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.

When job tokens are needed

A migrant worker needs a job token when they are applying for an AEWV.

A migrant worker also needs a job token if they change their:

• job location, or
• role, or
• employer.

If only the job location is changing, the job token must be for that role in that new location.

In some situations, you can reuse or resend a job token. If you cannot reuse or resend a job token, and you do not have an unused token available, you need to apply for a Job Check to get a new one.

Job tokens for Job Change applications

If a migrant worker applies for a Job Change you do not need to send them the job token 'unique link' in Immigration Online. You must tell the migrant worker their job token number (also called job check number) to use for their application. If the link is sent by mistake, we will withdraw it and issue the Job Change for you.

Check or change your work visa conditions

You can reuse a job token to continue to employ your AEWV worker if:

• they applied for their current AEWV on or before 9 March 2025
• their visa is ending
• they have not reached the total amount of time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV (called their maximum continuous stay)
• you employ them in the same job
• the job is in the same location, and
• the job is the same pay or more than the pay conditions on their current AEWV.

For example, 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

When you 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 1 of the jobs listed below.

List of 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.

In some situations, you can transfer migrant workers on an AEWV to another business, due to a business sale or restructure.

A business sale or restructure happens when the legal owner of the business changes. If the reporting line changes but the organisation and main duties of the job stay the same, you do not need to apply for a Job Change.

Streamlined Job Change and job check 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). They do not need to provide a job check number when they apply.

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.

Once their Job Change is approved, the new employer must apply for a streamlined job check — they must have an approved job check for the job but they will not need to advertise the job or pay the job check fee.

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

What we consider for streamlined Job Change and job check 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
• AEWV worker does not have to reapply for their job and be considered alongside other candidates.

For the streamlined Job Change and job check process, the job must have the same:

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

We will contact the new employer to let them know if they are eligible for the streamlined job check process.

When an employer must complete a standard job check

If the requirements for the streamlined Job Change or job check are not met, the standard process applies. This means the new employer must apply for a new job check and pay the fee. 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.

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
• the original job check number used when they applied for their AEWV, and
• the offer of employment or employment agreement.

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

Applying for a streamlined job check

Once the Job Change has been approved, we will contact the new employer to let them know they must apply for a streamlined job check and how to apply. They do not need to advertise the job or pay the job check fee.

We use the new job check number to link an AEWV worker to their new employer.

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

We can cancel a job token if:

• an employer informs us that they no longer need the token
• we determine that the employment is not or acceptable, or
• the job token was granted in error.