148,813 New Zealand AEWV Work Visas Approved as of May 2025 – New Stats Revealed
Hold tight, migrant job seekers and accredited employers—New Zealand’s most powerful work visa, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), is undergoing a transformation of epic proportions in 2025!
With 148,813 AEWV applications approved, 24,334 accredited employers, and a current migrant workforce of 81,899 AEWV holders, the scheme is under the spotlight like never before. As the government tightens compliance screws and strengthens labor market fairness, here’s everything you need to know in this thrilling rollercoaster update on the AEWV system.
What Is AEWV?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand’s main temporary work visa, allowing skilled migrants to work with accredited employers for up to 5 years—but that’s changing for some.
It’s a three (03) step process:
- Employer Accreditation
- Job Check (and advertising if needed)
- Migrant Visa Application
All applications are made through the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Online Portal.
New AEWV Reforms: What’s Changed Since April 2024?
As of April 7, 2024, major changes hit AEWV processing. Here’s a quickfire rundown of what’s already in place:
- English Language Requirement for ANZSCO level 4 & 5 (low-skilled) roles
- Minimum Skills and Experience Thresholds for most roles
- Work and Income Engagement Mandatory for low-skilled job approvals
- Stay Limit Cut to 3 years for most ANZSCO level 4 & 5 roles (was 5 years)
- Franchisee Accreditation Disestablished
These updates aim to prioritize New Zealanders, maintain fair labor standards, and eliminate loopholes that allow exploitation of migrants.
Post-Accreditation Updates as of May 19, 2025
Immigration New Zealand is not messing around. As of May 19, 2025:
- 6,517 checks completed on 4,509 employers
- 250 additional checks underway
- 7,112 complaints filed since July 1, 2023
- 855 employers’ accreditations revoked
- 152 suspended
- 73 active investigations involving 82 employers
- 32 employers under assessment
Let that sink in: the integrity of the AEWV system is under heavy scrutiny—and rightly so. Post-accreditation checks are both random and targeted, including:
- All third-party business models
- Complaints-flagged employers
- Randomized accredited employer samples.
AEWV Updates Timeline Snapshot
- Employer Accreditation Opened: 23 May 2022
- Job Check Launched: 20 June 2022
- AEWV Applications Started: 4 July 2022
- As of May 2025: Over 148,813 AEWV Visas Approved.
What’s Next?
The MBIE and INZ promise continuous monitoring, reforms, and employer crackdowns as the system evolves. Migrants are encouraged to keep documentation ready, follow updates, and apply only through trusted employers.
For employers, compliance is non-negotiable. A single misstep can trigger suspension or revocation—and ruin your credibility in the AEWV system.
References
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