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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.
We work with employers to undertake the requirements of any or all stages on their behalf.
Request a Chat about What you May Need
Or, you can contact us at 09 303 3505
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 = attest to historical positive wage pay or future sufficient 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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- Duration: 12 Months. At renewal, approved applications will last for 24 months
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- INZDuration: 12 Months. At renewal, approved applications will last for 24 months
- INZ Fees & Process Times: Standard is $740; High Volume is $1,220 with processing up to 4 weeks.
- (Increasing on 1 October ’24 to $775 and $1,280)
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: $610 and INZ
Processing target: 10 business days but realistically can take up to 6 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).
- 14 days minimum on national advertising for ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles (see Sample)
- 21 days advertising for Levels 4-5 plus 21 days of WINZ listing (see Sample)
- Note: WINZ also have up to 5 biz days to start the advertising
- Plus Employers are required to declare where there are Kiwi/NZ Resident applicants and why they’ve not been extended an offer
- Based on INZ defined Kiwi applicant ‘Suitability’
- Ads must have Clear and full disclosure on pay, location, hours, requirements and duties (and accommodation where applicable)
Employment and Immigration Compliance
- Guarantee of 30 weekly hours paid at market rates, including median wage payment of $29.66 (averaged over pay period and inclusive of accommodation, where applicable)
- Sample Employment Agreement for the Job Check’s role which will be assessed to ensure compliance with employment law and the role’s advertising.
- 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 3+ years’ relevant work experience; or,
- a relevant qualification equivalent to NZQA Level 4 (NZQA assessed)
- a Bachelor’s degree or higher
- English language test (basic) for ANZSCO levels 4-5
- Health (eMedicals)
- Character (e.g. Police Certificates)
- Identity (Passport)
This cost will sit with the worker unless otherwise agreed.
Cost: $750. 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
