If you think Employer Accreditation is just another piece of paper you can file and forget, you are playing a dangerous game. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has shifted from an educational approach to a high-stakes enforcement model in late 2025. For those playing "fast and loose" with compliance, the consequences are no longer just "meagre fines"—they are business-ending.
1. The Reality Check: 2025/2026 Enforcement Data
As of late 2025, the "Mickey Mouse" era of unchecked accreditation is officially dead. INZ is now actively targeting about 16% of all accredited employers for audits every year through a mix of random selection and targeted checks.
- Active Investigations: There are currently 344 active investigations underway involving nearly 100 accredited employers.
- Revocations & Suspensions: Over 1,100 employers have already had their accreditation revoked, and another 642 have been suspended.
- The Top Killers: The most common reasons for losing accreditation in 2025 include liquidation (503 cases), non-compliance such as underpayment (226 cases), and providing false or misleading information (18 cases).
2. Your Critical Obligations (The Ones You're Ignoring)
Playing "fast and loose" usually happens in these three areas, and INZ is watching every single one of them.
The 10-Day "Drop Everything" Rule
If an AEWV worker stops working for you—whether they resigned, were fired, or were made redundant—you must notify INZ via the online portal within 10 working days. Failure to do this is a direct breach of your accreditation standards and can lead to immediate suspension or revocation.
The Settlement Support Mandate
You are legally required to provide comprehensive settlement information to every migrant worker within one month of their start date. This is not a suggestion; it is a requirement that includes providing info on local healthcare, the Citizens Advice Bureau, cost of living, and workplace hazards.
Zero-Fee Recruitment
You must pay all costs and fees for recruitment, both inside and outside New Zealand. If you have passed on advertising fees, agent fees, or any recruitment-related costs to your migrant workers, you are in serious breach of the law.
3. The Consequences: From Fines to Bans
If you think the fines are small, think again. The real "teeth" of the system lie in the Stand-Down List and Revocation.
- Infringement Fees: You can be hit with an NZD $3,000 fine for a single body corporate offence, such as failing to provide employment documents or employing someone inconsistently with their visa conditions.
- The Stand-Down List: A single infringement notice can land you on the stand-down list for 6 months, while multiple notices can ban you for 12 months or more. During this time, you cannot support any visa applications.
- The "Job Change" Pause: As of November 17, 2025, INZ can now pause any Job Change applications if they have "serious concerns" about your conduct or accreditation. This freezes your ability to move workers internally during restructures or mergers.
Audit-Ready Compliance Checklist
If an Immigration Officer walks into your office tomorrow, can you produce these documents immediately?
- 10-Day Notifications: Proof that you notified INZ of every worker who left your employment.
- Settlement Packs: Dated copies of the settlement information provided to every AEWV holder within 30 days of their start date.
- Financial Viability: Evidence of profitability over the last 24 months, or positive cash flow for the last 6 months.
- Recruitment Records: Full records of job advertisements and why no suitable New Zealanders were found for every Job Check you've run.
- Visa Status Log: A live register of every migrant worker's visa expiry and conditions—working outside these conditions is a criminal offence.
For a deeper walk-through of every promise you signed at accreditation and Job Check stage — and how INZ's expanded 2026 audit powers test each one — read our companion guide: What Exactly Did You Promise Immigration NZ? The 2026 Reality Check for Employers. Pair it with the April 2026 minimum wage compliance guide to keep your payroll and accreditation aligned.
Want to know exactly where your business sits on the audit risk curve right now? Spend 5 minutes with our free Employer Accreditation Feasibility / Risk Tracker — it scores you against the five INZ compliance parameters and pinpoints the deficiencies most likely to escalate into a suspension or revocation.