Skilled Migrant Category and Accredited Employer Work Visa: routes to live and work in New Zealand
Skilled migration to Aotearoa runs across five routes.
The routes are the Skilled Migrant Category resident visa, the standard Accredited Employer Work Visa, the sector-agreement AEWV sub-route, and two Green List pathways — Tier 1 Straight to Residence and Tier 2 Work to Residence. Immigration New Zealand (Te Ratonga Manene) decides every application; an accredited employer underpins all but the SMC self-points route.
Estimated time
Six to twelve months end-to-end depending on route — Accredited Employer Work Visa decisions track an 80%-within-six-weeks service standard once a Job Check is approved, while the Skilled Migrant Category resident visa and the Green List Straight to Residence pathway run longer with case-by-case assessment.
Cost
From NZ$1,540 for the work-visa side and from NZ$6,450 for the resident-visa side, plus applicant-borne medicals, police certificates, English-language tests, and qualification assessments.
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- Immigration New Zealand raised the immigration median wage to NZ$35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026, calculated from June 2025 Stats NZ data, up from NZ$33.56 per hour previously. The threshold sets the wage floor for the AEWV outside sector agreements, the Green List Tier 1 wage requirement, and the underlying wage tracking for Green List Tier 2 work months.
- Forty-seven additional skill level 1 to 3 occupations were recognised under the National Occupation List from 9 March 2026 for AEWV applications. The National Occupation List replaces ANZSCO inside immigration policy from that force date.
- Three occupations — pet groomer, nanny, and kennel hand — were reclassified from skill level 3 to skill level 4 on 9 March 2026. Holders of an AEWV in these roles with a Job Check submitted on or before 8 March 2026 retain pre-reclassification status; new applications lodged after the force date are assessed at skill level 4.
- From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category points test is reshaped: a Trades and Technician Pathway requires four years of post-qualification directly-relevant experience and 1.5 years in New Zealand at the SMC median wage; a Skilled Work Experience Pathway requires five-plus years of experience plus two years in New Zealand at 1.1 times the SMC median wage (standard occupations) or two years at 1.2 times the SMC median wage (amber-listed occupations). New Zealand master's qualifications carry six points after thirty weeks of full-time study in New Zealand; applicants claiming level 8 or level 9 qualification points must also hold a bachelor's degree.
- The 24 August 2026 reform package also adds a five-month grace period after visa grant for skilled work to begin, expands occupational-registration recognition to include CPA Australia Certified Practising Accountants doing Qualified Statutory Accountant work, and extends English-language test validity to five years for applicants with recognised occupational registration.
- Sector agreements currently cover care workforce, construction and infrastructure, meat processing, seafood, seasonal snow and adventure tourism, and tourism and hospitality. Sector-agreement workers may apply for an AEWV against a job that pays below the standard immigration median wage, subject to the sector-agreement wage floor and quota.
- Employer accreditation comes in four types: Standard (employer with 1 to 5 migrant workers), High-volume (six or more migrant workers), Franchisee, and Triangular (a labour-hire employer placing workers with controlling third parties).
- The Skilled Migrant Category Invitation to Apply carries a four-month deadline by which the applicant must lodge the full application after the Expression of Interest is accepted.
Step-by-Step
- 1
Identify the most generous route the applicant qualifies for
- (Applicant) Compare the five available routes: the Skilled Migrant Category resident visa points test, the standard Accredited Employer Work Visa, the sector-agreement AEWV sub-route, Green List Tier 1 Straight to Residence, and Green List Tier 2 Work to Residence.
- (Applicant) Check the Green List on the Immigration New Zealand site first — a Tier 1 occupation bypasses the SMC points test entirely, while a Tier 2 occupation rewards twenty-four months of qualifying work in the listed role.
- (Applicant) Confirm the applicable age limit: 55 or younger for the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List Tier 1; no age limit on the AEWV itself.
💡 Tip: The five routes do not stack — the applicant picks the most generous route their profile supports, and other routes are not added on top. Immigration New Zealand generally accepts only one substantive application at a time.
- 2
Verify the employer's accreditation and Job Check status
For AEWV and Green List Tier 1 applicants — Skilled Migrant Category applicants confirm the job is from an accredited employer offering a skilled position
- (Applicant) Ask the employer for the accreditation expiry date before signing an employment agreement. Accreditation runs for an initial twelve months and renews for twenty-four months.
- (Employer) Files a Job Check application with Immigration New Zealand for the specific job being offered. The Job Check verifies the job is genuine, pays at or above the relevant wage threshold, and has been advertised in the New Zealand labour market where required.
- (INZ) Issues a job token to the applicant via the employer once the Job Check is approved. The job token identifies the approved role and links the AEWV application to the accredited employer.
⚠️ Watch out: If the employer's accreditation lapses while the AEWV application is pending, Immigration New Zealand can require the employer to re-accredit before the visa is granted. Lodge the application after verifying the accreditation expiry date is comfortably beyond the expected decision window.
- 3
Submit a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest
Skilled Migrant Category applicants only — Green List Tier 1 lodgement skips the Expression of Interest step
- (Applicant) Logs into INZ Online and lodges the Expression of Interest, capturing the claimed points configuration, a summary of the qualifying job, and the qualifications.
- (Applicant) Works through the four points buckets — qualifications, occupational registration, income, and skilled work experience in New Zealand — to reach six skilled resident points.
- (INZ) Accepts the Expression of Interest and issues an Invitation to Apply, which carries a four-month deadline for lodging the full application.
💡 Tip: Use the Skilled Migrant Category visa overview to plan a configuration that lets the applicant claim 6 skilled resident points from your skills and work in New Zealand before lodging the Expression of Interest.
- 4
Assemble the document pack for the chosen route
- (Applicant) Gathers the shared core: passport with at least six months' validity beyond the intended visa expiry, completed application form, recent passport-size photograph, and evidence supporting good health and good character.
- (NZQA) Issues an International Qualifications Assessment where Immigration New Zealand requires one. Commission the assessment before the Expression of Interest rather than after the Invitation to Apply lands.
- (Panel physician) Completes the general medical certificate and chest X-ray for applicants aged 15 and over. The medical certificate must be less than three months old at lodgement.
- (Issuing authority in each country) Issues police certificates for every country the applicant has lived in for twelve months or more in the last ten years. Certificates must be less than six months old at lodgement.
⚠️ Watch out: Police certificates and medical examinations have short validity windows — six months and three months respectively. An applicant who starts gathering documents at the start of preparation often finds the earliest-issued certificates expire before lodgement. Gather these close to the lodgement window, not at the start of preparation.
- 5
Lodge the visa application through INZ Online
- (Applicant) Submits the application through INZ Online, attaching the job token (for AEWV), Invitation to Apply reference (for SMC), and the assembled document pack.
- (Applicant) Pays the application fee through INZ Online at submission. The Immigration Levy and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy are bundled into the visa-application payment where applicable.
- (Applicant) Confirms the English-language test result, where required, is less than two years old at the date of application. Sit the test no earlier than twenty-two months before the planned lodgement date so the result remains current.
💡 Tip: Resident-visa lodgements (SMC, Straight to Residence, Work to Residence) all carry the same application-fee tier. The work-visa side (AEWV) is materially cheaper and is the most common pre-residence route for applicants who do not qualify for a Green List Tier 1 occupation.
- 6
Wait for the Immigration New Zealand decision
- (INZ) Assesses the application against the route-specific criteria. AEWV decisions track an 80%-within-six-weeks service standard; Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1) tracks an 80%-within-five-months service standard.
- (INZ) May request further information mid-assessment — additional police certificates, supplementary medical examinations, or employer corroboration of the role. Respond within the stated deadline to avoid the application being declined.
- (Applicant) Avoids time-sensitive travel out of New Zealand during the assessment window unless the current visa allows multiple entries; some assessments require the applicant to remain in New Zealand for biometric or interview steps.
⚠️ Watch out: If the English-language test result, medical certificate, or police certificate expires while the application is pending, Immigration New Zealand will request a fresh document — adding weeks to the timeline. Track each document's expiry date against the expected decision window.
- 7
Arrive in New Zealand or commence work under the granted visa
- (Applicant) Receives the visa grant by email through INZ Online. AEWV holders may commence work for the accredited employer in the approved role; SMC and Green List residents may take up any work and any location in New Zealand.
- (Applicant) An AEWV is tied to the specific employer and job. A change of job or employer requires a job-change request to Immigration New Zealand and, in some cases, a new Job Check.
- (Applicant) Travel conditions on the resident visa allow re-entry to New Zealand for two years from the first arrival. After two years of holding the resident visa, the applicant can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa to extend travel rights long-term.
💡 Tip: An AEWV holder who changes employer or significantly changes role mid-visa should consult Immigration New Zealand before resigning — the existing visa does not transfer automatically to a new accredited employer.
- 8
Track Green List Tier 2 wage compliance across the 24-month work requirement
Green List Tier 2 (Work to Residence) applicants only
- (Applicant) Confirms each month's pay tracks the median wage applicable that month. Every month of underpayment breaks the twenty-four-month count.
- (Applicant) Tracks immigration-median-wage upgrades over the period — recent upgrades and the current per-hour figure are recorded in the FAQ and citation table. An applicant whose pay had previously matched the older floor must verify the contract has been adjusted from the force date forward.
- (Applicant) After twenty-four months at the qualifying wage in the Tier 2 occupation, lodges the Work to Residence application through INZ Online with payslips, employment confirmation from the accredited employer, and IRD income summaries.
⚠️ Watch out: Months on a Working Holiday Visa or Post Study Work Visa do not auto-convert into Tier 2 work months. Visitor visa time does not count either unless the visa is a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa with explicit work rights. Check the underlying visa category every month.
Local Tips from the Community
- Choose the most generous route your profile supports — the five routes do not stack. A Green List Tier 1 occupation lets the applicant skip the points test entirely; a Tier 2 occupation rewards two years of work in the listed role with residence eligibility.
- Verify the employer's accreditation status with Immigration New Zealand before signing an employment agreement. Accreditation runs for an initial twelve months then renews for twenty-four months; a lapse mid-application can stall the visa.
- Police certificates expire at six months and medical examinations at three months from the date of application — gather these close to the lodgement window, not at the start of preparation.
- English-language test results are valid for two years from the test date. Sit the test no earlier than twenty-two months before the planned application date so the result remains current at lodgement.
- The Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest, once accepted, issues an Invitation to Apply with a four-month deadline. Have qualification assessments, police certificates, and medical examinations ready before the Invitation to Apply lands.
What Could Go Wrong
Employer accreditation expires mid-application: Immigration New Zealand can require the employer to re-accredit before the visa is granted, lengthening the timeline by weeks or months.
Recovery: The applicant should ask the employer for the accreditation expiry date before signing an employment agreement and time the AEWV lodgement to land comfortably inside the accreditation window. Where the lapse occurs mid-assessment, the employer applies for re-accreditation through Immigration New Zealand and the visa application waits for that determination.
Police certificate or medical certificate expires before lodgement: Police certificates must be less than six months old and medical certificates less than three months old at the date of application. Documents that expire mid-preparation must be re-issued.
Recovery: Plan the lodgement window before commissioning police certificates and medicals. Gather certificates close to the lodgement window, not at the start of preparation. Where a certificate expires mid-assessment because Immigration New Zealand has requested additional evidence, the applicant re-applies through the issuing authority.
AEWV job-change mid-visa: An AEWV is granted against a specific job and employer. Changing employer, or sometimes changing role within the same employer, requires a job-change request and may require a new Job Check.
Recovery: Consult Immigration New Zealand before resigning from the accredited employer. Where the change is to a different accredited employer, the new employer files a Job Check for the new role; the worker lodges a job-change request through INZ Online.
Green List Tier 2 wage tracking breaks mid-period: Every month of underpayment breaks the twenty-four-month count. The 9 March 2026 lift to NZ$35.00 per hour is the most recent threshold change.
Recovery: Verify the employment agreement has been adjusted from the force date forward. Where back-pay is provided to align with the new threshold, Immigration New Zealand assesses whether the affected months count toward the twenty-four-month period on a case-by-case basis.
Reform-package force date straddles the application: The 24 August 2026 Skilled Migrant Category reform package changes the points test. Applications submitted before the force date follow the pre-reform framework; applications submitted on or after the force date follow the post-reform framework.
Recovery: Decide whether the pre-reform or post-reform framework is more generous for the applicant's profile. The Expression of Interest can be lodged early or held back depending on which framework better supports the points configuration; Immigration New Zealand assesses the application under the framework current at the lodgement date.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa application fee | NZ$1,540 | INZ Online at lodgement | Principal applicant; partner and dependent-child applications carry separate fees. |
| Skilled Migrant Category resident visa application fee | NZ$6,450 | INZ Online at lodgement | Principal applicant; may include partner and dependent children where the published fee schedule allows. The Expression of Interest carries a separate channel-specific fee. |
| Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1) application fee | NZ$6,450 | INZ Online at lodgement | Matches the SMC resident visa application fee. |
| Work to Residence (Green List Tier 2) application fee | NZ$6,450 | INZ Online at lodgement | Aligned to the Straight to Residence fee schedule at the dossier access date. |
| Medical examination | NZ$250–NZ$600 | Paid directly to the panel physician | Varies by country and panel-physician schedule. Borne by the applicant. |
| Police certificate per country | NZ$0 | Paid to the issuing authority in each country of residence | Cost varies by country; some authorities issue free of charge, others charge fees up to several hundred NZD equivalent. |
| English-language test (where required) (Optional) | NZ$350–NZ$500 | Paid to test provider | Cost varies by provider (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge English, OET). Waived if: Citizenship of and qualifying education in a country where English is the main language |
| NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (Optional) | NZ$0 | Paid to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Where Immigration New Zealand requires an International Qualifications Assessment, the applicant pays the New Zealand Qualifications Authority the published assessment fee for the relevant assessment type. Waived if: Qualification is from a country and institution Immigration New Zealand accepts without assessment |
- Payment:
- INZ Online at lodgement
- Notes:
- Principal applicant; partner and dependent-child applications carry separate fees.
- Payment:
- INZ Online at lodgement
- Notes:
- Principal applicant; may include partner and dependent children where the published fee schedule allows. The Expression of Interest carries a separate channel-specific fee.
- Payment:
- INZ Online at lodgement
- Notes:
- Matches the SMC resident visa application fee.
- Payment:
- INZ Online at lodgement
- Notes:
- Aligned to the Straight to Residence fee schedule at the dossier access date.
- Payment:
- Paid directly to the panel physician
- Notes:
- Varies by country and panel-physician schedule. Borne by the applicant.
- Payment:
- Paid to the issuing authority in each country of residence
- Notes:
- Cost varies by country; some authorities issue free of charge, others charge fees up to several hundred NZD equivalent.
- Payment:
- Paid to test provider
- Notes:
- Cost varies by provider (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge English, OET).
- Waived if:
- Citizenship of and qualifying education in a country where English is the main language
- Payment:
- Paid to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
- Notes:
- Where Immigration New Zealand requires an International Qualifications Assessment, the applicant pays the New Zealand Qualifications Authority the published assessment fee for the relevant assessment type.
- Waived if:
- Qualification is from a country and institution Immigration New Zealand accepts without assessment
FAQ
General
Who decides the visa?
Immigration New Zealand (Te Ratonga Manene), a service line of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. INZ Online is the application portal. Every visa decision is made by Immigration New Zealand in New Zealand — no embassy or consulate operates cross-border pre-clearance.
Can an applicant lodge an AEWV without an accredited employer?
No. The AEWV is structurally tied to an accredited employer's approved job. The applicant needs both the employer's current accreditation and a Job-Check-approved role before an AEWV can be lodged. Verify the employer's accreditation on the Immigration New Zealand register before signing an employment agreement.
How many points does the Skilled Migrant Category require?
Six skilled resident points. The applicant reaches six points through one of four configurations: occupational registration at the corresponding training-year band; qualifications band; income band at multiples of the immigration median wage; or skilled work experience in New Zealand at one point per year up to three years. Configurations can be combined in any way that totals six.
What is the Skilled Migrant Category application fee?
From NZ$6,450 at the dossier access date. The fee covers the principal applicant and may include a partner and dependent children where the published fee schedule allows. The Expression of Interest carries a separate channel-specific fee.
What is the Accredited Employer Work Visa application fee?
From NZ$1,540 at the dossier access date. The fee covers the principal applicant; partner and dependent-child applications carry separate fees. Payment is made through INZ Online at the time of lodgement.
What service standard does Immigration New Zealand publish for the AEWV and Straight to Residence?
Immigration New Zealand publishes 80% of AEWV decisions within six weeks and 80% of Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1) decisions within five months. Times can extend when Immigration New Zealand asks for further evidence, the employer's accreditation lapses, or the applicant's English-language test result expires mid-application. Plan for the service-standard band plus a follow-up-request buffer of four to eight weeks.
What changes from 24 August 2026 to the Skilled Migrant Category?
From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category adds a Trades and Technician Pathway (four years post-qualification experience plus 1.5 years in New Zealand at the SMC median wage); a Skilled Work Experience Pathway with standard (five-plus years plus two years in New Zealand at 1.1 times the SMC median wage) and amber-listed (two years at 1.2 times the SMC median wage) sub-tracks; restructured qualification points where a New Zealand master's degree is worth six points after thirty weeks of full-time New Zealand study and a bachelor's degree is required when claiming points at qualification level 8 or 9; simplified wage thresholds with a five-month grace period after visa grant; and expanded occupational-registration recognition. Applications submitted before the force date are assessed under the pre-reform framework; applications submitted on or after the force date are assessed under the post-reform framework.
Does the AEWV require an English-language test?
Only for jobs at skill level 4 or 5 (or the equivalent on the National Occupation List from 9 March 2026). Jobs at skill level 1, 2, or 3 do not require a separate English-language test under the AEWV. The Skilled Migrant Category, by contrast, requires evidence the applicant can speak and understand English on every application.
Does Green List Tier 2 work time have to be continuous?
The twenty-four months must be worked in a Tier 2 Green List job for an accredited employer at the applicable wage threshold. Every month of underpayment breaks the count, so the applicant must track median-wage upgrades — the 9 March 2026 lift to NZ$35.00 per hour is the most recent example — and verify the contract has been adjusted from the force date forward. Months on a Working Holiday Visa or Post Study Work Visa do not auto-convert into Tier 2 work months; the applicant must hold an acceptable substantive work visa for the count to register.
Is there a twelve-month AEWV extension to help Skilled Migrant Category applicants finish skilled-work-experience requirements?
The government has announced an intention to introduce an Accredited Employer Work Visa extension of up to twelve months from 2027 to help applicants close skilled-work-experience gaps for the new SMC pathways. The mechanism is not yet enacted and the operational instructions are not yet published; an applicant cannot rely on this extension to plan an SMC application timeline.
After This Process
- → Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake) — request an IRD number once the visa is granted; the IRD number is required to start work and to file tax returns in New Zealand.
- → Bank account — open a New Zealand bank account using the visa grant letter, passport, and proof of New Zealand address.
- → Health enrolment — register with a Primary Health Organisation through a local general practitioner once the applicant has a New Zealand address.
- → Permanent Resident Visa — after two years of holding the resident visa, the holder can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa to extend travel rights long-term.
Sources
- Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category resident visa (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Accredited Employer Work Visa (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Straight to Residence Visa (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Green List pathway to residence (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category pathway to residence (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Employer accreditation for the AEWV (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Green List occupations, qualifications and skills (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — Wage rates for work visas (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
- Immigration New Zealand — News centre (immigration.govt.nz ↗)
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8 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-21
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
The Skilled Migrant Category resident visa requires the applicant to claim 6 skilled resident points from a combination of qualifications, occupational registration, income, and skilled work experience in New Zealand. The applicant must be aged 55 or younger when they apply, must be in good health, must be of good character, and must speak and understand English. The application fee is from NZ$6,450. Travel conditions allow re-entry to New Zealand for 2 years from the date the holder first arrives.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
The Accredited Employer Work Visa requires a job offer from an accredited employer for a job that has passed a Job Check. The job offer must be for at least 30 hours of work a week. The applicant must hold either 2 years or more of relevant job experience, or a qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF). English-language evidence is required only if the job skill level is 4 or 5. The application fee is from NZ$1,540 and Immigration New Zealand publishes a service standard of 80% of decisions made within 6 weeks.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
The Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1) requires the applicant to be aged 55 or younger, to hold a job or job offer from an accredited employer for a Tier 1 Green List occupation, and to meet the qualification, registration, and wage requirements specified for that occupation. No New Zealand work experience is required. The application fee is from NZ$6,450 and Immigration New Zealand publishes a service standard of 80% of decisions made within 5 months.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
The Green List splits into Tier 1 (Straight to Residence — residence granted on the strength of the job offer alone) and Tier 2 (Work to Residence — residence granted after 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand in the listed Tier 2 occupation). The applicant must meet the wage requirements during the work-experience period to count the time towards the 24 months. Every month of underpayment breaks the count.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
From 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage rose to NZ$35.00 per hour, based on June 2025 Stats NZ data, up from NZ$33.56 per hour. 47 additional skill level 1 to 3 occupations were recognised under the National Occupation List for AEWV applications. Three occupations — pet groomer, nanny, and kennel hand — were reclassified from skill level 3 to skill level 4. Existing AEWV holders with a Job Check submitted on or before 8 March 2026 and approved at the higher skill level retain pre-reclassification status — their Job tokens and AEWV applications are not affected by the reclassification.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category points test is reshaped. A Trades and Technician Pathway requires at least 4 years of directly relevant experience gained post qualification plus 1.5 years in New Zealand at the SMC median wage. A Skilled Work Experience Pathway requires 2 years of skilled work experience at 1.1 times the SMC median wage (standard occupations) or 1.2 times the SMC median wage (amber-listed occupations). Applicants claiming points for a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification must also hold a bachelor's degree. New Zealand master's qualifications carry 6 points where the applicant studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand. The package adds a 5-month grace period for skilled work to begin after visa grant, expands occupational-registration recognition to include CPA Australia Certified Practising Accountants doing Qualified Statutory Accountant work, and extends English-language test validity to 5 years for applicants with recognised occupational registration. An Accredited Employer Work Visa extension of up to 12 months is scheduled for 2027 to complete experience requirements for the new pathways; the mechanism is not yet enacted.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Immigration New Zealand 2026-05-21
Employer accreditation for the Accredited Employer Work Visa comes in four types: Standard (employer with 1 to 5 migrant workers), High-volume (6 or more migrant workers), Franchisee, and Triangular (a labour-hire employer placing workers with controlling third parties). Each type has its own criteria but the applicant verifies only that the accreditation is current.
immigration.govt.nz - T1Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment 2026-05-21
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is the umbrella agency inside which Immigration New Zealand operates. MBIE publishes the policy-level material on the AEWV accreditation framework and the Skilled Migrant Category reform agenda, including the Future of the Skilled Migrant Category consultations that fed the August 2026 reforms.
mbie.govt.nz