Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced key updates to the Job Check stage of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, effective from Monday, 29 September 2025. These changes aim to streamline the process and ensure genuine employment opportunities.
Key Changes
- No Draft Employment Agreement Required
Employers will no longer need to submit a draft employment agreement. Instead, a declaration confirming the agreement meets INZ’s employment standards will be required.
- Clarification on Multi-Location Roles
INZ has clarified how to assess roles based in multiple locations. Factors include the nature of the role, reasons for location changes, type of work, and time spent at each site.
- Flexible Consistency in Job Requirements
The minimum skills, experience, and qualifications listed in job advertisements must now be substantially consistent with the Job Check application, allowing for reasonable discretion.
- Job Token Cancellation Criteria
Job tokens can be cancelled if the employer no longer requires them or if INZ determines the employment is not genuine, which may occur if the work is not available within the next six months, or does not meet the acceptable employment requirements.
- Genuine Employment Requirements
Employers must demonstrate a real need for the role and that the position is not solely intended to facilitate a visa. Employment must be available now or within six months of Job Check approval, and there must be a genuine need for the migrant to be based in New Zealand.
INZ will assess genuineness based on:
- Publicly available business information;
- Alignment of the role with business activities;
- Availability of sufficient work for advertised positions;
- Required skills and experience;
- Family relationships between employer and employee; and
- Likelihood of work being available within six months.
Important Reminder
A new streamlined Job Check application form will be launched on Monday 29 September 2025. Any draft applications in the current system will become invalid after 8:00 AM on Sunday 28 September 2025. Employers should ensure submissions are completed before this deadline or prepare to use the new form.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose.
