Updates from INZ - 05 December 2022

Job changes: Accredited Employer Work Visa and Other Work Visa holders 

​AEWV Job Changes
From today (5 December) Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders can apply to change their employer, occupation, location, or a combination of these. Employers hiring AEWV holders need to be accredited and have a valid job check.

For AEWV, you can apply for a Job Change to change your employer, job, location, or a combination of these.

Your employer must be accredited to hire migrants for the AEWV and have a valid job check for your new job. You will need the job check approval number for your application.

If you want to change to a job paid below the median wage, it must be exempt from paying the median wage. Your current visa must also be valid for no longer than the maximum visa length allowed for roles paid below the median wage. You must apply for a new AEWV if your current visa is valid for longer than the time allowed.

Varying conditions of other work visas
From today, Essential Skills visa holders can also apply to change to any occupation or location. Previously, Essential Skills visa holders were only able to change occupation or location if their new job was on the Essential Skills in Demand List. You can apply to change your employer, job, location, or a combination of these.

If you are changing your job or location, your employer must:

• have advertised the job and
• been unable to find suitable or available New Zealand workers.

During your application, you will need to upload a letter from your employer. In the letter they must declare they could not find suitable or available New Zealanders for the job.

Your employer does not need to advertise your new job, and you do not need to upload a letter, if the role is:

• on the Essential Skills in Demand List and you meet the requirements of the list
• on the Green List and you meet the requirements of the list or
• paid at least twice the median wage.

If your new job has different skills and experience requirements to your old job, you will need to show that you are suitably qualified for the job.

Finding your visa conditions
Your conditions are recorded in your eVisa, on the visa label in your passport, or explained to you in a letter INZ sent you.

Conditions you can change
If your work visa comes with conditions you can apply to change:

• the employer you work for
• the job you are doing
• the location you are working
• how long you can study for while you work.

Note: Even if you change the conditions of your visa, it will still expire on the same date.

You want to change job, employer or location
If your work visa lets you work in any job, for any employer and in any location, you do not need to apply for a variation of conditions or a Job Change.
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Before you apply
If you are changing your job, employer or the location where you work, you need to include in your application:

• an offer of employment
• an employment agreement
• our Employer supplementary form (INZ 1113), completed by your new employer if they are not an accredited employer
• if you need to work out a notice period, a covering letter that sets out how long your notice period is
• if you have an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), the job check approval number
• if you have an Essential Skills Work Visa, a letter from your employer confirming they advertised the job, if required
• if you have an Essential Skills Work Visa or AEWV and you are changing occupation, evidence that you are suitably qualified for the role.

Source: Immigration New Zealand website