Get Accreditation
Employer accreditation
Any employer who wants to hire a migrant worker on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) must first hold valid employer accreditation.
Accreditation is the first step in the three-stage AEWV process, followed by the Job Check and the Worker Check. An employer who is not accredited cannot support any employer-assisted work visa under the AEWV system.
When accreditation is required
You only need accreditation when you intend to support a migrant for an AEWV. Employers with staff on earlier visa categories—such as Talent or Essential Skills—do not need accreditation unless they plan to transition those workers onto an AEWV or hire additional migrants under the new system.
Accreditation is not required when employing migrants who hold visas with open work rights, including:
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student visas
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partnership-based work visas
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working holiday visas
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post-study work visas
Accreditation must be in place before the AEWV application is submitted.
Most employers fall under one of two accreditation categories:
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Standard Accreditation – permits support for up to 5 AEWV holders at any one time.
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High-Volume Accreditation – permits support for 6 or more AEWV holders at any one time.
There is no difference in the core requirements between Standard and High-Volume accreditation. Employers must simply apply for (and pay for) High-Volume if they intend to employ more than five AEWV workers at once. INZ has signalled that additional requirements for high-volume employers may be considered in the future.
Controlling third-party employers - those who place migrants with third-party businesses - face additional obligations and a higher fee due to the increased compliance risk.
Choosing the right type
The accreditation type determines how many migrants you can support and affects your ongoing compliance workload.
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Standard Accreditation suits employers needing only a small number of AEWVs (up to five).
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High-Volume is required if you plan to support six or more AEWV workers at one time.
Employers can upgrade later if their labour needs grow.
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Accreditation fees depend on the type of accreditation you apply for and how many migrants you intend to employ.
These fees are set by Immigration New Zealand and can change at any time, so employers should always check the latest amounts before applying.
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Standard Accreditation (up to 5 migrants at any one time): NZD $775
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High-Volume Accreditation (6 or more migrants at any one time): NZD $1,280
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Upgrade from Standard to High-Volume: NZD $505
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Employers placing migrants with controlling third parties: NZD $4,060
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Reconsideration of a declined accreditation application: NZD $250
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