April 2025 rang a bell in every New Zealand boardroom. From pay scales to interim New Zealand visas, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) rulebook turned a crisp page. If you sponsor overseas talent—or plan to join them—this report sets out each headline and the simple tasks that will keep you safely inside the ropes.
Effective 10 March 2025
Evidence Tips
Keep three local job ads, a union rate sheet, or signed offers issued to New Zealand staff. Store them in a cloud folder named “Market Rate Proof 2025”.
Anecdote: When Elena, who runs a tiny Queenstown café, compared her barista rates to three nearby ads, she realised she was already above the new floor. Her payroll stayed unchanged; her compliance file grew stronger overnight.
Applicants need 24 months, not 36. Employers must still sight documents—payslips, tax summaries, or letters from former managers—and keep copies ready for audit. The door opens wider for younger tradespeople and mid-career switchers without loosening safety nets.
For ANZSCO Skill Levels 4 and 5 the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) step is now one short declaration:
The paper chase shrank; the duty to consider local job-seekers remains.
New AEWVs issued at Skill Levels 4 and 5 now last 36 months. The total cap is still three years, but the forced mid-journey renewal is gone—good news for cafés, orchards, dairy farms, and freight yards that count on continuity.
Parents supporting dependent children must now earn NZ$ 55,844 a year (80 percent of the median wage). Children who already held—or had applied for—a visa before 10 March keep the old NZ$ 43,322 figure. Budget early and keep payslips at hand.
Update onboarding packs, flag interim staff in payroll, and calendar the AEWV decision date.
To line up with the National Occupation List, Immigration NZ now treats these jobs as Skill Level 3:
Workers in these roles enjoy longer visas and faster residence tracks.
|
Policy Lever |
Worker Impact |
Employer Impact |
|
Market-rate pay |
Fair local wages |
Flexibility in low-cost regions |
|
Two-year experience |
Quicker eligibility |
Wider talent pool |
|
MSD declaration |
Faster approval |
Less admin, same local checks |
|
Three-year L4/L5 visa |
Fewer renewals |
Lower HR overhead |
|
Interim work rights |
No income gap |
Projects start on schedule |
New Zealand’s immigration path bends like the Waiau River—sometimes gentle, sometimes abrupt. Watch each turn, and the trip stays safe and rewarding. Update your files, keep wages honest, and trust that when you refresh the INZ portal, you’ll already be one step ahead, compass in hand.
Will my pay fall now the median rule is gone?
No. Employers must still match local rates.
Does the two-year experience rule cover all jobs?
Yes. Every AEWV role now accepts 24 months.
Can I switch employers while on an Interim Visa?
Only if the new job matches the role in your AEWV application.
Do partner visas follow the higher child-income rule?
Partner wage settings remain tied to 80 percent of the median wage.
Is three years the limit for AEWV holders?
Not always—residence or other visa routes may extend your stay.
Content Disclaimer: This content was refreshed in May 2025. Please confirm all travel details with the New Zealand embassies, agencies, and airlines for complete accuracy.
