Immigration NZ to reject applications and shorten period of stay for those without police certificates
The New Zealand government is introducing tighter rules on police certificates for applications for its Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
Immigration New Zealand said applicants must provide a valid police certificate with their AEWV application starting from 8 December.
Receipts indicating that applicants have applied for police certificates will no longer be accepted, according to Immigration NZ.
"Previously, we held applications open and followed up on missing police certificates," it said in a statement.
"From December, we will no longer do this. We will assess your application based on what you provide and will not delay processing."
Faster visa decisions
The agency attributed the decision to expedite visa decisions and reduce delays caused by missing documents.
"If you apply with complete documents, you will get a quicker decision. If you do not, your application could be declined or approved for a shorter visa," it said.
Immigration NZ urged AEWV applicants to only apply when they have their police certificate ready to upload.
"Applicants who provide all required information upfront can expect to receive more timely visa outcomes, as this change allows our processing staff to focus deciding applications rather than chasing documents," it added.
Meanwhile, individuals under the AEWV without a police certificate and who have been in New Zealand for more than 24 months will receive a Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letter.
Those who have spent fewer months in the country but do not have a police certificate will be asked to provide one within five working days.
"If you cannot, your visa may be approved for a shorter period (up to 24 months total)," Immigration NZ said.
The AEWV is a type of visa for individuals overseas who have an offer of full-time work from an accredited employer. The government previously implemented tighter rules for this visa after a near-record level of migration in 2023.
