Accreditation Suspended or Revoked? What Employers Must Do Now

Received a letter from INZ about your accreditation? Get an urgent review before your deadline. Book an urgent review · Send us your INZ letter on WhatsApp

INZ is checking accredited employers harder than ever. As at 30 September 2026, Immigration New Zealand had revoked 1,728 employers' accreditation and suspended 1,087, with 101 investigations underway involving 115 employers.

If you've received a letter from INZ about your accreditation, or your status now shows as suspended or revoked, the next few days matter. What you send INZ, and how quickly, can decide whether you keep your accreditation and your workers.

Suspended vs revoked: what's the difference?

	Suspended	Revoked
What it means	Your accreditation is on hold while INZ investigates or a compliance case is pending	INZ has cancelled your accreditation
How long	Up to 3 months at a time, or until the investigation outcome. During a prosecution, until the prosecution ends	Until you become accredited again
New Job Checks and AEWV applications	INZ can put decisions on hold until the suspension ends	INZ can decline them
Who approves it	An Immigration Manager	An INZ Head of Operations

Source: INZ operational manual, WA2.55 Suspending and revoking employer accreditation.

Why INZ suspends or revokes accreditation

INZ can suspend your accreditation while it is investigating, or while a case for possible non-compliance is pending. Suspension is mandatory while a prosecution is underway.

INZ can revoke your accreditation if:

its checks show you don't meet the accreditation requirements;
you refuse INZ entry for a site visit without a reasonable justification; or
you don't provide information INZ asked for within 10 working days, without a reasonable justification.

INZ also lists these common triggers: not telling INZ about changes to key people within 10 working days, and not providing information during a post-accreditation check.

For serious breaches, INZ can also impose a stand-down period, infringement notices, prosecution, or a permanent ban from supporting visas for migrant workers.

Received a letter from INZ? What to do now

INZ usually sends a letter setting out its concerns and asks for your response before it decides what to do. This is your chance to put your side.

Check the deadline. Note the date INZ needs your reply by. Missing it can lead straight to revocation.
Don't send a rushed reply. A short or defensive answer can confirm INZ's concerns. Every point INZ raises needs a clear answer backed by evidence.
Gather your records. Employment agreements, payslips, time and wage records, holiday pay records, job advertisements, and evidence of the settlement support you gave your workers.
Fix what's wrong, and show it. If there's a genuine problem, such as underpayment or missing records, put it right and give INZ evidence that you have.
Get advice before you reply. A licensed immigration adviser can review INZ's concerns, your evidence and your draft response.

What happens to your migrant workers

INZ has said:

workers already in New Zealand can keep working for you until their current visa expires, but can't extend it or get a new visa with you until you're accredited again;
visas for workers still offshore may be cancelled;
pending applications linked to a suspended employer may be put on hold.

Your workers may need to move to another accredited employer through a job change, or apply for a different visa. Many will be anxious, so tell them clearly what is happening.

Workers can read our guide: My employer's accreditation was revoked or suspended: what happens to my visa?

How Living in NZ can help

Urgent review of your INZ letter: we tell you what INZ is concerned about, and what it needs to see.
Response to INZ's concerns: we prepare a clear, evidence-backed reply.
Compliance clean-up: we help you fix record-keeping, pay and advertising gaps before INZ looks again.
Reapplying for accreditation: once the underlying issues are fixed, we help you apply again.
Support for your workers: job changes and new visa options.

Ishvinder Singh (IAA 201401130) and Shaveta Khanna (IAA 202100174) are Licensed Immigration Advisers who have worked with New Zealand employers since 2014.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a suspension last? Up to 3 months at a time, or until INZ's investigation finishes, whichever comes first. If there's a prosecution, the suspension lasts until it ends.

Can I keep my current migrant workers if my accreditation is revoked? INZ has said workers already in New Zealand can keep working for you until their current visa expires. They can't extend it with you or get a new visa to work for you until you are accredited again.

Can I support new AEWV applications or Job Checks while suspended? INZ can hold decisions on Job Checks and AEWV applications until the suspension ends. If your accreditation is revoked, INZ can decline them.

What if I don't reply to INZ in time? Not providing requested information within 10 working days, without a reasonable justification, is one of the grounds for revocation. If you can't meet a deadline, contact INZ before it passes.

Can I get accredited again after revocation? It depends on why your accreditation was revoked, and on whether you've been stood down or banned. Talk to us about your situation before you reapply.

This page is general information, not personalised immigration advice. Every case depends on its facts.

Official sources:

INZ: Accredited Employer Work Visa key information and statistics
INZ: Meeting your AEWV accredited employer obligations
INZ operational manual, WA2.55 Suspending and revoking employer accreditation

Related guides

Received a letter from INZ about your accreditation? Get an urgent review before your deadline. Book an urgent review · Send us your INZ letter on WhatsApp