On July 8, 2025, Immigration New Zealand announced that changes are being made to the online application form for Green List occupations and to the wage thresholds for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
Key changes to the AEWV form
- Occupation-specific questions will be replaced with more general ones. While the number of questions may remain similar, they will apply more broadly across roles.
- Specific requirements for each Green List occupation will be displayed directly in the form, helping applicants clearly understand what they need to meet.
- These updates are intended to allow the form to be updated more quickly and accurately as Green List criteria change.
These changes, effective July 7, 2025, will only impact those applying for roles on the Green List and roles that require occupational registration.
Wage threshold updates
Wage thresholds are used to determine visa criteria for some visas, including AEWV. They are based on New Zealand’s median wage to make sure visa settings match what is happening in the job market.
From August 18, 2025, these AEWV related thresholds will be updated to reflect the June 2024 median wage of NZD 33.56 an hour.
These changes may affect AEWV applicants:
- earning twice the median wage (NZD 67.12 an hour) — they may be exempt from the labor market test and minimum skills threshold.
- earning 1.5 times the median wage (NZD 50.34 an hour) — they may be eligible for the maximum continuous stay of five years on an AEWV.
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.