Losing your job while on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is incredibly stressful, but there are clear paths you can take to stay in New Zealand and find a new role. Because the AEWV is "employer-assisted," your visa is tied to a specific company, meaning you cannot simply start working for someone else tomorrow.
Here is what you should do, updated for the current rules in late 2025.
1. Know Your Immediate Rights and Obligations
Employment Rights: You have the same rights as a New Zealander. You must be given your contractual notice period (or pay in lieu) and your final pay must include any unused annual leave. Redundancy compensation is only required if it is written in your employment agreement.
Notify Immigration NZ: Technically, your employer is required to notify Immigration New Zealand (INZ) within 10 working days that your employment has ended. While you aren't strictly required to notify them yourself immediately, it is good practice to contact INZ if you plan to stay and look for new work to ensure your record is clear.
Visa Validity: Losing your job does not automatically cancel your visa. It remains valid until its expiry date; however, you are in breach of your conditions if you are not working for the employer named on your visa. INZ may eventually send a "letter of intent to deport," but this usually takes time. The expectation is that you will rectify the situation within a reasonable timeframe, which is not defined in the Immigration instructions. Still, it is up to the case officer's interpretation of the situation.
2. Finding a New Job
To stay on a work visa, your next employer must meet specific criteria:
They MUST be Accredited: You can only work for an employer who is currently "Accredited" by INZ.
New Job Check: Even if they are accredited, the employer must have a valid Job Check for the role they are offering you. If they don't have one, they will need to apply for it before you can apply for your visa change.
Wage Thresholds (2025 Update): As of March 2025, the strict "median wage" requirement was removed for many AEWV roles, but you must still be paid at least the market rate for that job and no less than the NZ minimum wage. If you are aiming for a 5-year stay (for ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles), different thresholds may apply.
3. Change Your Visa Conditions
Once you have a new job offer and the employer has a Job Check number for you, you have two main options:
Job Change (Variation of Conditions): This is the fastest way to switch. It allows you to change your employer, job title, or location while keeping the same expiry date as your current visa.
New AEWV Application: You might choose this if you want to "reset" your visa for a longer duration (e.g., a new 3 or 5-year term).
Interim Work Rights (Crucial 2025 Update): Since April 2025, if you apply for a new AEWV while holding your current one, you may be granted interim work rights. This allows you to start your new job sooner while your application is being processed, rather than waiting for the final approval.
4. If You Need More Time
If your visa is nearing expiry and you haven't found a job yet, you should consider:
Visitor Visa: You can apply for a visitor visa to "bridge" your stay legally while you continue your job hunt. Note that you cannot work while on a visitor visa. The visitor visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Partner's Visa: If you have a partner who holds a work visa or is a NZ citizen/resident, you may be eligible for a partnership-based visa, which often provides "open" work rights (allowing you to work for any employer).