WA4.11 Maximum Continuous Stay (29/09/2025)

1. Holders of an Accredited Employer work visa (AEWV) can hold an AEWV for a maximum period of time, referred to as ‘a maximum continuous stay period’. If a holder reaches the end of their maximum continuous stay period, 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 reached the end of their maximum continuous stay period. 
3. An application for an AEWV from a previous AEWV holder who has reached the end of their maximum continuous stay period 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 held an AEWV and who, since that AEWV was granted, has spent 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand can be granted an AEWV for the duration allowed by WA4.15 (whether or not they held an AEWV during part of or all of the 12 months, and whether or not they had reached the end of their maximum continuous stay period during or before those 12 months).

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 time spent holding an AEWV (or AEWVs) counts towards a person’s maximum continuous stay period, whether that time is spent while the person is in New Zealand or not.
The maximum continuous stay period excludes any time spent on any other temporary or work visa (e.g. a student or visitor visa, or Specific Purpose work visa with the exception of WS2.1.1 (o)). Certain interim visas as set out at WA4.11.5 below may count towards the maximum continuous stay period.

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.

Note: For the purposes of WA4.11.1(b)(ii), the current offer of employment is considered to be on the Green List if the occupation appears on the Green List (Appendix 13 of the INZ Operational Manual). The migrant does not need to meet the "Green List Requirements" or "Registration Qualifications" listed in the third and fourth columns of the Green List tables.

WA4.11.5 Time in New Zealand on an interim visa with work rights

1. The time spent on an interim visa with work conditions specified in I1.20.1(h) (which reflect AEWV conditions) will count towards a person’s maximum continuous stay as set out in WA4.11 where the person held an AEWV immediately before the interim visa.
2. For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum continuous stay period excludes time spent on an interim visa:
   1. with work conditions other than those applied under I1.20.1(h); and
   2. that was granted before the applicant’s first AEWV (see note under WA4.11 above), even if the conditions of that interim visa were those specified in I1.20.1(h).

Effective 29/09/2025