For employers, small to large

Hire skilled workers from overseas. We sort your accreditation.

From a two-person café to a company hiring hundreds, we handle your employer accreditation, job checks and worker visas, so you can bring in the experienced people your business needs.

We handle it for you Which accreditation do I need?

Accreditation for every size of business

StandardUp to 5 overseas workers
High-volume6 or more overseas workers
TriangularPlacing workers with other businesses

Accreditation also lets you support seasonal visas and residence applications for your workers.

The three types of accreditation

You need accreditation before you can hire someone on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The type depends on how many overseas workers you'll hire and how they'll work.

StandardHigh-volumeTriangular
ForBusinesses hiring up to 5 overseas workersBusinesses hiring 6 or more overseas workersBusinesses that place workers with other businesses, such as labour hire
Typical businessesRestaurants, cafés, workshops, salons, small builders, farmsConstruction firms, aged care, manufacturers, larger hospitality groupsLabour hire and recruitment companies
INZ feeNZD $775NZD $1,280NZD $4,060
First accreditation12 months12 months12 months
After renewal24 months24 months12 months

Job checks cost NZD $735 each. Upgrading from standard to high-volume costs NZD $505. You need a New Zealand Business Number, a Business Industry Classification code and an IRD number to apply.

Which accreditation do I need?

Answer two questions to see the type that fits and the INZ fees to expect.

Will they work at other businesses' sites, placed by you?

You need

Standard accreditation

For businesses hiring up to 5 overseas workers.

INZ accreditation feeNZD $775

Plus NZD $735 for each job check. General information only; your adviser confirms the right type.

Get this sorted for me

From accreditation to your new worker starting

Six steps. We can do every one of them for you.

  1. AccreditationApply for the right type
  2. Advertise14 or 21 days, and Work and Income where needed
  3. Job checkValid 6 months
  4. Worker appliesAfter checking they're qualified
  5. Settle inMeet your employer obligations
  6. Keep it currentUpdate and renew on time

Advertising before a job check

How longAt least 14 days for ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 jobs (or jobs on the National Occupation List); at least 21 days for skill level 4 or 5
WhereA national job site where New Zealanders are likely to apply, such as Seek or Trade Me. Industry sites can be used too.
What the ad must showKey duties, the pay range (or estimated earnings), the type of work and minimum guaranteed hours, and the minimum skills, experience and qualifications
TimingThe ad must close before you apply, and you must apply within 90 days of it closing
Skill level 4 and 5 jobsYou must also engage in good faith with Work and Income, and explain why any New Zealand applicants weren't suitable
No ad needed ifThe job is on the Green List and meets its requirements, pays at least NZD $70 an hour, or is a Global Workforce Seasonal Visa role
Two mistakes that get job checks declined

Using the wrong ANZSCO code (a job assessed at a higher skill level than you declared can be declined), and passing recruitment costs on to the worker, which isn't allowed.

Keeping your accreditation

  • Renew before your accreditation ends. INZ emails you 2 weeks before, and renewals take at least 5 weeks.
  • If you applied to renew in time, you may get 3 months of interim accreditation while you wait.
  • If it lapses, your current workers can stay until their visas end, but you can't apply for job checks, support further AEWVs or support residence applications.
  • Tell INZ when your circumstances change, and keep meeting your obligations to your workers.

What we do for employers

Pick a single service or hand us the whole process. Every job gets a fixed fee agreed upfront.

Accreditation

We check you meet the rules, choose the right type, prepare and lodge your application, and handle renewals and upgrades.

Job checks

We write a compliant job ad, pick the right ANZSCO code, manage Work and Income engagement, and lodge the job check.

Worker visas

We check each candidate is suitably qualified and prepare and lodge their AEWV, alone or as a batch.

Seasonal staff

RSE status, Agreements to Recruit, and Global Workforce Seasonal and Peak Seasonal visas. Seasonal guide

Residence for your team

Help your best workers move to residence through the Skilled Migrant Category or Green List.

A compliance calendar

Reminders for renewals, job check expiry and visa end dates, so nothing lapses mid-season.

Industries we work with

HospitalityConstruction and tradesAged care and healthDairy and agricultureHorticultureManufacturingTransportIT and engineering

Tell us who you need to hire

We'll reply with the accreditation you need, the steps, and a fixed fee for us to handle it.

Full service We handle the whole process Accreditation, job checks and worker visas, from first application to your worker's first day. How full service works

Sources

Last checked: 1 November 2026. INZ fees and rules change; check the official pages before you apply. General information, not immigration advice.