Minimum skills requirement exempted for some sectors
From 8 September 2024, an exemption to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) minimum skills requirement is available for some roles. For most roles, an applicant must meet the minimum skills threshold through one of two ways:
- By demonstrating three years or more of relevant work experience with sufficient evidence from a third party; or
- By having a relevant qualification at Level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
A qualification or work experience can be considered to be relevant if it is in the same field or industry as the job offered. Qualifications at Bachelor’s degree level or higher can be considered relevant to any employment offered.
However following the recent change announced by INZ, the following sectors may be exempted from the minimum skills requirement, if they meet certain criteria as set out below.
Meat and seafood processing
Workers in this sector will not be required to meet the minimum skill threshold if they meet the following:
- New visa applicants who have been offered a role under the capped meat processing sector agreement, if their AEWV application is lodged on or before 31 August 2025.
- New visa applicants who have been offered a role under the capped seafood processing sector agreement, if their AEWV application is lodged on or before 31 October 2025.
Tourism and hospitality
Current visa holders with a role in the tourism and hospitality sector that is exempt from paying the February 2023 median wage will also be exempt from the minimum skills requirement if:
- their visa will be expiring on or before 31 March 2025; and
- they are applying for a further 1 year AEWV; and
- their application is for the same occupation (note that they may work for a different employer and/or in a different location)
Care workforce
Current visa holders with a role included in the care workforce sector agreement will be exempt from the minimum skill threshold if:
- their visa has been granted between 4 July 2022 and 23 November 2023 (inclusive); and
- they were paid at least NZD$26.16 per hour; and
- they are applying for a further 1 year AEWV; and
- their application is for the same occupation (note that they may work for a different employer and/or in a different location)
These changes only exempt AEWV applicants from the minimum skills requirements introduced in April 2024. Applicants will still need to meet any requirements listed by the employer in the Job Check application.
Contact one of our team today if you’d like to know more or discuss how these changes may affect you or your plan to obtain a visa in New Zealand.