above, as stated in the table below.

Effective 10/03/2025