Frequently Asked Questions
Answers for Migrants & Employers

VisaPlex provides general information on New Zealand visa categories and an AI-assisted planning workspace (AVA) to help you organise your situation. A licensed immigration adviser then reviews how the rules may apply to you. We are an information and planning service plus licensed adviser review — not a self-service eligibility checker.

VisaPlex is operated by a licensed immigration adviser, Ava Sanchez-Neal (LIA 200900809). The website itself provides general information only; personalised immigration advice for your situation is provided by the licensed adviser after a review.

AVA is our AI-assisted planning workspace. It helps you gather and organise details about your job offer, skills, qualifications, family or investment situation against the general framework of NZ visa categories. AVA is a planning tool — it does not give immigration advice or decide whether you qualify.

No. Whether you meet a visa's requirements is personalised immigration advice, which is provided by a licensed adviser after reviewing your circumstances. VisaPlex provides general information and a planning workspace to prepare for that review.

Start in the AVA workspace to organise your information, then request a licensed adviser review. The adviser looks at your circumstances against current Immigration New Zealand policy and explains the options that may apply.

The AEWV is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. It generally requires a full-time job offer (at least 30 hours a week) from an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand, with an approved job check for the role, paid at least the applicable wage threshold. See our AEWV overview for how it generally works.

Yes. The AEWV is employer-sponsored, so you generally need a full-time offer from an accredited employer with an approved job check before you can apply. Your employer is sent a link to the application.

Beyond an accredited employer and job check, applicants generally need either around two years of relevant work experience or a qualification at NZQCF level 4 or higher in the same field (unless an exemption such as the Green List applies), plus the applicable wage, and the health and character requirements common to NZ visas. English-language requirements generally apply to ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5 roles. Our AEWV guide walks through each in general terms.

Many AEWV wage thresholds are based on the New Zealand median wage, which Immigration New Zealand updates each year. Because the figure changes, we don't hardcode it — use our Wage Calculator to check a rate, and the Wage Rates guide to understand how thresholds generally work. The current median wage is published on immigration.govt.nz.

AEWV holders can generally support a visitor or work visa for a partner and a visitor or student visa for dependent children, subject to requirements. See our partner & family visa overview — how it applies to your family is confirmed during an adviser review.

The AEWV can generally allow a stay of up to five years for many roles, or up to three years for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 jobs, depending on pay and when the first visa was granted. Immigration New Zealand sets the application fee and publishes indicative processing times, and both change over time — check the current figures on immigration.govt.nz.

Time on an AEWV can support some residence pathways, such as the Skilled Migrant Category or Green List pathways. See our residence pathways guide — whether and how this applies depends on your circumstances and current policy.

The main routes generally include the Skilled Migrant Category, the Green List (Straight to Residence and Work to Residence), investor and business categories, partnership residence and parent residence. Our residence pathways guide explains each in general terms — and criteria change over time.

Tier 1 Green List roles can lead to a Straight to Residence Visa, allowing a direct residence application. Tier 2 roles generally lead to a Work to Residence Visa after around 24 months of relevant NZ work experience at the required wage. The current Green List and requirements are on immigration.govt.nz.

The Skilled Migrant Category is a points-based residence pathway generally built around skilled employment, qualifications and registration under current INZ settings. You can use our SMC Points reference to see how points generally accrue, but how the rules apply to you is confirmed by a licensed adviser.

Some pathways allow a direct residence application; others require a period of work or presence in New Zealand first. Which applies depends on the pathway and your circumstances.

That depends on your skills, work, family and investment situation. Recommending a best pathway is personalised immigration advice, which a licensed adviser provides after reviewing your circumstances. Request an adviser review to talk it through.

Employer accreditation generally involves choosing your accreditation type, meeting the rules for your business, and applying online. See our employer accreditation hub for the general process. Once accredited, a job check is generally the next step before hiring a migrant on the AEWV.

Standard accreditation generally suits businesses hiring up to five migrants; high-volume is for six or more; triangular accreditation is for businesses that place migrants with controlling third parties. Our accreditation guide helps you see which generally fits your hiring plans.

A job check confirms a specific role's pay and conditions meet requirements and that suitable New Zealanders have had first opportunity. It generally covers advertising, Work and Income engagement for some roles, the ANZSCO/NOL code, and a compliant employment agreement, and is generally valid for six months. Our job check guide covers what's involved.

Advertising is generally required so New Zealanders have first opportunity — usually a minimum of 14 days for ANZSCO skill level 1–3 roles and 21 days for level 4–5 roles. Some roles are exempt, for example those on the Green List or paying at least NZD $70.00 an hour (as at 2026, per immigration.govt.nz). Whether an exemption applies is confirmed against current policy.

Initial accreditation generally lasts 12 months before it needs to be renewed, and a job check is generally valid for six months (or until accreditation ends). Current settings and fees are published by Immigration New Zealand.

Accredited employers generally must support workers to settle, must not pass on recruitment costs, and must continue to meet immigration and employment-law obligations. Our ongoing obligations guide outlines what's generally required to keep accreditation in good standing.

Roles generally must meet the applicable wage requirement, much of which is tied to the New Zealand median wage that updates each year. Use our Wage Calculator to check a rate against current thresholds, and the Wage Rates guide to understand how they generally apply.