AEWV Update: Key Changes to Job Check, Occupation Lists, and Indian PCC Rules

AEWV Update: Key Changes to Job Check, Occupation Lists, and Indian PCC Rules

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced a series of significant updates to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, set to take effect between September and December 2025. These changes include a redesigned Job Check form, an expanded National Occupation List, and new requirements for Indian police clearance certificates. This AEWV update is crucial for employers and potential migrants to understand to ensure future compliance and avoid processing delays.

For the latest official information, always refer to the Immigration New Zealand website.

A Closer Look at the AEWV Update

This comprehensive AEWV update encompasses three major areas of change, each with specific implementation dates and impacts on employers and applicants.

Streamlined Job Check Process (Effective September 29, 2025)

A key part of this AEWV update is the launch of a redesigned online Job Check form. The new form aims to simplify the application process and reduce delays by featuring clearer instructions, automated checks, and a structure that aligns with current immigration requirements.

• Details: Employers will be required to provide more information upfront, including an explanation of why the role is needed, the size of their organization, and the number of New Zealanders currently employed. This allows for more complete applications and helps INZ assessors make faster, more informed decisions.

• Critical Action: Employers with draft Job Check applications in the current system must submit them before 08:00 (local time) on September 28, 2025. Any unsaved drafts will be inaccessible once the new portal goes live and will need to be re-started using the revised form.

• Impact: For employers, this change should result in quicker outcomes for applications that meet all eligibility criteria.

For more detailed analysis on how this affects employer compliance, visit our internal guide at visasupdate.com/employer-guides.

Updates to the National Occupation List (Effective November 3, 2025)

This AEWV update also includes a major revision of the National Occupation List (NOL), which is used to assess visa applications under the AEWV framework.

• Details: The NOL will introduce approximately 90 new occupations at skill levels 1 to 3. Furthermore, this change may allow some workers currently in level 4 or 5 roles to become eligible to apply for a further AEWV, extending their maximum continuous stay in New Zealand.

• Temporary Pathway (Specific Purpose Work Visa): To bridge the transition period (September 8 - November 2, 2025), INZ is introducing a temporary visa option for around 30 of the new NOL roles. To be eligible, a visa holder must:

  • Hold a current AEWV expiring on or before November 30, 2025.

  • Be employed in one of the 30 eligible new NOL roles.

  • Have at least three years’ relevant experience or a recognized qualification.

  • Recruitment advertising is not required for this specific temporary pathway.

• Impact: Foreign nationals in newly recognized higher-skilled NOL roles will have access to AEWV pathways. A limited group may qualify for the temporary SPWV to avoid a gap in their visa status.

Stricter Police Clearance Rules for Indian Nationals in India (Effective December 1, 2025)

A final critical element of this AEWV update concerns a change to the police certificate requirements for Indian nationals applying from within India.

• Details: From December 1, 2025, INZ will only accept Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) issued by a Regional Passport Office of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Certificates from local police authorities (e.g., the Office of the Deputy Commissioner or Superintendent of Police) will no longer be accepted.

• Who is Affected: This rule applies exclusively to Indian nationals who are residing in India at the time of their visa application. The requirements for Indian nationals living overseas, or for other nationalities who have lived in India, remain unchanged.

• Impact: This change narrows the accepted source of PCCs, which will likely extend the time required for applicants in India to secure the correct documentation. Affected applicants should start the process early to account for potentially longer lead times.

Looking Ahead

This AEWV update highlights INZ's ongoing effort to standardize procedures, improve application quality, and ensure greater consistency in visa assessments. Employers and applicants should anticipate further refinements and stay informed to avoid delays and maintain compliance with New Zealand's evolving immigration requirements.