New Zealand · Immigration · Employers

Hiring migrant workers: understanding the main steps

Hiring a migrant worker can involve business accreditation, an approved role or job check, and the worker application. Each stage has its own evidence and responsibility.

Information checked: 27 September 2026 Check the current official source before relying on time-sensitive details

Where to start

Hiring a migrant worker can involve requirements for the business, the role and the worker’s visa. This guide explains how those parts fit together and where each responsibility sits.

Key points

Accreditation relates to the employer

It is the business-side permission to use the relevant hiring route and is separate from one worker receiving a visa.

The role needs its own detail

Duties, pay, hours, location, recruitment and classification can matter to the job stage.

The worker still has an application

An accredited employer and approved role do not remove the worker health, character, skill, English or other visa requirements.

Name the stage before looking for an answer

First decide whether the question is about accreditation, a job check or token, a named worker, or a change involving an existing worker. Official instructions and evidence differ between those stages.

Keep employment compliance and immigration approval distinct

Employment obligations and immigration requirements can overlap, but one does not automatically prove the other. The business should use the current employer material for the relevant process.

Treat declined or expiring steps as time-sensitive

A decline, revoked accreditation, expiring job approval or worker visa can change the available process and timing. Use the decision notice and current INZ page rather than a generic checklist.

A useful order for checking the details

Work through the topic in a clear sequence so one broad answer is not stretched across different decisions.

Identify whether the question is about accreditation, a job check, a named worker or an existing worker changing circumstances.
Gather the role title, duties, location, hours, pay range and recruitment information before comparing official pages.
Use INZ employer pages as the source of truth for current process and evidence requirements.
Treat decline or reconsideration questions as time-sensitive and avoid relying on generic summaries.

What may need a fresh check

Accreditation settings, job check requirements, role acceptability, fees, forms and processing times.

What to check next

Use the exact visa or process page for the decision in front of you.
Keep important dates and official messages with the question.
Recheck the linked official sources before relying on a high-change detail.

Sources and dates

Information was checked on 27 September 2026. Open the current source before relying on a rule, threshold or process that may have changed.

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