Support a candidate's resident visa application

Some resident visas require the employer to support the applicant's application. You will need to provide your candidate with a job offer and be an accredited employer through the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme if they will be applying for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, Straight to Residence Visa or a 'work to residence' visa.

  • Length of visa

    Indefinite

To support your candidate's visa application, you must:

  • be an  
  • provide them with a job offer 
  • comply with New Zealand employment law.

This option lets you:

  • hire someone with specialist skills or experience indefinitely.

How to support your candidate's visa application

Employer accreditation

To support someone applying for 1 of the following resident applications, you must be an :

  • the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
  • the Straight to Residence Visa
  • the Work to Residence Visa
  • the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, or
  • the Transport Work to Residence Visa.

This accreditation is the employer accreditation for the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Employer Accreditation for the AEWV

Provide a job offer

You must provide your candidate with a job offer that meets our requirements. Your candidate will need to provide this with their visa application.

Making a job offer

You are allowed to offer a job to someone who does not have a visa, but your offer should be conditional on that person getting a visa. They cannot start work until they have a visa that allows them to work in New Zealand.

Type of work

The job offer must be for work specified in the visa information. Check that the job you are offering is right for that visa as the requirements may change.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Straight to Residence Visa

Work to Residence Visa

Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa

Transport Work to Residence Visa

Pay rates

You will also need to offer to pay your candidate at least the minimum amount required by the visa.

Wage rate requirements for visas

Employer responsibilities and obligations

You must meet minimum rights and obligations under both employment and immigration law.

As an employer, this means:

  • paying the same market rate you would pay a New Zealander to do the work
  • meeting holiday and leave requirements
  • providing a safe workplace.

Employee rights and responsibilities — Employment New Zealand 

Process to support a candidate's resident visa

  1. 1

    Step 1: Provide a job offer to your candidate

    Provide a job offer suitable for the visa your candidate wants to apply for.

    Making a job offer

    Note

    If your candidate is applying for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa they will need to send us an expression of interest (EOI).

    We use a points system to assess EOIs. We award your candidate EOI points for their qualifications, income from their job, New Zealand occupational registration and skilled work experience in New Zealand.

    If your candidate’s EOI qualifies for enough points, we will invite them to apply for residence.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Candidate applies for a resident visa

    Your candidate applies for a resident visa. 

  3. 3

    Step 3: Wait for a decision

    We make a decision about your candidate’s application as soon as we can. You can view our historic visa timeframes below.

    Fees, decision times and where to apply

  4. 4

    Step 4: Check that your candidate can work for you

    You must check the people you hire are allowed to work in New Zealand.

    Check if someone can legally work for you

    Preparing for when workers from overseas arrive