(NEW ZEALAND) Immigration New Zealand confirmed on October 14, 2025 that a system limitation is disrupting the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) process when businesses are sold or restructured. The platform is failing to automatically create or update the digital “job tokens” that link AEWV holders to their employers.
The agency says affected workers and employers will not lose status, but they must complete a manual workaround so the link shows correctly in official records. Officials plan a permanent fix in 2026.
What’s going wrong
The problem appears when an employer changes ownership or structure. In those cases, AEWV holders who keep the same role—or move into a related role with the new entity—may no longer be correctly linked in Immigration New Zealand’s internal records.
That digital break can cause real stress, especially for workers approaching the maximum continuous stay on an AEWV. The job token helps prove the worker is employed in an approved role and meets visa conditions, so a missing or incorrect token can create uncertainty during checks on visa rules, pay, role, and location.
Immigration New Zealand has started to contact impacted businesses directly and is providing step-by-step instructions to reduce disruption.
Temporary workaround (what employers must do now)
To restore the formal link, Immigration New Zealand is asking employers to submit a new job check application so the system can generate a fresh job token.
Key points about the workaround:
– No job check fee will be charged for replacement job checks tied to ownership or structure changes.
– The agency is processing these updates manually until the permanent fix arrives.
– Employers who believe they are affected but have not been contacted are encouraged to reach out to the agency to confirm next steps.
Important: Submit the replacement job check promptly and keep records. The fee waiver applies only to job checks submitted specifically to restore tokens after ownership or structure changes.
Policy issue and planned permanent fix
The issue is technical rather than policy-based: when a company’s structure or ownership changes, the system fails to carry over or create the job token automatically.
- Job tokens are the digital connectors that tie an AEWV worker to a specific employer and role in Immigration New Zealand’s records.
- Without the correct token, the worker’s file may not show a live, valid link to the job that underpins the visa.
To limit harm:
1. Immigration New Zealand has put a manual process in place (replacement job checks).
2. The fee for these replacement checks has been waived.
3. Officials are building a permanent system upgrade for 2026 to automate token creation and updates after ownership transfers or restructures.
Impact on employers and workers
For employers:
– The main risk is administrative: payroll and HR teams may assume a worker’s details have transferred correctly after a sale or restructure when the job token has not.
– This mismatch can lead to warnings during future checks or delays when seeking visa extensions.
– Employers preparing for renewals should be cautious: a broken token could affect timing for workers approaching the maximum continuous stay.
For AEWV holders:
– The visa depends on a real job with an approved employer. If the digital record does not show that link, workers may worry about their right to continue working, change shifts, or move across sites.
– Immigration New Zealand has pledged to work directly with employers to restore links and keep people lawful.
– Workers should ask managers whether the business is covered by the manual process and confirm that a replacement job check has been lodged where needed.
VisaVerge.com recommends employers:
– Keep written proof of any instructions from Immigration New Zealand.
– Save copies of the replacement job check confirmation.
These records can show prompt action and support workers during audits or future visa applications.
Timeline and wider system context
- Immigration New Zealand plans a digital fix in 2026 that will allow automatic job token updates after business sales and restructures.
- The agency expects the upgrade to close the current gap and reduce hand-processing of records.
This problem is part of a broader pattern of IT and process strain since the AEWV system began:
– Employers and migrant workers have experienced delays with accreditation, job checks, and visa decisions due to tech glitches and staffing pressure.
– While the current issue is limited to ownership or structure changes, it adds to workload and backlogs for teams handling AEWV cases.
Broader reforms already underway through 2025 include:
– A redesigned Job Check process in mid-2025.
– Expanded interim work rights from April 2025 to reduce gaps between visas.
– New seasonal visa pathways launching in November 2025.
Practical checklist — what to do now
- Watch for direct contact from Immigration New Zealand if your business has changed ownership or structure.
- If you have not been contacted but believe your workers are affected, reach out to the agency to confirm whether a replacement job check is required.
- Submit the replacement job check promptly where needed.
- Keep a record of the agency’s guidance and the job check confirmation.
- Remind staff that no fee applies for job checks submitted only to restore job tokens after ownership or structure changes.
- For workers close to the maximum continuous stay, plan timelines early so any token fix does not delay future applications.
Official reference and further information
Immigration New Zealand is publishing updates in its News Centre and will provide more detail as the 2026 upgrade approaches. Employers who need an official reference can review the agency’s notice in the Immigration New Zealand News Centre. The notice confirms the October 14, 2025 date, the manual workaround, the fee waiver for replacement job checks, and the 2026 permanent fix target.
Final notes and recommendations
AEWV remains the main route for many skilled workers to take up jobs across sectors in New Zealand. The system is designed to match migrant workers with accredited employers who meet legal standards on pay and work conditions.
- Job tokens may be invisible day to day, but they are central to how records show that match.
- When a company changes hands, that small digital link must change too.
- Until the 2026 upgrade is live, the manual process is the path to keep records clean and workers secure.
Employers should brief HR and payroll teams, identify any AEWV staff tied to old entity names, and confirm that each worker’s link is fixed. Workers should request confirmation that the job token issue has been addressed for their role. Clear records and early communication will reduce stress while the agency completes the upgrade.
This Article in a Nutshell
Immigration New Zealand confirmed on 14 October 2025 that a technical limitation is preventing automatic creation or updating of AEWV job tokens when businesses are sold or restructured. The missing or incorrect token severs the digital link between migrant workers and accredited employers, creating uncertainty—particularly for workers nearing the maximum continuous stay. INZ is contacting affected employers and instructing them to submit replacement job checks; these specific submissions will not incur a fee and are being processed manually. Officials plan a permanent system upgrade in 2026 to automate token creation and updates. Employers and workers should act promptly, keep records of INZ guidance and confirmations, and monitor communications to avoid delays in visa checks or renewals.
