I am sure a lot of migrant workers have read this information on the INZ website and social media. Before you decide on anything, please do note that INZ has announced timelines around each change, and if you are on an AEWV you need to plan as per your circumstances. We are still waiting on the fine print so our suggestion would be to not plan into the future till more details emerge and the changes take effect.

From 27 January 2025 (Relevant for employers)

  • Accredited employers will no longer need to complete Employment New Zealand’s online modules or offer migrants paid time to do these. This also applies to Recognised Seasonal Employers.
  • The percentage of New Zealanders that certain construction sector businesses must employ will reduce from 35 percent to 15 percent.

In March 2025 (Relevant to AEWV holders and accredited employers) Don’t, forget more changes are expected around the National Occupation List (NOL)

  • Wage thresholds for all AEWV roles will be removed. Employers still need to advertise and offer AEWV employees the market rate for their position and workplace location. This change does not affect existing employment agreements. There are no changes to the wages that AEWV workers must earn to apply for residence.
  • Migrants will need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience, instead of 3 years currently.
  • Employers will no longer have to provide evidence of engagement with Work and Income in their Job Check. They will need to declare they have advertised lower-skilled roles with Work and Income, and interviewed appropriate candidates.
  • The AEWV duration for new migrants in a lower-skilled role will increase to 3 years, to align with the maximum time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV. Those currently on two-year visas will be able to apply for a further year.
  • AEWV migrants will need to earn at least NZ$55,844 a year to bring children, along with meeting other criteria. This threshold has not been updated since 2019.

Further details and an implementation date will be released in early 2025.

Other changes announced today include (AEWV, Student visa holders, Seasonal workers and accredited employers):

  • From April 2025, some work and student visa holders who apply for an AEWV can receive an Interim Visa that allows them to work while their AEWV application is processed.
  • In mid-2025, a new Job Check process will be in place, to allow for greater streamlining for low-risk employers and improve processing timeframes.
  • In November 2025, two new pathways for seasonal workers will be introduced, including a 3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers and a 7-month single-entry visa for lesser-skilled workers. The existing temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until then.