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Employer Accreditation Hiring Process
Becoming an Accredited Employer and having a valid, roles specific Job Check is now needed to employ someone who requires a visa.
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system has 3 checks that need to be submitted to, and approved by, INZ in order to be able to hire a migrant:
- Employer Accreditation – ‘Is your business able to employ migrant workers?’
- Job Check – ‘Can this job be offered to a migrant?’
- Migrant Check – ‘Does the proposed migrant worker meet INZ and job check standards?’
- Job Check – ‘Can this job be offered to a migrant?’
The Job Check, traditionally included in the visa process, is now separate and supersized with more thorough and scrutinised requirements.
The good news is that that INZ have confirmed that Immigration Advisers are able to act on the Employers behalf to undertake the required accreditation work.
Employer Check (Accreditation)
Employer Check (Accreditation)- Type: Accreditation is ‘Standard’ for an employer who requires only up to 5 workers needing visas, or ‘High Volume’ accreditation if 6+
- INZ Requirements:
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- Be a Genuinely Operating Business = Have a NZ Business Number;
- Be Financially Viable = prove historical positive earnings or profile OR, for new employers, demonstrate sufficient future cash flow
- INZ have increasingly asked for and vetted financial documents
- Be Compliant = No recent history of non-compliance with Employment and Immigration law (not on Labour Inspectorate stand down list (same for business’ ‘Key People’)
- Minimise Exploitation = providing specific settlement information, having migrants complete online modules along with hiring authorities, meet employment and immigration law
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- Initial Duration is 12 Months. At renewal, approved applications will last for 24 months
- INZ Fees & Process Times: employing up to 5 migrants is $775; more than that (High Volume) is $1,280 Decisions can come 2 days to 4 weeks, depending on quality of the application.
Employers of workers holding working holiday, RSE, post study, and some partnership visas are exempt from accreditation at this stage. Also workers on current visas don’t have to do anything until/unless they need visa changes (expiries, variations, etc)
Job Check
Job CheckThese last for 6 months (or end of employer accreditation) and are specific to a role. So, if you have two identical roles, that would be one check but a X role and a Sr. X role would be two job checks.
INZ have a number of steps and requirements for Employers to be approved for a Job Check. These are segmented into:
- Genuine Labour Market Test (for non Green List roles)
- Job offer, employment agreement and position description
INZ fees: $735
Processing target: 2 business days to 1.5 weeks. This follows 14-21 days of labour market test, incl. WINZ listing-depending on job role.
Labour Market Test
A “genuine” test has to be done for most roles. (Green List roles may not require advertising).
INZ wants to be satisfied that the employer did their best to find Kiwis and the job was advertised in a way that allows Kiwis to decide if its for them. Notably:
Ads must have Clear and Full disclosure on
- where the job is
- what its paying (and accommodation, where applicable)
- the schedule and hours of work (minimum, maximum and average)
- the requirements and duties of the job
And, it must be advertised in a national media:
- 14 days for ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles (see Example roles)
- 21 days Levels 4-5 roles plus 21 days of WINZ listing (see Example Roles)
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- Note: WINZ also have up to 5 biz days to start the advertising
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Following the advertising, employers are required to declare where there are Kiwi/NZ Resident applicants and why they’ve not been extended an offer
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- Based on INZ defined Kiwi applicant ‘Suitability‘
Employment and Immigration Compliance
- Guarantee of 30 weekly hours paid at market rates, including market rate for the position (averaged over pay period and inclusive of accommodation, where applicable)
- Position Description
- Org charts are not mandatory but may be requested so that INZ, who hold this discretion, can determine if the position is needed(!)
Migrant Worker Check
Migrant Worker Check- Work evidence/certificates/diplomas. INZ have formalised visa eligibility based on evidence of experience and/or degree:
- generally 2+ years’ relevant work experience; or,
- a relevant qualification equivalent to NZQA Level 4 (NZQA assessed)
- a Bachelor’s degree or higher is best so time intensive qualification assessment can be avoided
- English language test (basic) for ANZSCO roles 3-5 (example: farm assistants to Herd Managers)
- Health (eMedicals)
- Character (e.g. Police Certificates)
- Identity (Passport)
This cost will sit with the worker unless otherwise agreed.
Cost: $1540. INZ Processing target: 20 business days
What’s Next
If you’re a trust or partnership without an NZBN and you have or plan to hire migrant staff, you should talk to your accountant about structure changes.
If you’d like to read what INZ have to say, you can go here Employer Accreditation
