New Zealand Work Visa for Indian Professionals — AEWV, Green List, SMC and Seasonal Visa Complete Guide

Most Indian professionals apply through the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Your employer must first become an IND-accredited sponsor and complete a Job Check confirming your role pays at least the market rate plus minimum wage (NZD 23.95/hour, April 2026). Once your employer receives a Job Token, you apply for the AEWV itself using a RealMe account. Processing typically takes 20 to 44 working days after your employer's steps are complete.

New Zealand uses the term "visa," not "permit" — the main route for skilled workers is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which costs NZD 750 to apply for. This differs from countries like Canada or the UAE that use "work permit" terminology. Regardless of the term, the underlying requirement is the same: a genuine job offer from an employer who has completed the required accreditation and verification steps.

You need a genuine job offer from an IND-accredited employer paying at least market rate and minimum wage, a valid passport, proof of qualifications, a character certificate, and a medical certificate. From March 2025, the required work experience for many roles was reduced from 3 years to 2 years. There is no general English language test requirement for the AEWV, though regulated professions may have their own language standards.

There is no general age limit for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) itself. However, age can matter for specific pathways — for example, some Skilled Migrant Category residence criteria and points allocations factor in age. Separately, India does not currently have a Working Holiday Visa agreement with New Zealand, so that particular route, which typically has strict age limits elsewhere, isn't available to Indian citizens.

Since March 2025, employers no longer need to meet the median wage as a general AEWV threshold. Instead, they must pay at least minimum wage (NZD 23.95/hour from April 2026) plus the genuine market rate for the specific role, industry, and region. The median wage (NZD 35.00/hour from March 2026) still matters for three things: partner work rights, 5-year AEWV stay eligibility, and labour market test exemption.

If you're earning NZD 28.00/hour or more on your AEWV, your partner can apply for an open work visa, allowing them to work for any employer in New Zealand. If your salary is below this threshold, your partner can accompany you and visit, but they cannot legally work. This threshold is separate from your own AEWV salary requirement and updates periodically alongside other wage figures.

Key changes: from March 2025, the median wage was removed as a general threshold, work experience requirements dropped from 3 to 2 years, and old sector agreements ended. From March 2026, the immigration median wage rose to NZD 35.00/hour, the partner support threshold became NZD 28.00/hour, and 47 new occupations were added to New Zealand's National Occupation List (NOL). Minimum wage reached NZD 23.95/hour from April 2026.

From December 8, 2025, two new visas replaced all previous sector agreements. The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) suits recurring seasonal roles, requiring 3 seasons of experience in the last 6 years, with no advertising needed for accredited employers, for up to 36 months. The Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) covers peak-demand periods, requiring 1 season of experience in the last 3 years, for up to 7 months. Neither requires English testing.

Two new pathways join the existing Skilled Migrant Category points system: the Skilled Work Experience Pathway, for skill level 1–3 roles with 5 years of experience including 2 years in NZ at 1.1x median wage; and the Trades and Technician Pathway, requiring a Level 4+ qualification and 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 1.5 years in NZ at median wage — particularly relevant for Indian trade and technical professionals.

Announced March 12, 2026, this is a new 6-month open work visa for international graduates holding an NZQCF level 5–7 qualification, following at least 24 weeks of full-time study. You'll need at least NZD 5,000 in funds and an employment contract to use it fully. You cannot run a business or sponsor dependents on it, and you can only use this visa once per stay in New Zealand.

The Green List identifies occupations with critical or ongoing shortages, split into two tiers. Tier 1 (Straight to Residence) lets workers in critical shortage roles apply directly for residence without a work-to-residence period. Tier 2 (Work to Residence) requires an AEWV first, followed by residence eligibility after 24 months of NZ work experience. The list includes healthcare, engineering, ICT, education, and construction roles — check the current list at immigration.govt.nz.

Generally, no. India does not currently have a bilateral Working Holiday Visa agreement with New Zealand, unlike countries such as the UK, Canada, or Germany. This means most young Indian professionals looking for a flexible short-term work-and-travel option will need to explore other visa categories, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa with a genuine job offer, rather than the Working Holiday route available to other nationalities.

Not for general work visas. Unlike Australia or Canada, New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is entirely employer-driven — you need a genuine job offer from an accredited employer, and there's no separate points test for the work visa itself. Points systems do apply to New Zealand's residence pathways, specifically the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), which is a separate process from the initial work visa application.

accreditation, for up to 5 migrants, costs NZD 740 and takes about 10 working days. High Volume accreditation, for 6 or more migrants, costs NZD 1,220. After accreditation, your employer completes a Job Check (NZD 610) to verify the role and pay rate, which issues a Job Token you then use for your own AEWV application (NZD 750).

completed their required steps. However, this doesn't include your employer's preliminary process: accreditation takes about 10 working days, and the subsequent Job Check takes another 10 working days. Factor in this full employer-side timeline, roughly 20 additional working days, when planning your overall relocation schedule.

Yes, through several pathways. Green List Tier 1 occupations allow direct residence applications; Tier 2 occupations require 24 months of AEWV-based work experience first. The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) points system remains the main general residence route, and from August 2026, two new pathways — Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician — offer additional routes for experienced workers and tradespeople without needing a formal points-based application.

RealMe is the digital identity system used for New Zealand immigration applications, letting you complete visa forms online, track your application status, and receive official communications. Beyond immigration, the same RealMe account also connects to other government services after you arrive, including Inland Revenue (IRD) for tax registration, KiwiSaver enrolment, and StudyLink — making it the central identity account for most New Zealand government interactions.

You'll typically need a valid passport with blank pages, passport-sized photos, your signed job offer, academic qualification proof, a police character certificate, a medical certificate, proof of accommodation, evidence of finances, and flight details. Requirements can vary depending on your specific visa category and occupation, particularly for regulated professions like healthcare or engineering, which may require additional registration or licensing documentation.

New Zealand's AEWV is entirely employer-driven with no general points system, and India has no Working Holiday Visa agreement with it. Australia, by contrast, offers points-tested employer sponsorship, a Working Holiday Visa for Indians, and generally higher average salaries with a larger job market. New Zealand offers a faster Green List residence pathway for shortage occupations and doesn't require a general English test for AEWV applications.

Y-Axis provides end-to-end guidance on choosing the right visa pathway, including AEWV, Green List, and the new SMC routes launching in August 2026. We help assess whether your occupation qualifies for Green List Tier 1 or Tier 2, assist with RealMe account setup, provide IELTS or TOEFL coaching for regulated professions, and offer resume marketing services to connect you with accredited New Zealand employers actively sponsoring overseas talent.