The
The
Unite
Unite
way
way
The
The
Right
Right
Way,
Way,
The AEWV Job Check: What Employers Must Do Before Hiring a Migrant Worker
You are accredited, so why can you still not hire the person you want? The Job Check is the step in between, and here is how it works.
6 min read
Becoming an Accredited Employer is a big milestone, but it does not let you hire a specific person on its own. Before you can offer a role to a migrant worker on the Accredited Employer Work Visa, you need to pass a Job Check for that role.
The Job Check catches a lot of employers off guard. This guide explains what it is, what Immigration New Zealand is looking for, and how to get through it smoothly so your new hire can apply for their visa.
What a Job Check Actually Is
A Job Check is Immigration New Zealand's way of confirming that a role is genuine, that it pays fairly, and that a New Zealander could not easily fill it first. You apply for a Job Check for each position you want to fill, and it is tied to that specific role rather than to a person.
Once your Job Check is approved, you receive a token you can pass to your chosen worker. They then use it as part of their own visa application. In other words, the Job Check is the bridge between your accreditation and the worker's visa.
The Market Rate Requirement
One of the central rules is that you must pay at least the market rate for the role. This protects both the migrant worker and the local workforce, because it stops businesses undercutting New Zealand wages by hiring from overseas.
In practice, you need to show what the going rate is for that job and confirm you will meet or beat it. Getting this right matters, because an offer below market rate is one of the most common reasons a Job Check runs into trouble.
The Advertising Rule
For most roles, you also need to advertise the job locally before you can hire from overseas. The idea is simple: New Zealanders should get first chance at the work. You advertise the role properly, for the required length of time, on an accepted platform, and you consider any suitable local applicants who apply.
Some roles are exempt from this step, usually higher-paid positions or those on skills shortage lists. For everyone else, the advertising has to be done correctly, because a Job Check can be declined if the process was not followed.
Common Reasons a Job Check Gets Held Up
Most delays come down to a handful of avoidable issues: pay set below the market rate, advertising that did not run long enough or on the right platform, a job description that looks vague or does not match the pay, or missing paperwork. Each of these can send your application back for more information and add weeks to your timeline.
The way to avoid them is to prepare the detail before you apply, rather than fixing it under pressure once a candidate is waiting.
A Faster Way Around the Job Check
If the Job Check process sounds like more than you want to take on for every role, there is an alternative. When you bring staff on through Unite Recruit, the workers are employed by us. We handle the accreditation, the Job Checks, and the market-rate and advertising rules, so you can focus on the work rather than the immigration admin.
