To check whether a New Zealand employer is accredited, search the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) accredited employer list by the employer's 13-digit New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) or by its company or trading name. If the name is there, the employer is currently accredited. If it is not, that does not settle the question, and the steps below show how to find out the rest before you apply, sign or pay anything.
This guide is for anyone outside New Zealand, or already there on another visa, who has found a job that says it can support a work visa. It covers what the list shows, what a missing name can mean, and what to ask the employer when the list is not enough.
Why accreditation matters for your work visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is for people who have a job offer from an accredited employer. INZ says that employer must send you a link to the online application form. In other words, the visa starts with the employer, so checking the employer is the first real step, ahead of your CV, your savings or a flight search.
INZ also sets conditions on the offer itself. It must be for at least 30 hours of work a week, from an accredited employer with an approved job check for the job, and paid at least the market rate for the job. Accreditation is one part of that picture, and the job check is another.
JobFinder is not a government body, and its own disclaimer says visa decisions stay with Immigration New Zealand and the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Treat this page as a plain explanation of the official list, and use the official pages linked here for the final word. You can see how the same idea applies to listings on our New Zealand jobs page, which lists roles with New Zealand accredited employers and shows the visa details stated in each ad.
How to search the accredited employer list
INZ publishes the list on its website, and it is updated daily. You can search it by NZBN or by company or trading name. The accredited employer list on the INZ website is the page to use, not a copy on another site that may be out of date.
- Ask the employer for its full legal name and its NZBN. A genuine business can give you both in one message.
- Open the INZ accredited employer list and search the NZBN first. It is 13 digits, so it avoids mix-ups between businesses with similar names.
- If the NZBN search finds nothing, search the company name, then the trading name. Many businesses trade under a different name from the one they are registered under.
- Write down what you found, with the date, next to the job ad and any messages from the employer.
- Compare the name on the list with the name on the job offer and the employment agreement. They should match the business that is actually hiring you.
Doing this takes a few minutes. Doing it before you start a long application saves weeks of effort on a job that may never lead to a visa.
What the result tells you
| What you see | What it can mean | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| The employer is on the list, and the name matches the offer | INZ shows it as currently accredited | Move on to the job check and the offer details below |
| The employer is not on the list | It may not be accredited, or it may have chosen not to appear in search results | Ask the employer directly for proof, and do not pay or travel in the meantime |
| A similar name is listed, but not the same business | You could be looking at a different company, or a trading name you have not been told about | Ask which legal entity is employing you and get its NZBN in writing |
| The employer says it is "in the process" of accreditation | It is not on the list yet, so it cannot support an AEWV today | Wait until it appears, or look at roles with employers already listed |
The last row is a reading of how the process works, not an INZ statement about any particular business. The point is simple: a promise that accreditation is coming is not the same as being on the list.
What a missing name does and does not mean
INZ says some accredited employers have chosen not to appear in its search results, so you should check directly with the employer if it is not listed. That is the official reason a missing name is not proof of anything on its own.
It also cuts the other way. Because a missing name can be innocent, a scammer can use it as cover: "the list just does not show us." Your job is to turn that sentence into something you can check. Ask for the accreditation details, ask which INZ page confirms them, and notice how the employer reacts. A real employer that is hidden from the list can usually explain it calmly and in writing.
If you cannot get a clear answer, treat the offer as unconfirmed. Keep applying elsewhere. The best protection is having more than one live option, because pressure to decide quickly is what makes people skip checks.
Beyond the list: the job check, the agreement and the money
Being on the list does not make every offer from that employer sound. Check these as well.
- The job check. INZ says the offer must come with an approved job check for the job. Ask whether the job check has been approved and for which role.
- Hours and pay. At least 30 hours a week and at least the market rate for the job are the INZ conditions. If the offer says less, ask why.
- The agreement. INZ says an AEWV employment agreement cannot include unlawful deductions, a trial period or unacceptable bonding clauses. Our guide to the 90-day trial period in New Zealand explains why a trial clause on an AEWV offer should make you stop and ask. Employment New Zealand says Immigration New Zealand does not allow trial periods for migrant workers employed on an AEWV.
- Fees. Immigration New Zealand says New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs, including indirectly through a third party. INZ will also decline an AEWV application if the applicant or their agent offered or promised money to the employer, or its agent, in exchange for a job offer.
For the wider checklist of what a written offer should contain in Australia and New Zealand, read what your job offer must get right before you sign. To read the ad itself with a sharper eye, use how to read a job ad.
Scam signs that show up even when the name looks real
Scammers copy real business names, so a listed name on its own is not enough. New Zealand's National Cyber Security Centre says job scammers often move the conversation quickly to WhatsApp, ask for sensitive information early, and may ask you to pay for flights and accommodation for an interview, claiming it will be refunded. It also says a genuine employer won't need your bank account details until you have accepted a job.
Another sign: the NCSC notes that the Labour Inspectorate does not approve job offers, so a "stamp of approval" from it on an offer letter is a scam sign. And INZ warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia, which is one more reason to confirm everything through official pages. You can read more about the online version of these schemes in our guide to the task scam.
When you want a second opinion on a New Zealand offer from someone who has seen the pattern from another country, PinoyAbroad has written about checking the accredited employer before you sign or pay, from a Filipino worker's point of view.
Common mistakes
- Searching only the brand name. The employer on the list may use the legal name, while the ad uses the trading name. Search by NZBN first.
- Treating "not listed" as "scam" or as "fine". Neither is correct. Some accredited employers choose not to appear, so confirm with the employer directly.
- Taking a screenshot from the employer as proof. An image of a certificate can be edited. Use the INZ page yourself.
- Paying first, checking later. Fees for a job, an interview trip or "document processing" are the pattern to walk away from.
- Ignoring the agreement. A trial period on an AEWV offer, or deductions you did not expect, are red flags INZ has already named.
- Applying for horticulture or viticulture crop work on an AEWV. INZ says an AEWV job offer cannot be for planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops in horticulture or viticulture.
After the employer checks out
Once the employer is confirmed, the work becomes ordinary job hunting: a tailored CV, a short cover letter and a clear answer to "why this role". Building your CV with Build AI CV is one way to get a clean version ready, and our guide on job hunting in New Zealand as a migrant covers how visa timing can shape your search.
If you work in a trade or hospitality, look at roles such as this fitter, turner and welder job in Christchurch or this commis chef job in Queenstown, and run the same check on whichever employer you apply to. Everyone in New Zealand, including migrants, has the same minimum employment rights, such as paid holidays, sick leave and the right to complain about unsafe work, so a good employer should be comfortable with all of this.
For the visa itself, read the official Accredited Employer Work Visa page and INZ's advice on protecting yourself from immigration scams.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check if a New Zealand employer is accredited?
Use the accredited employer list on the Immigration New Zealand website. You can search it by the employer's 13-digit NZBN or by its company or trading name, and the list is updated daily.
What if the employer is not on the accredited employer list?
INZ says some accredited employers have chosen not to appear in its search results, so check directly with the employer. Ask for the accreditation details in writing and do not pay money or book travel until you have a clear answer.
Can an employer charge me to get a job offer?
No. Immigration New Zealand says New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay any of their recruitment costs, including indirectly through a third party. Paying for an offer can also lead INZ to decline your application.
Can an AEWV job have a trial period?
No. Employment New Zealand says Immigration New Zealand does not allow trial periods for migrant workers employed on an AEWV, and INZ says an AEWV employment agreement cannot include a trial period. If your offer has one, ask the employer to explain it.
Is being on the list enough to know the job is real?
No. The list tells you about the employer's accreditation. The offer also needs an approved job check, at least 30 hours a week and at least the market rate for the job, and scammers can copy real business names, so check the details too.
Key takeaways
- Search the INZ accredited employer list by NZBN first, then by company or trading name.
- A missing name is not proof either way: some accredited employers choose not to appear, so ask the employer directly.
- Check the job check, hours, pay and agreement as well as the employer's name.
- Never pay for a job offer, an interview trip or document processing.
- Keep a dated record of what you checked and keep other applications going.
