The period of stay for the AEWV

Find out about the maximum AEWV period of stay, with 2 visa types depending on the job and the particular situation.

The period of stay for the AEWV

The total period a person is allowed to stay in New Zealand on one or moreAccredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)— also known as the maximum continuous stay — will vary depending on the job and on whether the visa is a seasonal AEWV.

The total period of stay allowed

The “total period of stay allowed” is the total amount of time a person may stay in New Zealand on one or more AEWVs. This is also known as the maximum continuous stay.

For those who do not yet hold an AEWV and wish to apply for the first time, the term of the AEWV will usually equal the total period of stay allowed. However, in some cases this term may be shorter — for example where the employment agreement is a short, fixed-term contract.

For those who already hold an AEWV and whose visa term is shorter than the total period of stay allowed, that person may be granted another AEWV.

On reaching the end of the total period of stay allowed, the worker must leave New Zealand for 12 months before another standard AEWV may be granted.

Seasonal AEWVs and the total period of stay allowed

The total period of stay allowed on a Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) is 3 years, but the worker must leave New Zealand for 3 consecutive months in each year the visa is valid.

The total period of stay allowed on a Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) is 7 months. After that, the worker must leave New Zealand for 4 consecutive months before another PSV may be granted.

Checking the visa term and the total period of stay allowed

The maximum visa term and total period of stay allowed on a standard AEWV is 5 years where:

• the job is at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3
• the job is at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, but is recognised at ANZSCO skill level 3
• the job is at skill level 1, 2 or 3 of theNew Zealand’s National Occupation List (NOL)and the job is on the list of NOL occupations that may be used for the AEWV or the Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV)
• the minimum rate of pay is NZD 50.34 an hour
• the job is on the Green List
• the job is an approved job for the Transport Work to Residence Visa and the minimum rate of pay is NZD 33.56 an hour
• the job is a care sector job eligible for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, and the minimum rate of pay is NZD 28.25 an hour
• the applicant filed the AEWV application between 21/06/2023 and 06/04/2024 and the minimum rate of pay is NZD 29.66 an hour, or
• the applicant filed the AEWV application on or before 06/04/2024 for a job covered by the transport sector agreement at that time.

Where none of these situations applies and the job is at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, the maximum visa term and total period of stay allowed is 3 years.

Approved jobs for the Transport Work to Residence Visa:

• Ship’s master
• Deck hand.

Care sector jobs eligible for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa:

• Māori health assistant — Kaiawhina (Hauora)
• Disabilities services officer
• Residential care officer
• Aged or disabled carer
• Nursing support worker
• Personal care assistant
• Therapy aide
• Child or youth residential care assistant, or
• Diversional therapist

For those who applied before 06/04/2024

For those who filed an AEWV application on or before 06/04/2024, there are 2 further situations in which the maximum visa term and total period of stay allowed is 5 years.

1. A rate of pay of NZD 29.66 an hour

A worker has a maximum visa term and total period of stay allowed of 5 years where they:

• currently hold an AEWV
• filed the AEWV application between 21/06/2023 and 06/04/2024, and
• had a minimum rate of pay of NZD 29.66 an hour when the AEWV was granted.

2. Having received a job offer in the transport sector

A worker has a maximum visa term and total period of stay allowed of 5 years where they:

• currently hold an AEWV
• filed the AEWV application on or before 06/04/2024, and
• wish to apply, or have applied, for a further AEWV and the job offer is for 1 of the following transport sector jobs:
  • Bus driver
  • Truck driver
  • Aircraft refueller
  • Furniture removalist
  • Tanker driver
  • Tow truck driver.

The period that must be spent outside New Zealand

Usually, a person holding a standard AEWV must spend at least 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand after reaching the total period of stay allowed.

A person holding a Peak Seasonal Visa must spend at least 4 consecutive months outside New Zealand after reaching the total period of stay allowed (up to 7 months).

A person holding a Global Workforce Seasonal Visa must spend at least 3 consecutive months outside New Zealand after reaching the total period of stay allowed (up to 9 months).

Increasing the total period of stay allowed on a standard visa

A person holding a standard AEWV who receives an offer for a job at a higher skill level with a total period of stay allowed of 5 years may:

• stay in New Zealand on the AEWV for 5 years instead of 3 years, or
• return to New Zealand before completing the required 12 months outside New Zealand, where they left on reaching the 3-year total period of stay allowed.

How the total period of stay allowed is calculated

The total period of stay allowed is calculated from:

• the time the first AEWV was granted where the person was already in New Zealand, or
• the time of arrival in New Zealand on the AEWV, where the person was granted the AEWV while outside New Zealand.

Any time spent in New Zealand on an AEWV counts towards the total period of stay allowed. This time may also include time spent on an Interim Visa or a Specific Purpose Work Visa.

The total period of stay allowed on an AEWV does not include time spent on:

• other temporary visas such as visitor visas and student visas, or
• other work visas such as the Post Study Work Visa, partnership visas and working holiday visas.

Interim Visas and the total period of stay allowed

For those moving from one AEWV to another, time spent on an Interim Visa while awaiting approval of the next AEWV counts towards the total period of stay allowed in New Zealand, or the maximum continuous stay.

Any other time spent on an Interim Visa does not count towards the total period of stay allowed. For example, where a person moves from a student visa or a visitor visa to an AEWV. The total period of stay allowed will begin when the AEWV is approved.

The Specific Purpose Work Visa and the total period of stay allowed

Time spent on a Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) counts towards the total period of stay allowed on an AEWV where the person:

• already held an AEWV and was about to reach the maximum continuous stay on or before 30/11/2025, and
• filed an SPWV application between 08/09/2025 and 02/11/2025, and
• was granted an SPWV to work in 1 of the 30 new occupations at skill level 1 or 3 of the National Occupation List (NOL).

Any other time spent on an SPWV does not count towards the total period of stay allowed. For example, where a person holds an SPWV to work in a seasonal activity and then files an AEWV application to work in a café. The total period of stay allowed will begin when the AEWV is approved.

Applying for another visa

For those who already hold an AEWV and whose visa term is shorter than the total period of stay allowed, that person may be granted another AEWV.

Applying for another seasonal AEWV (a GWSV or PSV)

A person holding a PSV who is nearing the end of the visa term (up to 7 months) may apply for another PSV, but must leave the country for 4 months before the new PSV may be granted.

A person holding a GWSV who is nearing the end of the visa term may apply for another GWSV. To be granted another GWSV, the person must have met the visa condition requiring 3 months to be spent outside New Zealand in each 12 months of holding the previous GWSV.

Updates are on the government website athere.