Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that, effective December 8, 2025, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants must provide a valid police certificate with their application. INZ will stop accepting receipts that show the applicant has applied for a certificate.
Previously, INZ held applications open and followed up on missing police certificates. From December 2025, INZ will no longer do this. It will assess applications based on the documents provided and will not delay processing. This means people who submit complete applications will benefit from faster decisions.
Applicants should apply only when they have their police certificate ready to upload. Processing times for police certificates vary by country, so applicants should check with the local authority and plan ahead.
Exceptions
Fiji, Hong Kong and Israel send certificates directly to INZ. In these cases, applicants can upload proof that they have applied for a police certificate.
Applying without a certificate
- Those who have spent less than 24 months in New Zealand will have five working days to provide a police certificate, or their visa may be approved for a shorter period (up to 24 months total).
- Those who are in New Zealand and have been there for more than 24 months will receive a Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letter and have a chance to respond.
- Those who are outside of New Zealand and have already spent more than 24 months in New Zealand may have their application declined.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.