Reusing or resending AEWV job tokens and transferring AEWV workers

A job token is a unique number, also known as a 'unique link' because it is the link you send to a migrant to apply for an AEWV.

You may want to reuse a job token if you have a migrant whose AEWV is ending, and you want to continue to employ them in the same job.

If the migrant you want to offer a job token to can no longer accept it, you may be able to resend the unused job token to another suitable migrant instead.

You can reuse a job token to continue to employ your AEWV worker in the same job if their visa is ending and they have not reached the total amount of time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV (called their maximum continuous stay).

For example, if your employee has a 2-year AEWV and the total time they can spend in New Zealand is 3 years, you can support them to apply for another AEWV for 1 year.

How long you can stay on an AEWV

To reuse a job token to support an AEWV worker to apply for another AEWV, you must continue to employ them:

• in the same job
• in the same location, and
• for the same pay or more than the pay conditions on their current AEWV.

To reuse their same job token, your worker must also have applied for their current AEWV (or their Job Change) on or before 9 March 2025.

Who cannot reuse a job token

You cannot reuse a job token if your worker applied for their current AEWV on or after 10 March 2025.

If your worker applied for their current AEWV on or before 9 March 2025, you cannot reuse a job token if:

• they were paid less than NZD $29.66 an hour when they got their AEWV, and
• their AEWV was for one of the following jobs:
  • Meat process worker
  • Seafood process worker
  • Snowsport instructor
  • Mountain or glacier guide
  • Snow groomer
  • Outdoor adventure instructor
  • Outdoor adventure guides nec
  • Whitewater rafting guide
  • Parachute rigger
  • Ski technician
  • Snow maker.

You may be able to transfer migrant workers on an AEWV to another business, due to a business sale or restructure.

Streamlined Job Change process

AEWV workers who are transferring to another business due to a business sale or restructure must apply for a Job Change (variation of conditions).

Normally, a Job Change requires the new employer to be accredited and have an approved job check for the job the AEWV worker will be employed in.

However, AEWV workers who are transferring to a new employer as a direct result of to a business sale or restructure can apply for a streamlined Job Change. While the new employer does not need to have an approved job check or current employer accreditation, they must have at least applied for employer accreditation.

If the new employer has, or has applied for, standard accreditation, AEWV workers transferred to the new business will be counted against the quota of 5 AEWV workers. If the new employer plans to exceed this quota, they must apply for high-volume accreditation.

What we consider for streamlined Job Change applications

We will only consider the change of employer to be the direct result of a business sale or restructure if:

• the transfer of the AEWV worker was either mutually agreed between the old and new employer, or automatic (for example, due to 2 or more businesses combining), and
• the AEWV worker does not have to reapply for their job and be considered alongside other candidates.

For the streamlined job check process, the job must have the same:

• location
• job title, and
• rate of pay (or a higher rate of pay).

If the requirements for the streamlined Job Change are not met, the standard Job Change process applies. This means the new employer must hold accreditation and apply for a job check. This includes if the:

• AEWV worker has been made redundant and has independently found a new job, or
• job or location are changing due to the business sale or restructure.

Applying for a job check: process steps

What AEWV workers need to provide

When the AEWV worker applies for a Job Change they must provide:

• evidence of a finalised business sale or restructure
• evidence that the transfer was a direct result of the business transaction — such as a sale or purchase agreement or restructure document.
• evidence that shows their employment will continue after the sale or restructure, and
• the original job check number used when they applied for their AEWV.

We will check that the job the AEWV worker is doing is the same as it was under the previous business.

Check or change your work visa conditions

Applications that need priority processing

Employers and AEWV workers who are impacted by a business sale or restructure can request priority processing for their employer accreditation or Job Change application by using the escalation process.

Provide the reason for urgency and the circumstances of the business restructure in your request.

Escalation for urgent applications