Check if a migrant is suitably qualified for an AEWV
Before you ask a migrant to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) you must make sure they are suitably qualified and meet your requirements for the job.
Alert
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) requirements have changed. Changes include removing the median wage requirement, reducing work experience requirements and redesigning the job check stage.
For more information about the announcement, including a list of key changes:
Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and median wage
What you need to check
Before you ask a migrant to apply for an AEWV, you must check they:
- meet the AEWV skill requirements, and
- have the skills and experience you have specified for the job.
Migrants must meet the AEWV skills requirements
All migrants who apply for an AEWV must show they have the minimum skills required for the visa.
Before you ask a migrant to apply for an AEWV, you must check they meet 1 of these skill criteria:
- the job you are hiring for is on the Green List and they meet the Green List's job requirements
- the job you are hiring for pays at least NZD $59.32 an hour
- they have 2 years or more of relevant work experience
- they have a relevant qualification of level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
Green List roles — jobs we need people for in New Zealand
You must see evidence from a third party, for example letters from a manager or former employer, an education institution, or occupational registration body.
Read about the different qualification levels on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) website.
About the NZQCF — New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Level descriptors for the NZQCF — New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Migrants must have the skills and experience you specified for the job
You must take steps to make sure the migrant is suitably qualified for the job you are offering.
You set the required skills, qualifications and experience in the job advertisement. These are listed in your job check application.
A qualification or work experience is relevant if it is in the same or similar field or industry as the job offered. A bachelor's degree or higher is considered relevant for any job.
To check a migrant is suitably qualified, you could ask them:
- to do a practical test or demonstrate their knowledge in a job interview, or
- to provide documents that support their resume or CV.
If the job you are hiring for is on the Green List, you need to check the migrant meets the Green List's job requirements or what was specified in the job check application.
Green List roles — jobs we need people for in New Zealand
Some occupations are exempt from meeting the minimum skills for the visa.
- reference letters from employers
- certificates of employment
- payslips
- tax certificates.
- the registration authority
- the name of the registration
- that they meet any other requirements to gain the registration, if applicable.
Examples of documents migrants can use to show relevant work experience include:
Applicants claiming work experience based only on a reference letter or a certificate of employment, without other supporting evidence such as payslips or tax certificates, may not be able to satisfy us that they meet instructions.
You must see the migrant’s qualification. It must show the type of qualification and the institute that awarded it.
To meet the skills requirement, the evidence must give you confidence that the qualification is level 4 or higher on the NZQCF.
You do not need to see an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). If the migrant’s qualification is below a bachelor's degree, they will need to provide an IQA as part of their visa application.
Find information about the IQA process on the NZQA website.
Evaluating international qualifications — New Zealand Qualifications Authority
In New Zealand, people need to be registered to work in some jobs.
If a migrant needs occupational registration, their evidence should confirm:
Check if a migrant needs to be registered:
What you need to provide
You must keep accurate records of the steps you took to recruit a migrant. If we ask for the records, you must provide them. If you cannot do this, we may revoke or not renew your accreditation.
If you are using a third party to recruit on your behalf, for example a recruitment company, you must confirm they will:
- check the migrant is suitably qualified
- keep records of the steps they took to recruit the migrant.
You will be considered responsible if this is not done.