The government on Tuesday announced upcoming changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) to make it easier for businesses to hire migrants.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the changes - along with other tweaks already made to the scheme - would ensure the right balance of New Zealanders prioritised for job opportunities and providing a more fit-for-purpose visa scheme.
"Our focus remains on attracting more higher-skilled workers while managing migration levels responsibly, so New Zealand has access to the skills we need to grow our economy. These changes will support a smarter, efficient and predictable immigration system."
The five big takeaways for migrants and businesses are:
Median wage threshold removed
From March 2025, median wage and other wage thresholds will be removed for all AEWV roles. Employers will be able to offer market rates based on occupation and location. They would still need to advertise the vacancies. These changes will not affect existing employment agreements, and so existing wage rates cannot be decreased. Wage thresholds for residency applications remain unchanged.
Stanford said the change was needed because the previous government had used the median wage as an "artificial proxy for skill which did not work".
"Instead, it distorted wages and in some cases resulted in businesses paying migrant workers more than New Zealanders doing the same job. Other businesses had to increase prices to ensure pay equity across Kiwi and migrant workers," she said.
Vandana Rai of Auckland-based Immigration Advisers NZ Ltd welcomed the move. "The changes are likely to be well-received. That said, frequent reforms, even when well-intentioned, can introduce new complications. We hope that the government can strike a balance between necessary policy updates and the stability crucial for long-term planning."
Work visa duration
From March 2025, migrants in lower-skilled roles will now get three-year visas. Those currently with a two-year visa can extend it to three years. Auckland-based immigration advisor Hemant Kaushal said this will particularly help migrants who have worked for two years in New Zealand without any prior work experience.
"So those migrants who don't meet most other essential skills requirements but have been in jobs in New Zealand for two years can now apply for a third year without any worry."
Two new seasonal worker visas would be rolled out, providing a more "nuanced and flexible response" to the needs of businesses in some sectors and regions, and the current seasonal subcategory would be extended.
Dependent children
From March 2025, the minimum income threshold for supporting dependent children will be increased from NZ$43,322 to NZ$55,844. This will impact new migrants in low-skilled roles. Stanford said the level was changed to get it in line with inflation.
Interim work visa
From April 2025, some work and student visa holders who apply for an AEWV will be able to get work rights on their interim visa while their employment is under process.
Construction industry
Some construction jobs will only need 15 per cent of employees to be New Zealand citizens or residents, instead of the typical 35 per cent requirement. This will mean employers can hire more migrant workers in the sector.
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