I’m a business owner but don’t know much about why I have to be Accredited to hire a migrant when I haven’t had to be Accredited before. Do I have to be Accredited now, to keep hiring migrants?
From the 4th of July 2022 the new Immigration policy reset comes into practice and these are the new laws for employing a migrant worker. This is a Labour Government initiative and if you wish to hire a migrant after the 4th of July, you will need to apply for accreditation.
What happens if I hire a migrant and don’t apply for accreditation first?
You won’t be able to legally hire a migrant as the application will not be processed, it will be returned as a “failed lodgement”.
Are there any penalties if I do hire a migrant and I’m not Accredited?
Yes, because they will not have the correct visa to work for you, you can be fined up to $50,000.
What do I need to become Accredited?
There are minimum standards you must meet, for example hold a New Zealand Business Number, be able to prove you are a genuinely operating business (if you are unsure how to prove this, please ask us for guidance), have no recent history of regulatory non-compliance) etc. If you are a franchisee or labour hire company, there are additional accreditation requirements. You can find out more here.
What happens if I go beyond 5 migrants at any one time?
We can apply for your company to move up to the high user category of 6 plus migrants, if you have any concerns about numbers just reach out and we will be there to guide you.
I am worried I cannot do all the modules requested before our new employer accreditation is lodged - I do not have the time
You do not have to do all these modules immediately but you must show that you have been doing them when your renewal comes around in 12 months time. Initially you must agree to do the modules and show evidence in 12 months that you have done so.
I’m not sure how to do a job check, how do I prove it has been done and it is correct?
We can help you with this, we are already finalising job checks for our clients who are Accredited under this new system. We will make sure you are aware of all implications associated with hiring a migrant.
How long does it take to become Accredited? I am worried as I need staff urgently.
The actual processing time is determined by INZ but we can advise we have had many of our Accreditation Applications approved quickly. It will depend also on whether you have your documentation ready and it meets all the INZ requirements.
Is there any way to guarantee an outcome with an Accreditation Application?
The decision is made solely by INZ and therefore we can’t guarantee a positive result, but we will not lodge an application if we are not confident of reasonable success. Our experience and knowledge plays a large part in our advice, we will guide you and provide our honest opinion on your application.
Can I employ workers from overseas in roles paying less than $27.76?
Generally, no, but there is a limited list of roles that are exempt from the median wage requirement. The exemption list includes roles in Construction and Infrastructure, Care Workforce and Tourism and Hospitality industries. Construction and Infrastructure, and Tourism and Hospitality must pay at least NZ$25.00 per hour and the Care Workforce sector must be paid at least NZ$25.39 per hour. In cases where someone is paid below the median wage and is on the exemption list they can only hold an Accredited employer work visa for 2 years and then must complete a stand-down period for 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand. If this sounds complicated or confusing please ask your Woburn adviser – we will walk you through each step.
I don’t have all the company policies in place and I saw that these were needed to gain Accreditation – what do I do, can you help?
We have been assisting companies for over 16 years and we can help you with your company policies, review what you have in place, make suggestions and walk you through what you need to do. This is important for any Accreditation application and needs to be in place before your application is lodged.
Why should I use Woburn to do my Accreditation?
Our registered and experienced advisors have specialised in Employer Accreditation for the past 16 years – this isn’t new to our team, we were prepared for the new process hence many of our clients have already had their new Accreditation applications approved! We have been assisting companies within New Zealand, new and established, New Zealand owned / operated and international, for a very long time and we are very good at what we do.
Do you have an Accreditation package available?
We have a package that allows you to choose whether we assist with just your Accreditation Application or you can add on Job Checks, Migrant Check and Settlement Support (we also have a Relocation arm with Relocation Consultants based around New Zealand). We can walk you through all the steps, make sure you are prepared and ready to go.
Can I support my staff to gain residence in New Zealand?
Yes, but it is limited to high salary earners and certain roles that are in demand in New Zealand. High salary earners are those who earn twice the median wage (NZ$27.76) which is currently NZ$55.52 per hour or NZ$115,481.60 per annum. The specific roles are set out on a green list and include positions in construction, engineering, science, IT roles and registered health professionals.
I saw on your website you help with settlement support also, and I want to employ someone who will need relocation assistance. Do you offer full relocation services also?
We have a very experienced Relocation team, with Consultants based around New Zealand. We can provide a one-day service all the way to a premium offer. Just let us know what you are looking for and we can help.
