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New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Eligibility Calculator
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • New Zealand
1. Do you have an offer from an INZ-accredited employer?
2. Hourly wage offered?
3. Is the role on the Green List?
4. Health, character & English met?
New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa Overview
New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to New Zealand
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
AEWV Eligibility Requirements & Criteria
Accredited NZ employer
Job offer from an INZ-accredited employer (Standard, High-Volume, Franchisee, or Triangular).
Job Check passed
Employer must pass the Job Check: role meets median wage, is genuine, and (if applicable) has been advertised to NZ citizens/residents.
Median wage (2026)
NZD $31.61/hour from 28 February 2025 (updated annually). Roles below median wage have restricted access (limited to ANZSCO 4/5 with conditions).
Skill / qualification
Must meet the skill threshold for the role (ANZSCO 1–3 generally, 4–5 with specific exemptions). Trade/registration required for licensed occupations.
English (most roles)
IELTS 4.0 overall or equivalent for ANZSCO 4/5; higher for some roles. Some exemptions apply.
Health & character
Medical certificate (X-ray + general), police certificates, fit-and-proper assessment.
Official AEWV Information & Resources
New Zealand AEWV: Frequently Asked Questions
Common mistakes to avoid
Accepting a job with a non-accredited employer — application will be declined.
Wage offer dipping below the current median by even cents — INZ uses the live rate at decision.
Skipping advertising/labour-market test where required (most non-Green-List roles).
Submitting weak Job Check evidence (no role description matched to ANZSCO).
Assuming the AEWV automatically converts to residence — only Green List or SMC pathways do.
Improve your chances
- 1
Target Green List Straight-to-Residence roles (registered nurses, GPs, ICT senior roles, civil engineers) for fastest PR.
- 2
Negotiate hourly rate at or above 2× median to unlock 5-year visas and reduce labour-market test friction.
- 3
Choose accredited employers with a track record (avoid newly-accredited or franchisee streams when possible).
- 4
If a sector-exception role, plan parallel pathway (study, partnership, SMC EOI) — capped visas don’t convert.
- 5
Front-load IELTS, medicals, and PCCs to keep INZ decision on the fast track.
Wage thresholds (from 28 Feb 2025)
| Threshold | Hourly rate (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Median wage | $31.61 |
| Sector-exception wage (care workforce, etc.) | $23.15 |
| Green List Straight-to-Residence indicative floor | $31.61 base + role-specific minimums |
| Construction Specified Occupations cap | ≥$31.61 |
Fees (NZD, 2025/26)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| AEWV application fee (online) | $750 |
| Job Check fee (paid by employer) | $735 |
| Employer accreditation — Standard | $740 |
| Employer accreditation — High Volume | $1,220 |
| IVL (International Visitor Levy) | $100 per applicant |
Visa duration by role tier
| Tier | Max visa length |
|---|---|
| ≥2× median wage / Green List Straight-to-Residence | 5 years (with PR pathway) |
| Median wage skilled (ANZSCO 1–3) | 5 years |
| Sector-exception roles (ANZSCO 4–5) | 2 years (capped, no PR pathway) |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Eligibility Calculator criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
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