This is the most critical deadline we’ve had in a while.
Wage thresholds for applications are increasing from 18 August 2025.
We want to stress how significant this is and ensure you have your ducks in a row, because these changes could impact your ability to hire and retain staff this year.
The impact of this deadline looks different for each business, so we encourage you to talk it through with our team.
We’re offering a quick check free of charge, to help protect your business and keep your people in place.
If any of these apply to you, you will need to get sorted:
- Hiring new staff?
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Need to extend visas for current workers?
- Want to obtain residency for your current visa holders?
Why is this urgent?
You may need to get Job Checks and visas sorted before 18 August 2025, or they may be impacted by the change, which could affect worker pathways or their ability to stay in New Zealand.
Indicative current timeframes:
- Job Check advertising: 2 weeks
-
Job Check INZ process: 1–3 weeks
-
AEWV INZ process: 5–6 weeks, or 2–3 weeks for a job change
Leave this too late, and you could face delays, extra costs or risk losing key staff altogether. We don’t want that for you.
