Key Points
- New Zealand will launch a redesigned AEWV job check form on September 29, 2025.
- Updates include clearer guidance, built-in submission checks, and streamlined sections.
- Employers must provide additional context, including business size and role justification.
- Draft applications must be submitted by September 28, 2025, or they will not carry over.
Overview
New Zealand will roll out a redesigned Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Job Check process starting September 29, 2025, aimed at streamlining the AEWV system. The updated form will provide clearer instructions, built-in checks to ensure complete submissions, and revised sections aligned with updated policy requirements.
Employers will now be required to provide additional details upfront, such as business size, the number of New Zealanders employed, and justification for the role being recruited. By collecting this information earlier in the process, Immigration New Zealand seeks to minimize follow-up requests and accelerate decision-making timelines.
The redesigned system emphasizes efficiency and compliance, with the ultimate goal of supporting both employers and immigration authorities in managing applications more effectively. Draft job check applications in the current portal must be submitted by 8:00 am NZT on September 28, 2025, as unsubmitted drafts will not migrate to the new platform. Updated guidance materials will be made available to assist employers and representatives with the transition.
This reform is part of New Zealand’s broader effort to improve the AEWV framework, ensuring that visa processing remains responsive to labor market needs while maintaining regulatory oversight. For related updates, see Corporate Immigration Partners’ New Zealand insights.
Looking Ahead
Employers should prepare early by finalizing pending job check applications before the September deadline and reviewing updated requirements to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. Businesses may also wish to train HR and compliance staff on the redesigned portal to avoid delays in future submissions.
