New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa for Caregivers 2026: AEWV Guide

The New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) lets an accredited New Zealand employer hire a caregiver or healthcare assistant from overseas when the role has passed a job check and the pay and conditions meet Immigration New Zealand requirements. The employer must be accredited first, the specific job must be approved, and only then can the worker apply for the visa.

For caregivers, the key issues are the employer's accreditation, the wage threshold that applies to the role, the qualifications and experience the employer genuinely requires, and the health and character checks every applicant must pass. This guide walks through each stage in order, explains where caregiver applications most often stall, and shows how to check that an offer is real before you spend money on the process.

The AEWV has three stages, and they must happen in sequence. First, the employer applies for accreditation with Immigration New Zealand, showing it is a viable, compliant business that meets employment and immigration standards.

Second, the employer completes a job check for the specific role. The job check confirms the job is genuine, the pay rate meets the applicable threshold, the hours and location are as stated, and the employer has made a genuine attempt to recruit locally where that is required for the role.

In New Zealand, caregiver work under the AEWV covers roles such as healthcare assistants, aged care workers, home support workers and hospital aides, typically classified under the health and welfare support worker occupations. Employers are mainly aged residential care facilities, home and community support providers, and district health services.

Employers look for relevant experience or training in personal care, a caring and reliable temperament that can be evidenced by references, and the physical ability to do shift work that involves lifting and moving clients safely. Some employers require a relevant certificate, such as a New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing or an equivalent overseas qualification, while others provide on-the-job training and expect the worker to complete recognised training after arrival.

English matters in care work in a way it does not in every job. Caregivers must communicate clearly with clients, families and clinical staff, read care plans, and document care accurately. Some AEWV roles carry an English language requirement depending on the skill level of the occupation, and employers commonly assess English at interview even where no formal test is mandated.

Every AEWV job must pay at or above the applicable wage threshold, which is linked to the median wage and is revised periodically by Immigration New Zealand. The threshold that applies depends on the occupation and the visa settings in force when the job check is approved, and caregiver roles have at times been subject to sector-specific wage arrangements.

The offer should state the guaranteed hours, the roster pattern, the location or locations of work, overtime and weekend rates, and any allowances. Care work rosters commonly include sleepover or on-call arrangements in home support, and those must be paid and described correctly.

The warning signs in a caregiver offer are: a wage below the threshold the employer claims applies • vague or missing hours • a job title that does not match the duties described • a request for payment from the worker for the visa or the job • or an employer who cannot show accreditation. A genuine offer on an AEWV names the accredited employer, states the pay and hours plainly, and expects the worker to apply for the visa through Immigration New Zealand's own system.

Once the job check is approved, the worker applies online for the AEWV, uploading the passport, the job offer and employment agreement, evidence of meeting the role's requirements, and any other documents Immigration New Zealand requests. Most applicants need a medical examination and chest X-ray from an approved panel physician, and police certificates from every country where they have lived for a significant period.

Health and character requirements are applied seriously. A medical condition does not automatically mean refusal, but undisclosed conditions discovered later cause more trouble than disclosed ones handled properly at the start. Answer every character question honestly, including any prior visa refusal or criminal matter — Immigration New Zealand checks, and a false answer can lead to refusal and future difficulty.

The length of an AEWV depends on the occupation's skill level and the settings in force when the visa is granted, and maximum continuous stay rules apply. Caregiver roles have historically been granted shorter maximum durations than higher-skilled roles, with the possibility of further applications.

Partners and dependent children may be able to accompany an AEWV holder, but their work and study rights depend on the visa settings that apply to the principal applicant's role and wage. Check the partner and dependent settings that apply to your specific grant before your family makes plans, and apply for their visas in good time — family applications filed late are a common cause of delayed reunions.

If you are a caregiver or healthcare assistant interested in New Zealand, browse the current vacancies on SteadStaff and apply for roles that match your experience and training. Look for employers who describe the role, the pay rate, the roster and the location plainly, and be ready to evidence your care experience with references and certificates.

Applying through SteadStaff is free for candidates. Submit a complete and honest application, including your care experience, any relevant certificates and your English ability, so the hiring team can match you to an accredited employer whose job check and offer genuinely fit your profile.