Accreditation Duration

Standard and high volume – Initially 12 months and then up to 24 months for each renewal.
Triangular and franchisee – Initially 12 months and then a further 12 months at each renewal.

Getting Accreditation (standard and high volume)

• Have a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).
• Be registered as an employer with IRD.
• Be in a sound financial position (i.e. did not make a loss, have sufficient capital or a credible financial plan and can meet your liabilities).
• Provide settlement support to employees (settlement support includes having newcomers complete the 8 employment modules and providing information on accommodation options, transportation, the cost of living, how to access healthcare, their local CAB, the relevant community groups, obtaining an IRD number, any training or qualification opportunities available to them and any job or industry hazards) – These activities must completed within 1 month of hiring.
• Be compliant with employment, immigration and certain company law – this extends beyond just the entity itself and applies to key persons too (such as directors).
• Have all staff involved in hiring complete the 8 employer modules within the validity of the accreditation

Additional Triangular Employer Accreditation Requirements

In addition to meeting the above accreditation standard and high-volume accreditation requirements, triangular business modules must:

• Only place migrants with other compliant businesses
• Monitor the conditions and safety of staff placed with third party businesses (including responding to any identified issues).
• Employ New Zealand citizens and residents full time in triangular arrangements (a minimum of 15% of their workforce).
• Have employed at least one staff member over 12 months ago.

Additional Franchisee Accreditation Requirements

In addition to meeting the standard and high-volume accreditation requirements, franchisee business modules must:

• Have been operating for a minimum of 12 months.
• Employ New Zealand citizens and residents full time (a minimum of 15% of their workforce).

Remuneration Requirement

All Accredited employers wishing to sponsor a migrant worker under the Accredited Employer Work Visa policy must pay a minimum of $29.66 per hour. There are some timebound exemptions to this remuneration threshold. There are also Sector Agreements in place for some industries allowing for a lower minimum wage threshold.

Job Check

Once Accredited, If you wish to sponsor a work visa, all roles must pass a labour market test unless the role is paid 200% of the median wage ($59.32 per hour) or the role is listed on Immigration New Zealand’s Green List.

If the role is on the ‘Green List’ or paid 200% of the median wage, a job check must still be submitted.
When conducting a labour market test, the advertising must:

• Be advertised on a national job website (e.g Seek or Trade Me) for a minimum of 14 calendar days.
• Include a job description and employer’s name. (including responding to any identified issues).
• Include the pay rate or pay range, hours, location and type of employment.
• Include the pay frequency.
• Stipulate the minimum work experience and/or qualifications (if applicable).

Additional Franchisee Accreditation Requirements

In addition to meeting the standard and high-volume accreditation requirements, franchisee business modules must:

• Have been operating for a minimum of 12 months.
• Employ New Zealand citizens and residents full time (a minimum of 15% of their workforce).

Multiple positions for the same job can be included in one job check application if the job details are the same (for example they have the same occupation, pay range, region or city and minimum job requirements), and are all covered by the same advertising.

Job Check Cost

Job check application fee = $610 (per a job check)

Job Check Duration

An approved job check is valid for 6 months or until the employer’s accreditation ceases, whichever is earlier.

Migrant Applies for an Accredited Employer Work Visa

Successful candidates can apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa – this includes both on and offshore. In order to apply for a visa, the employer must have a valid job check number.

When the migrant worker applies for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, they will need to prove they’re a bona fide applicant who meets health and character requirements. They will also need to prove they have the skills and/or experience that was stipulated in the associated job check. Their employment agreement will also be required and will be checked against the information provided with the job check.

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