How long you can stay on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

The total time you can stay in New Zealand on one or more AEWVs — also called your maximum continuous stay — changes depending on your job.

Working in New Zealand

Total time you can stay on an AEWV

The 'total time you can stay' is the total amount of time you can stay in New Zealand on 1 or more AEWVs. We also call this your 'maximum continuous stay'.

If you do not have an AEWV now, and you want to apply for one for the first time, the length of your AEWV will normally be the same as the total time you can stay. However it may be shorter than this in some cases, for example if your employment agreement is for a short fixed term contract.

If you already have an AEWV and the length of your visa is less than the total time you can stay, you may be able to get another AEWV.

Applying for another AEWV

When you get to the end of the total time you can stay, you must leave New Zealand for 12 months before you can get another AEWV.

Check your AEWV length and total time you can stay

The maximum visa length and total time you can stay is 5 years if:

  • your job is ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3
  • your job is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, but is recognised at ANZSCO skill level 3
  • you are paid at least NZD $47.41 an hour
  • your job is on the Green List
  • your job is an approved job for the Transport Work to Residence Visa and you are paid at least NZD $31.61 an hour
  • your job is a care workforce job eligible for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, and you are paid at least NZD $28.25 an hour, or
  • you applied for your AEWV on or before 6 April 2025 and meet the other requirements for a 5 year visa.

If none of these situations apply to you and your job is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, your maximum visa length and total time you can stay is 3 years.

What is ANZSCO and how to find your skill level

ANZSCO occupations recognised at a higher skill level

Green list

Approved jobs for the Transport Work to Residence Visa

  • Ship’s master
  • Deck hand

Transport Work to Residence Visa work requirements and roles

Care workforce jobs eligible for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa

  • Māori health assistant — Kaiawhina (Hauora)
  • Disabilities services officer
  • Residential care officer
  • Aged or disabled carer
  • Nursing support worker
  • Personal care assistant
  • Therapy aide
  • Child or youth residential care assistant, or
  • Diversional therapist.

Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa

If you applied for your AEWV on or before 6 April 2024

If you applied for your AEWV on or before 6 April 2024, there are 2 other situations where you have a 5 year maximum visa length and total time you can stay.

1. You are paid NZD $29.66 an hour

You have a 5 year maximum visa length and total time you can stay if:

  • you currently have an AEWV
  • you applied for your AEWV between 21 June 2023 and 6 April 2024, and
  • you were paid at least NZD $29.66 an hour when you got your AEWV.

2. You have been offered a transport sector job

You have a 5 year maximum visa length and total time you can stay if:

  • you currently have an AEWV
  • you applied for your AEWV on or before 6 April 2024, and
  • you want to apply, or you have applied for a further AEWV and your offer of employment is for one of the following transport sector jobs:
    • Bus driver
    • Truck driver
    • Aircraft refueller
    • Furniture removalist
    • Tanker driver
    • Tow truck driver.

How long you must be outside New Zealand

Normally, you must spend at least 12 months in a row outside New Zealand after reaching the total time you can stay.

Increasing the total time you can stay

If you are offered a higher skilled job that has a total time you can stay of 5 years, you can:

  • stay in New Zealand on an AEWV for 5 years instead of 3, or
  • return to New Zealand before completing your 12 months required outside of New Zealand, if you have already left due to reaching the 3 year total time you can stay.

How we count the total time you can stay

We count the total time you can stay from:

  • when you get your first AEWV if you were already in New Zealand, or
  • when you arrived in New Zealand on an AEWV, if you got your AEWV while you were outside New Zealand.

Any time you spend in New Zealand on an AEWV counts towards the total time you can stay.

The total time you can stay on an AEWV does not include time spent on:

  • other temporary visas such as visitor and student visas, or
  • other work visas such as a Post Study Work Visa, partnership-based visa, working holiday visa or an Interim Visa.

Applying for another AEWV

If you already have an AEWV and the length of your visa is less than the total time you can stay, you may be able to get another AEWV.

Applying for another AEWV