INZ To begin employers compliance checks

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) introduced a new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in July 2022, which replaced several visas and increased the responsibility of employers in the work visa process.

Under the new system, employers are required to be accredited to support a work visa application and must commit to completing settlement support activities to maintain and renew their accreditation.

However, the initial accreditation application is simple and does not require supporting evidence, which could result in compliance issues in the future.

INZ recently announced that it will begin compliance checks on a selection of accredited organisations to verify their compliance with the AEWV system.

Employers need to prepare for potential compliance checks and renewals by having a plan in place and a dedicated person or team to track post-accreditation compliance.

If a business is selected for a compliance check, seeking immigration advice is recommended, particularly if a letter of concern is received.

Failure to comply with the AEWV system could result in fines or a permanent ban from supporting migrant workers.