ACCREDITATION FOR EMPLOYERS
EMPLOYEE ACCREDITATION WITH IMMIGRATION NZ.
Preparing your business to employ migrant workers.
If you're a New Zealand business looking to hire migrant workers, becoming an accredited employer with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is the first step. It is not optional—you must be accredited to sponsor a migrant worker under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme. Without accreditation, you cannot support any work visa applications. The process can be straight forward and costs are minimal. Once accredited you can sponsor migrants more easily than previous applications prior to employee accreditations.
Why Get Accredited?
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Access Global Talent: Open your recruitment to skilled professionals from around the world.
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Streamlined Visa Process: Accredited employers enjoy a faster, more efficient visa application process.
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Future-Proofing: Accreditation is now a requirement under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, which replaced previous visa pathways.
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Demonstrate Credibility: Accreditation shows you're a responsible employer who meets New Zealand’s employment and immigration standards.
The Accreditation Process
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Determine Your Accreditation Type
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Standard Accreditation: For employers hiring up to 5 migrant workers at any one time.
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High-Volume Accreditation: For employers hiring 6 or more migrant workers.
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Meet the Requirements
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Be a genuine business (registered, operating, and compliant with NZ laws)
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Have good workplace practices and a history of compliance
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Commit to settlement support for migrant workers
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Submit Your Application
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Apply online via the Immigration NZ website
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Provide all required documentation and pay the application fee
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Approval and Maintenance
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Once approved, accreditation is valid for 12 months initially (renewals can be longer)
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Maintain compliance to retain accreditation status
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How We Can Help
Navigating immigration requirements can be complex. Our team can:
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Assess your business eligibility
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Prepare and lodge your accreditation application
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Advise on compliance and settlement obligations
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Support your recruitment strategy to find skilled international talent
Let us take the stress out of the process so you can focus on growing your business.
Get in touch today to start your journey towards becoming an accredited employer.