New process for employers during a sale or restructure

Read more on the Immigration New Zealand news centre. Read the update here.

We are introducing a new process to manage the transition of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders from one employer to another during a sale or restructure.

Since November 2024, AEWV holders could apply for a Job Change if they were staying in the same role and location during a business sale or restructure, without the employer needing a job check.

A system limitation is affecting how AEWV holders are linked to employers in this situation.

To maintain accurate records, employers (or their advisers) must now submit a new job check application if they have AEWV holders moving to them as part of restructuring or business sale. We will waive the application fee, and employers do not need to advertise the role.

We will contact affected employers (or their advisers) with guidance on the process.

This process ensures all AEWV employees are displayed in an employer’s Immigration Online dashboard. It helps visa holders apply for the remaining balance of their maximum continuous stay and supports employers in meeting their accreditation requirements.

We are looking at a system fix next year so that affected employers will not need to apply for a job check.

Update on Job Change process during a business sale or restructure

We provide a simplified Job Change process for AEWV holders who are genuinely transferring roles because of a business sale, merger, or restructure. Under this process, the new employer does not need to complete a full job check and only needs to have applied for accreditation.

From 17 November 2025, if there are serious concerns identified about the new employer, then these Job Change applications can be paused until the employer’s accreditation is decided.

Job Change applications will be paused if:

• the new employer's accreditation was revoked in the last 12 months

• the new employer is under active investigation or prosecution for immigration related non compliance

• there is credible evidence of poor employment practices or migrant exploitation.

Genuine employers who meet requirements will not be affected.