Working in New Zealand on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): rules, costs, pay
Open Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Open. The job offer must come from an accredited employer with an approved job check for your position.
Status as of 7 October 2026 Immigration New Zealand
Summary
- The AEWV needs a full-time offer of at least 30 hours a week from an accredited employer with an approved job check.
- English must be proven for ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 to 5 jobs.
- The maximum continuous stay is generally 5 years, or 3 years for skill levels 4 and 5, then you must spend time outside New Zealand.
- INZ declines an AEWV if you or your agent offered money to the employer for a job offer.
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On this page
| Route | Run by | Official link | Who pays placement costs | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) · Accredited Employer Work Visa | Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer | Official source | There is no placement agency; the applicant pays the visa fee and other requirements unless the employer covers them. Do not pay a placement fee to any middleman. See the cost rules | Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) |
See this route in the comparison table
What do you need to work in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
Placement channels from Indonesia for working in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer. Language tests asked for: English: Required for skill level 3 to 5 jobs (ANZSCO or NOL).
- Placement channels from Indonesia
- Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer An independent migrant worker goes without an agency, only to a legal-entity employer, and must report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission. This is not the same as an individual employer (a household), or an individual who places migrant workers, which is banned.
- Job types
- Full-time work of at least 30 hours a week for an accredited employer
| Test | Level |
|---|---|
| English | Required for skill level 3 to 5 jobs (ANZSCO or NOL) |
What does working in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) cost, and who pays?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) route to New Zealand uses no placement agency: you pay the visa fee and other requirements unless the employer covers them, and no middleman is owed a placement fee.
- Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
- Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025: the employer bears placement costs. A worker may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
- Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.
Cost rules for this route
- Money for a job offer: INZ declines an AEWV if you or your agent offered or promised money to the employer or its agent in exchange for a job offer. Immigration New Zealand
- Visa fee: The AEWV application fee is paid when you apply; the amount is on the official INZ page. Immigration New Zealand
What is the minimum pay for working in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
The official pay floor for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) route in New Zealand is NZD 23.95 per hour, in force from 1 April 2026 (Employment New Zealand (MBIE)). This is the legal minimum in New Zealand, not an offered wage.
| Area or group | Official floor | Approximate rupiah value |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand, adult rate Applies to: Adult hourly minimum wage in New Zealand for employees aged 16 or over who are not starting-out workers or trainees | NZD 23.95 per hour In force from | about IDR 240,150 rate as of 8 October 2026 |
Which visa do you need to work in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
Accredited Employer Work Visa: Work visa linked to an accredited employer; according to INZ it can lead to a resident visa. Official source
What are the steps to work in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)?
- Get a full-time job offer from an accredited employer with an approved job check for your position.
- The employer sends you a link to the application form; apply for the AEWV online through that link.
- Prepare evidence of experience or qualifications for the job's skill level, and English evidence for skill levels 3 to 5.
- Report as an independent migrant worker to the labour office and the Indonesian mission under Law 18/2017 Article 63.
- Note the maximum stay: generally 5 years, or 3 years for skill levels 4 and 5.
The order and timings are editor estimates, not promises.
Which schools or training lead to New Zealand?
The education and training routes linked to working in New Zealand through Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): Vocational high school (SMK) in Indonesia, D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia, Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia, Language tests for working abroad.
- Vocational high school (SMK) in Indonesia: route to work, certificates and job centres
- D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia: how it differs from a degree and how to check a campus
- Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia: when jobs require one and how to check a university
- Language tests for working abroad: JFT-Basic, JLPT, EPS-TOPIK, IELTS, OET and telc
How long can you stay on an AEWV?
According to Immigration New Zealand, the total time on one or more AEWVs is generally 5 years, or 3 years if your job is ANZSCO or NOL skill level 4 or 5. Once you reach that limit you must spend time outside New Zealand, normally 12 months in a row, before you can apply for another AEWV.
What are the warning signs of offers to New Zealand through this route?
- An agent asks for money to 'buy' a job offer. INZ declines an AEWV if the applicant or their agent offered money to the employer for a job offer.
- The employer is not accredited or has no approved job check for your position.Immigration New Zealand
- The agency in Indonesia is not listed as an active P3MI on SISKOP2MI, or appears on the list of P3MI under administrative sanctions.KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI)
- You are asked for cash or a transfer to a personal account that is not written and itemised in the Placement Agreement.Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
How to check a P3MI agency in 5 steps Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers
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Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)
Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection
-
Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad
+62-812-9007-0027WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027 peduliwni.kemlu.go.id
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Not legal advice. Always check SISKOP2MI before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AEWV lead to permanent residence?
The official INZ page says the AEWV can lead to a resident visa. Requirements depend on the resident pathway in force when you apply, so check the official INZ page.
Can I change employers on an AEWV?
The AEWV is linked to the employer who made the offer. According to INZ, if you want to change employer, job or location, you must apply to vary your visa first.
Who wrote and reviewed this page?
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (Immigration New Zealand) Immigration New Zealand · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
- Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed
- SISKOP2MI: Profil Lembaga P3MI, detail dan daftar sanksi administratif KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI) · accessed
- Minimum wage rates and types (Employment New Zealand) Employment New Zealand (MBIE) · accessed
How to cite
KarirAman (2026). Working in New Zealand on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): rules, costs, pay. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/new-zealand/accredited-employer-work-visa/
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