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Employer Accreditation Hiring Process
Becoming an Accredited Employer and having a valid, roles specific Job Check is now the requirement to be able to employ someone who requires a visa.
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system, effective from 2022, 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?’
Applications for Employer Accreditation initially require only an online form to be completed as long as you have an NZBN, and can prove acceptable financial stability and compliance. You also comply with INZ’s new migrant protection obligations. Find out about obligations HERE).
The Job Check was traditionally included in the visa process but now is separate and has more thorough and scrutinised requirements.
The bit of 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.
The 3 checks are broken out as follows:
Request a Chat about What you May Need
Employer Check (Accreditation)
Employer Check (Accreditation)- Type: Accreditation is ‘Standard’ if an employer only requires up to 5 workers needing visas, or ‘High Volume’ accreditation if 6+
- Duration: 12 Months. At renewal, approved applications will last for 24 months
- Cost & Process Times: Standard is $740; High Volume is $1,220 with processing INZ “target” is 10 business days
- INZ Requirements:
- 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
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 has essentially monetized and added steps to the visa pre-submission work FRENZ already undertake. But, employers and many agencies, may be caught out by the required details and process adherence t:
- Compliance with market rate terms and conditions, including median wage payment of $29.66 (averaged over pay period and accomodation inclusive)
- Compliance with employment law; assessment of job offer and employment agreement
- A “genuine” labour market test has been done for most roles (Green list roles may not require advertising).
- 21 days minimum on national advertising with employer declaration where there are Suitable Kiwis/Resident Visa holders
- Lower threshhold for what makes a Kiwi applicant ‘unsuitable’
- Note: INZ have shortened this for dairy jobs until 14 July 2024
- 21 days of the role being listed with WINZ for certain roles
- Note: WINZ have up to 5 biz days to start the advertising
- Clear and full disclosure on pay, accommodation, minimum/maximum hours, requirements and duties
- Org charts so that INZ, who hold this discretion, can determine if the position is needed(!)
- 21 days minimum on national advertising with employer declaration where there are Suitable Kiwis/Resident Visa holders
Cost: $610 and INZ Processing target: 10 business days but realistically can take up to 4 weeks. This follows 21 days of labour market test, incl. WINZ listing-depending on job role.
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 .
We work with employers to undertake the requirements of any or all stages on their behalf. You can complete the information request form HERE to discuss your specific needs. Or, you can contact us at 09 303 3505.
