New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa Police Certificate Policy Changes

iclegalnz
Dec 8
3 min read

As immigration policies evolve, we ensure that migrant workers and accredited employers receive precise, updated guidance to maintain compliance. The latest change to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) police certificate policy requirements, effective 8 December 2025, introduces stricter documentation rules that directly impact application outcomes.

We present a precisely structured, deeply detailed guide to safeguard applicants from declines, shortened visa durations, and unnecessary delays, ensuring full compliance in 2025 and beyond.

Mandatory Police Certificates for All AEWV Applications (Effective 8 December 2025)

From 8 December 2025, INZ requires a valid police certificate at the time of lodgment for every AEWV application.

Receipts or proof of applying for a police certificate will no longer be accepted, except for applicants from a few exempt countries.

This reform ends the previous practice where INZ held applications open while waiting for missing police checks. Instead:

INZ will assess applications strictly based on documents submitted upfront.
No follow-ups or extension requests will be sent for missing police certificates.
Applications missing police certificates may be:
- Declined outright, or
- Approved for a shorter visa duration (up to 24 months total), depending on time spent in New Zealand.

This shift rewards applicants who lodge complete, high-quality documentation.

Why Complete Documentation Now Determines AEWV Success

We stress the importance of submitting your police certificate before beginning the AEWV application. Under the new system:

Applications will not be paused for certificate submission.
INZ officers will not request missing police documents.
Incomplete applications will lead to:
- Shortened visa lengths, or
- Declined applications, especially for long-term or returning migrants.
Applicants who provide complete documentation will enjoy significantly faster and cleaner visa decisions.

This “complete-document-first” model is now central to AEWV success.

Police Certificate Exceptions (Fiji, Hong Kong, and Israel)

Only three jurisdictions send police certificates directly to INZ:

Fiji
Hong Kong
Israel

Applicants from these locations may upload proof that the certificate has been requested.For all other countries, the final certificate must be uploaded at the time of application.

Understanding Police Certificate Rules Based on Time Spent in New Zealand

The new policy distinguishes applicants based on whether they have spent less than or more than 24 months in New Zealand.This determines grace periods, PPI requirements, and the likelihood of refusal.

Applicants Who Have Spent Less Than 24 Months in New Zealand

If you have spent less than 24 months total in New Zealand, either from inside or outside the country:

You may receive 5 working days to supply a missing police certificate only if:
- You have been in New Zealand for under 24 months, or
- You are applying from overseas and your previous time in New Zealand totals under 24 months.

If you fail to submit the certificate within the 5-day window:

Your application may still be approved,
But only for a shorter total visa duration (up to 24 months).

This ensures that longer-term stays undergo full security verification.

Applicants Who Have Spent More Than 24 Months in New Zealand

Stricter rules apply for applicants with more than 24 months in New Zealand:

If applying from inside New Zealand

You will receive a Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letter and must respond with:

Your valid police certificate, or
A credible explanation for the delay.

Failure to satisfy INZ may still result in adverse outcomes.

If applying from outside New Zealand

Your application may be declined outright if:

You have already spent more than 24 months in New Zealand, and
You do not upload a valid police certificate at lodgment.

This reflects heightened scrutiny for long-term or returning migrant workers.

Check this out: What is a PPI Letter and What to Do When You Receive One from Immigration New Zealand

Processing Times for Police Certificates: Plan Ahead

Police certificate processing times vary significantly across countries.We strongly recommend:

Checking your country’s processing timeline,
Applying well in advance,
Never submitting an AEWV application without the final certificate (unless you fall under the Fiji/Hong Kong/Israel exception).

Since INZ will no longer grant extensions after 8 December 2025, proactive planning is essential.

Concise Overview of Police Certificate Requirements for Other Visa Categories

To support wider immigration compliance, we summarise key police certificate rules across other visa categories:

Temporary Visas (Visitor, Student, Work)

Police certificates are required when applicants’ total stay in New Zealand reaches 24 months or more.Certificates may be required from:

All countries of citizenship, and
Any country where the applicant has lived 5+ years since age 17.

Resident Visas

Applicants aged 17+ must provide certificates from:

Each country of citizenship, and
Any country where they lived 12+ months in the past 10 years.

Supporting Partners

Supporting partners may need police certificates when assessing good character, especially for residence applications.New Zealand police certificates for partners are obtained internally by INZ.