New Zealand Employer Sponsorship
Current rules
From 9 March 2026: The immigration median wage increased to NZD $35.00/hour. The 80% threshold increased to NZD $28.00/hour. The 150% threshold increased to NZD $52.50/hour. The 200% threshold increased to NZD $70.00/hour. These changes affect several AEWV-related settings. For example, an AEWV holder in an eligible ANZSCO/NOL skill-level 1–3 job generally needs to earn at least NZD $28/hour to support a partner for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa. An AEWV holder earning NZD $52.50/hour or more can meet the high-income threshold for supporting a partner and certain dependent children.
Overview
Immigration New Zealand has published updated wage settings for the Accredited Employer Work Visa, removing the median wage requirement for some roles and adjusting sector agreements.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders whose immigration rights depend on thresholds linked to the median wage
- AEWV holders who want to support a partner
- AEWV holders who want to support dependent children
- Workers in lower-skilled jobs affected by rules about how long they can stay
- High-paid AEWV workers whose salary decides if they can get certain exemptions
- Employers making AEWV job offers where a job-specific wage threshold applies
- Employers and workers using Green List pathways
What changed in the latest version
Before
Before 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage was NZD $33.56 per hour. This meant that related thresholds were: * 80% of the median wage: NZD $26.85 per hour. * 150% of the median wage: NZD $50.34 per hour. * 200% of the median wage: NZD $67.12 per hour. At the same time, the general rule requiring the median wage for AEWV applications was already removed on 10 March 2025. Employers hiring AEWV workers instead had to pay at least the market rate for the job.
After
From 9 March 2026: * The immigration median wage increased to NZD $35.00 per hour. * The 80% threshold increased to NZD $28.00 per hour. * The 150% threshold increased to NZD $52.50 per hour. * The 200% threshold increased to NZD $70.00 per hour. These changes affect several rules related to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). For example, an AEWV holder in an ANZSCO/NOL skill-level 1–3 job generally needs to earn at least NZD $28 per hour. This allows them to support a partner for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa. An AEWV holder who earns NZD $52.50 per hour or more can meet the high-income rule. This allows them to support a partner and certain dependent children.
If someone applies for a regular Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), they do not need to earn NZD $35 per hour just because the median wage is NZD $35. Instead, their employer must generally offer pay that is at least the market rate for that job and location. They must also meet the legal minimum pay rules. The increase in the median wage matters because several other immigration rights and exemptions still use the median wage as a reference point.
Explained simply
Imagine the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programme as a special pathway for New Zealand businesses to hire people from other countries. Previously, many of these jobs had a specific minimum pay rule – a 'median wage' that businesses had to meet to hire someone. Now, Immigration New Zealand has made some changes, like adjusting the rules for certain jobs so they no longer need to meet that exact median wage. They've also updated special agreements for different industries, meaning the specific requirements for hiring overseas workers have changed, making it easier or different for some roles to qualify.
Version history
- v1Effective 9 Mar 2026PublishedHigh impactAccredited Employer Work Visa Wage Settings Adjusted with Annual Median-Wage Increase in New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand has updated the wage settings for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). They removed the median wage requirement for some job types. They also changed agreements for specific industries.
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