New Zealand Removes Wage Barriers and Lowers Experience Criteria for Immigrants

New Zealand is starting a major change to improve its immigration system, especially focusing on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program. The country is facing a big lack of skilled workers, so recent changes are designed to simplify the visa process. This will help employers hire workers from other countries more easily, while also making sure that migrants are treated fairly.

Open Job Opportunities

The New Zealand government recognises the urgent need to fill skills gaps across industries. These reforms are designed to attract international talent as the economy grows and demand for skilled workers increases. These changes come in response to a consultation that highlighted the challenges employers face in finding quality talent, particularly in industries that are key to the country’s growth.

Key Reforms to the AEWV

Removal of Wage Thresholds

One of the most significant changes is the removal of salary caps for all AEWV and Special Work Visa (SPWV) positions. Previously, employers had to meet certain wage thresholds, which often limited their ability to hire workers from other countries. The change, which will be implemented in March 2025, aims to provide employers with greater flexibility while requiring them to provide market rates for roles based on location and industry standards.

Reduced Experience Requirements

The requirement for immigrants applying under the AEWV will also be reduced from 3 years to 2 years. These changes are intended to broaden the eligibility criteria to make it easier for young and inexperienced professionals to enter the New Zealand job market. By reducing this, New Zealand hopes to attract new talent that will contribute to its economy..

New Ways to Work Seasonally

In addition to these reforms, New Zealand will introduce a new seasonal worker route in November 2025. This includes three-year entry visas for most seasonal workers and seven-month single-entry visas for low-skilled workers. The measures are intended to support sectors that rely heavily on seasonal workers, such as agriculture and tourism.

Simplifying the Job Review Process

The government has also overhauled the employment verification step in the AEWV application process. The update aims to streamline procedures for low-risk companies and reduce processing times. Today, the average processing time for employer verification has dropped from 62 days to just 14 days, while the productivity of employment verification has doubled. These improvements are expected to increase efficiency and reduce delays in recruiting foreign talent.

Temporary Job Permissions and Help for Families

From April 2025, people applying for an AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) who are switching from any type of work visa or from student visas that allow work during the school term will be given temporary work rights. This change lets migrants keep their jobs while their visa applications are being processed, so they don’t have to deal with breaks in their employment.

Additionally, AEWV migrants who want to bring their children with them will need to earn at least NZ$55,844 per year. This income requirement hasn’t been updated since 2019 and is being adjusted to keep up with changes in the economy.

Changing the Rules for Involving Employers

To continue to support local employment initiatives, the requirement for employers to work with Work and Income New Zealand will move from a full-time approach to a disclosure-based system. Employers must now declare to Work and Income that they have advertised ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 jobs and interview suitable candidates before hiring foreign workers. This change is to ensure that local candidates are given priority while maintaining transparency in our recruitment process.

Implications for Employers and Migrants

These changes show a big move in New Zealand’s immigration rules, focusing on being flexible and meeting the needs of the job market. Employers will find it easier to hire people for important jobs because there will be less paperwork. For migrants, these updates mean better chances to work in New Zealand. Still, it’s important that these changes help employers while also protecting migrant workers. The government has promised to keep workers’ rights safe and help them settle into life in New Zealand.