New Zealand AEWV: preparing an application from Singapore

What the AEWV is

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is a temporary work visa based on an eligible offer from an accredited New Zealand employer. It is not a general job-search or residence visa.

Employer accreditation, the job check and your application are different stages. Read the employer process before assuming a job advert is enough to apply.

The employer, job and your evidence

Check the employer’s accreditation, the approved job and the individual application link it provides. Confirm duties, location, pay, hours and required occupational registration.

You must meet the applicable skills, qualification, English, health and character requirements. Job classification and your circumstances can affect eligibility, length of stay and family options. Check the complete current requirements alongside the New Zealand jobs.

Work evidence, Singapore qualifications and NZQA

A CV alone is not sufficient evidence of experience. Provide independent records such as detailed employer references, contracts, payslips and tax or other employment records that support dates, duties and hours.

Do not assume an ITE, polytechnic, WSQ or university award has a particular New Zealand level. Depending on the qualification and route, an NZQA International Qualification Assessment (IQA) may be needed; some qualifications are exempt. Occupational registration for regulated work is a separate requirement.

Read the complete employment agreement

Check the wage requirements applying to the role and compare the written NZD pay, hours, allowances and deductions. Market pay and other visa requirements still matter even where an old universal threshold no longer applies.

An SGD salary comparison should also account for local rent, tax, transport and guaranteed hours. Do not pay an employer or agent to obtain a job.

English requirements for skill levels 3–5

From 1 June 2026, INZ extended AEWV English requirements to relevant ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 roles, alongside levels 4 and 5. There are limited transitional exceptions; use the official change notice and current AEWV conditions for your application.

Singapore citizenship, residence or an English-medium education does not give every applicant a waiver. Check the accepted evidence and exemptions for this visa specifically. An English-speaking-background rule for a different visa must not be assumed to apply to the AEWV. Employers and occupational regulators may also assess English separately.

COC, medical checks and translations

Depending on your age, planned stay and history, INZ may require medical checks and police certificates from your country of citizenship and other countries of residence. Check the police certificate instructions before applying.

Use the Singapore Police Force COC service when a Singapore certificate is required. The process is digital and has purpose and residence requirements; follow the current instructions for your citizenship and Singpass or FIN circumstances. Non-English records need translations meeting INZ’s rules.

Steps for applicants preparing in Singapore

1. Match your experience to a suitable advertised role.
2. Send your English CV and relevant evidence, and prepare for interviews.
3. Confirm the written offer, employer accreditation and job-check position.
4. Receive the employer’s individual application link.
5. Gather the required employment, qualification, English, police and health records.
6. Submit the official application and pay the applicable charges.
7. Read the approved visa’s conditions before arranging your move and starting work.

Costs, length of stay and changing jobs

The visa page shows current charges and processing information. Recruitment, job checks and document preparation take additional time. Set aside funds for checks, translations, flights, insurance and initial accommodation.

Your maximum stay depends on the applicable role and personal conditions; see AEWV stay limits. A new employer, occupation or location may require a change of conditions or another visa. Read the rules before changing jobs.

Partners and children need their own visas

Family members are not automatically included in your AEWV. Their options can depend on your role, pay and circumstances. Check the current family visa rules for each person.

Plan relationship documents, translations, schooling, healthcare and whether a partner’s actual visa permits work. Avoid budgeting on an assumed second income before checking those conditions.

Residence pathways are separate

An AEWV does not guarantee residence. The Green List and Skilled Migrant Category have their own occupation, qualification, registration, age and other conditions.

Check the current skilled residence pathways. Being employed in New Zealand for a period does not automatically qualify you.

Documents to prepare in Singapore

Build a clear record of your training and work before applying. Use the same name as your passport, explain any changes of name and keep original documents alongside any required translations.

• Passport and residence: check passport validity and the citizenship recorded in it. Living in Singapore, holding permanent residence and holding a Singapore passport are different things for visa eligibility.
• Qualifications: gather your actual award and transcript, whether issued by ITE, a polytechnic, a university or another institution. Keep Nitec, Higher Nitec, Technical Diploma, Work-Study Diploma and WSQ awards under their exact names. Include course content, practical training and the issuing institution where useful. See the ITE certification system and WSQ course accreditation information.
• Employment: collect references showing dates, hours, duties and equipment used, supported by contracts, payslips, tax records or other independent evidence. CPF records may help where applicable, but are not available for every worker. Obtain referees’ permission before sharing their details. A CV alone is not proof of work experience.
• Police certificates: apply only when the receiving authority requires them. Read the Singapore Police Force’s Certificate of Clearance instructions and the destination’s country-specific requirements. Other countries where you have lived may also need to issue a certificate.
• English: prepare a recognised test or evidence of a specific exemption where required. Singapore residence, citizenship or an English-language CV does not create a general exemption.
• Translations: documents already in English do not need translating simply because they were issued in Singapore. For other documents, follow the receiving authority’s rules on the translator, certification and accompanying original.

Plan your notice period, insurance, initial accommodation and relocation funds. If National Service or exit-permit obligations apply to you, check your individual position with CMPB before planning a long absence. These obligations do not apply identically to every reader.

Check INZ’s police certificate requirements for the countries and validity periods relevant to your application. Where an English translation is required, follow the certified translation rules; you, a family member or your immigration adviser cannot simply translate the documents yourselves. An overseas qualification may also require a New Zealand Qualifications Authority International Qualification Assessment.

Avoid paid job offers and unauthorised advice

New Zealand employers and agents must not sell you a job or pass the employer’s recruitment costs to you. Paying or promising money for a job offer can jeopardise a visa application.

• Verify the accredited employer and written terms before sharing sensitive records.
• Keep the employment agreement, correspondence and receipts.
• Check the professional’s authority to give advice through INZ’s immigration advice information.
• Follow the official application process rather than an unsolicited payment link.

See INZ’s guidance on immigration scams for warning signs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for an AEWV without a job offer?

No. You need an eligible offer from an accredited employer, the relevant job-check process and the individual application link.

Is a CV enough to prove my experience?

No. Gather detailed references and independent employment records supporting the work you claim.

Are Singapore diplomas automatically recognised by NZQA?

No. Requirements depend on the actual award and the visa or occupation. Check whether an IQA or registration is required.

Does an English-medium Singapore education always exempt me?

No. Use the exemptions and evidence rules for the AEWV itself. Do not rely on English rules for a different visa.

Can my partner work?

That depends on eligibility and the conditions of the partner’s own visa. Check family rules before planning household income.

Can an employer charge me to obtain the job?

Employers and agents must not sell job offers or pass the employer’s recruitment costs to applicants. Check suspicious requests against official guidance.