New accreditation rules for business sales and mergers

To support businesses and Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders during structural changes, the New Zealand Government has introduced new accreditation rules. These changes, effective 6 November 2024, streamline processes for companies involved in sales or mergers and provide clear guidelines on employer responsibilities. 

Understanding the updated rules for employer accreditation 

Under the new rules, AEWV holders who remain in the same role and location but experience an employer change due to a business sale or restructuring must apply for a Job Change (also known as a variation of conditions). To support this transition, AEWV holders need a letter from their new employer explaining the sale or restructuring. If the new employer has accreditation or has applied for it when Immigration New Zealand receives the Job Change application, Immigration New Zealand can pre-approve the Job Change while processing the employer’s accreditation application. 

Updated Job Check requirements for accreditation 

The updated accreditation rules remove the need for a new Job Check if the AEWV holder’s role and work location remain the same, reducing administrative tasks. However, AEWV holders moving to a new employer after a sale or restructuring will count toward the employer’s limit of five AEWV holders under standard accreditation. Employers who will exceed this should apply for high-volume accreditation before the workers apply for their Job Change. 

These accreditation changes are designed to speed up visa processing and better support employers through business sales and restructurings, showing the Government’s commitment to an efficient Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme. 

For more details on AEWV applications and employer accreditation responsibilities, please contact Arno Nothnagel, Director of New Zealand Immigration, at arno.nothnagel@absoluteimmigration.com.