New Zealand work visa from Pakistan: the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) lets you work full time for an accredited New Zealand employer, for up to 5 years (3 for skill level 4 and 5 jobs). The employer passes a Job Check and sends you a job token; you need 2 years of relevant work or a qualification at level 4 or higher, and IELTS 4 overall for skill level 3 to 5 jobs. The main fee is NZ$1,540 (about PKR 239,000).
Last checked:
At a glance
- Main fee
- NZ$1,540 (about PKR 239,000)
- Processing time
- Varies, see below
- Documents
- 9 on the list
- Your employer passes a Job Check and sends you a job token.
- 2 years' relevant experience, or a qualification at level 4 or higher.
- Never pay for a job offer: INZ warns scams are common in South Asia.
Fees
| Fee | Official amount | About in PKR |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee and immigration levyNZD 480 visa fee and NZD 1,060 immigration levy, paid by card online. Your employer may not pass on its recruitment or accreditation costs to you. | NZ$1,540 | PKR 239,000 |
Rupee amounts are a guide only, at the mid-market rate on October 9, 2026 (1 NZD = PKR 155.16). Your bank and the visa centre use their own rates.
Check the amount on the official source.
Official fee pages:Fees, decision times and where to apply (Pakistan)
Processing time
Not confirmed
80% decided within 5 weeks (INZ, October 2026).
Official source: Fees, decision times and where to apply (Pakistan)Documents you need
From our draft document list for this visa. Your own list depends on your situation, so check the official source.
Usually needed
Passport
Scan of the passport information page.
Passport-size photograph (destination specification)
One acceptable photo, uploaded with the application.
Job offer / employment contract
The signed job offer, the employment agreement and the job description from your accredited employer.
Employer reference or leave letter (NOC)
Evidence of 2 years of relevant work: employment certificates on letterhead, payslips or tax certificates. A reference letter counts only with these, and a CV alone is not enough.
Police character certificate
If your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or more: police certificates under 6 months old, uploaded with the application (a receipt is not accepted).
Immigration medical exam (panel physician)
A chest x-ray for a stay over 6 months, and a medical examination for over 12 months, with a panel physician in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi.
Needed in some situations
English language test result
Skill level 3 to 5 jobs: IELTS 4 overall, TOEFL iBT 31, PTE Academic 29, B2 First 142 or OET D in all four skills, taken in person in the last 2 years.
Polio vaccination certificate (NIMS/NADRA)
Pakistan exit requirement, not a visa document: when you leave Pakistan you must show a NIMS/NADRA vaccination certificate including polio (the old paper card is no longer accepted, and since 14 September 2026 airports check a NADRA-integrated vaccination record). Verify current rules.
Can support your application
Degree certificate
Your qualification, if you rely on it instead of experience: level 4 or higher, in the job's field unless it is a bachelor's or higher. Below a bachelor's from outside New Zealand it needs an NZQA assessment.
Where to apply in Pakistan
The mission does not take visa applications at its counter: you apply in the ways listed below.
New Zealand High Commission in Colombo (covers Pakistan)
High commissionLevel 24, One Galle Face Tower, 1A Centre Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Does not take visa applications at its counter. New Zealand has no embassy in Pakistan. The High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka covers Pakistan but handles no visas: you apply online with Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Ways to apply
Online portalApply online with Immigration New Zealand
Apply and pay online by card; most applicants never hand in their passport.
Official source: Fees, decision times and where to apply (Pakistan)
Visa centreNew Zealand Visa Application Centre (VFS Global)
By appointment: for your passport when INZ asks for it, and for the few visas that still take paper applications. Service fee PKR 8,400 per application.
In Karachi
Official source: Offices outside New Zealand and visa application centres
MFAT also lists a New Zealand Consulate General in Karachi; it is not a visa office.
How to apply, step by step
Get a job offer from an accredited employer
The employer must be accredited and pass a Job Check for the job: full time (30 hours or more a week) at the market rate. Never pay anyone for a job offer: Immigration New Zealand warns that job offer scams are common in South Asia, and declines an AEWV where money was offered or paid for the job.
Accredited Employer Work VisaReceive the job token
The employer sends you the job offer, employment agreement, job description and a job token: a link to the online form that you accept before applying.
Accredited Employer Work VisaPrepare your evidence
2 years of relevant work (employment certificates, payslips, tax records; a CV alone is not enough) or a qualification at level 4 or higher. For skill level 3 to 5 jobs: IELTS 4 overall or equal, taken in person in the last 2 years.
Accredited Employer Work VisaPolice certificate and health
Upload a police certificate under 6 months old with the application (a receipt is not accepted); INZ then asks for a chest x-ray, and a medical exam for a stay over 12 months.
Accredited Employer Work VisaApply online
Apply and pay NZD 1,540 by card. INZ decides 80% of applications within 5 weeks.
Fees, decision times and where to apply (Pakistan)
Questions people ask
How much does a New Zealand work visa (AEWV) cost from Pakistan?
Visa fee and immigration levy: NZ$1,540 (about PKR 239,000). Fees change, so check the official fee page before you pay.
Fees, decision times and where to apply (Pakistan) (opens in a new tab)How long does a New Zealand work visa (AEWV) take from Pakistan?
80% decided within 5 weeks (INZ, October 2026).
Fees, decision times and where to apply (Pakistan) (opens in a new tab)What documents do I need for a New Zealand work visa (AEWV) from Pakistan?
The usual documents are: Passport, Passport-size photograph (destination specification), Job offer / employment contract, Employer reference or leave letter (NOC), Police character certificate, and Immigration medical exam (panel physician). Depending on your situation, you may also need: English language test result and Polio vaccination certificate (NIMS/NADRA).
Where do I apply for a New Zealand work visa (AEWV) in Pakistan?
New Zealand High Commission in Colombo (covers Pakistan) does not take visa applications at its counter. Ways to apply: Apply online with Immigration New Zealand and New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VFS Global).
Is a New Zealand job offer that asks for money real?
Treat it as a scam. Immigration New Zealand warns that job offer scams are common in South Asia and declines an AEWV where money was offered or paid for the job; employers may not pass their recruitment costs on to you.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (opens in a new tab)Can I bring my family on an AEWV?
Not in the same application. At skill level 1 to 3 you can support a partner work visa if you are paid at least NZD 28 an hour; for skill level 4 and 5 jobs family visas usually need pay of at least NZD 52.50 an hour.
Bringing family if you have an Accredited Employer Work Visa (opens in a new tab)How long can I stay on an AEWV?
Up to 5 years for skill level 1 to 3 jobs and 3 years for skill level 4 and 5 jobs; after that you must spend 12 months in a row outside New Zealand before another AEWV.
How long you can stay on an AEWV (opens in a new tab)