Job Check For Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
If you are an employer looking to hire skilled migrants under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), you need to conduct a job check. This applies whether you wish to hire migrants from overseas, or those already in New Zealand.
The job check is actually the second stage in the process: first of all the employer must be accredited. Once you’re accredited, you then need to conduct a job check for every position you’re recruiting.
Note: People Inc Ltd trading as VisaAide is a private company which charges fees for professional services and has no association with any government department. You can apply directly at The Department of Home Affairs or Immigration NZ.
What should you know about accredited employer job checks?
The purpose of a job check is to prove that there are no suitably qualified New Zealanders available for the role.
Employers must make a genuine attempt to attract and recruit a New Zealander before offering the role to a migrant. For high-skilled roles (ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3), employers are required to run an advertisement for 14 days. For lower-skilled roles (ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5), the advertisement must be posted for 21 days. You no longer need to provide an Engagement Check from MSD. Instead, you must declare — in good faith — that you advertised the role through MSD and interviewed any suitable candidates. You don’t need to submit this evidence with your application, but you must keep it in case Immigration New Zealand requests it.
In some cases, labour market testing isn’t required. If the occupation is on the Green List and the listed requirements are met, or if the job pays at least twice the median wage, you may be exempt.
The job must offer full-time work (at least 30 hours per week), pay at least the market rate, and match all the details submitted in your job check — including the title, location, and terms of employment.
You can include multiple vacancies in a single job check if the roles are identical and covered by the same advertising and employment terms. If any details vary, you’ll need to submit a separate job check.
What are some common mistakes with job checks?
Job checks can be complex, and mistakes are easily made. Consistency is key to ensuring that the potential employee can meet the requirements of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which includes the requirements specified in the job check.
Common issues with job checks
- Indicating that a qualification or certain work experience is required for the position, but the potential employee doesn’t hold that qualification or experience.
- The criteria indicated is not commensurate to the pay or the required level of experience.
- Assessing the role against an incorrect ANZSCO code.
- Offering pay to a potential employee that’s more than the maximum pay rate indicated in the job check.
- Not advertising in locations where the potential employee is required to work.
- Not requesting sufficient job check tokens.
- Not including mandatory information in advertisements.
We provide a complete service for international recruitment and visas
The team at VisaAide works closely with our People Inc partners to provide an end-to-end service covering immigration, visas, employer accreditation, job checks, recruitment, documentation, and on-going compliance.
Do you need help with your accredited employer job checks?
We specialise in New Zealand visas – contact us for up-to-date advice. Make an enquiry
