New Zealand faces system issues impacting Accredited Employer Work Visas

Immigration New Zealand ( INZ) has reported a system limitation affecting employees on Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWVs) when their employer undergoes a business sale or restructure. The issue prevents the automatic creation or updating of job tokens, which are essential for maintaining accurate employee records.

To address this, INZ has introduced a temporary manual process. Employers must now submit a new job check application to link AEWV workers to their new employer, ensuring records are up-to-date. This step is crucial for employees to continue applying for the remainder of their visas under the maximum continuous stay rules.

INZ confirmed it will contact affected employers directly with detailed instructions and has waived the job check fee during this period.

A long-term solution is under development and expected next year, which aims to automate the process and reduce the need for manual intervention.

The system limitation also led to temporary access restrictions for some INZ applications and online forms from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm NZDT on October 14.

Employers and employees are advised to follow official INZ guidance to ensure compliance and avoid delays in visa processing.