New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa 2025:

New Zealand is set to implement significant updates to its Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program starting in spring 2025. These changes aim to enhance workforce capabilities, streamline visa processing, and support economic growth. Below, we delve into the key aspects of these updates and their implications for employers and prospective visa applicants.

Spring 2025 AEWV Changes

The upcoming changes to the AEWV reflect New Zealand’s commitment to attracting skilled talent while addressing labor market challenges. Here are the key updates:

• Reduced Experience Requirement:The minimum experience requirement for lower-skilled migrants will be reduced to two years, making it easier for employers to access the skills they need.
  
  
• Extended Visa Duration: New applicants in Level 4-5 roles will see their visa duration increased from two years to three years, offering greater stability and continuity for both employers and employees.
  
  
• Broader Interim Work Rights: Interim work rights will be extended to AEWV applicants transitioning from any work or student visa type, ensuring smoother transitions and minimizing workforce disruptions.
  
  
• Lower Domestic Workforce Threshold: For specific construction roles, the domestic workforce threshold will drop from 35% to 15%, enabling employers to fill critical roles more effectively.
  
  
• Simplified Labor Market Test: The labor market test will shift to a declaration-based model, reducing administrative burdens and expediting the hiring process.
  
  
• Increased Income Threshold for Dependents: The income threshold for AEWV holders supporting a dependent child will increase from NZ$43,322 to NZ$55,844, aligning with living cost considerations.

Introduction of New Seasonal Visas

To address specific sectoral needs, New Zealand will introduce two seasonal visas in late 2025. These visas are designed to provide flexible and timely solutions for industries with fluctuating labor demands.

Redesigned Job Check Process

The Job Check step in the AEWV application process will undergo a redesign for improved efficiency. This enhancement aims to reduce processing times and ensure that employers can secure talent without unnecessary delays.

Implications for Employers and Migrants

The AEWV changes reflect New Zealand’s balanced approach to immigration, ensuring that businesses can access the skills they require while safeguarding the interests of local workers. By reducing barriers for skilled migrants and refining operational processes, these updates promise to bolster the country’s labor market and economic resilience.

For migrants, the changes offer greater opportunities, stability, and clarity. Whether transitioning from other visa types or planning to bring dependents, the new framework is more accommodating to diverse needs.

Conclusion

New Zealand’s updates to the Accredited Employer Work Visa program underscore its dedication to fostering an inclusive, dynamic, and skills-oriented workforce. By addressing critical gaps in labor availability and streamlining visa processes, these changes aim to create a win-win scenario for employers and workers alike. As the spring of 2025 approaches, both businesses and prospective visa applicants can look forward to a more efficient and equitable system that supports New Zealand’s economic ambitions.

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About Anywr

Anywr is a French international group specializing in the global Talent mobility and international recruitment. The company supports businesses in the search and integration of international talent, offering a complete range of services from sourcing to settlement. Anywr has a network of over 300 consultants in 16 countries. A member of the FrenchTech 120, the group is now composed of nearly 900 employees worldwide, with 400 in France, serving the largest French and international groups. Anywr is an innovative and responsible company, committed to its communities, which puts its expertise and solutions at the service of social integration projects and diversity. ANYWR has adopted the status of a Mission-led Company (Loi Pacte) since June 2021.

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