Police certificates now required upfront for AEWV applicants

Immigration New Zealand has introduced new requirements for police certificates for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants. These changes aim to improve processing times and reduce the need for additional information requests during assessment.

From 8 December2025 all AEWV applications must include a valid police certificate at the time the application is submitted. This replaces the previous process where applicants could upload a receipt showing that a police certificate had been requested. Immigration New Zealand will no longer accept those receipts except for a small number of countries where police certificates are sent directly to Immigration New Zealand. These countries include Fiji, Hong Kong and Israel.

Submitting a complete and accurate application from the outset is important. If a police certificate is missing or expired your application may be declined or granted a shorter visa period. Immigration New Zealand has also indicated that potentially prejudicial information letters (where you get an opportunity to comment on any concerns about the visa application) may be issued to onshore applicants if concerns arise during assessment. These letters will come with firm deadlines for responding.

Applicants are encouraged to start the application process early and obtain all required police certificates before lodging an AEWV application. This is particularly important for applicants who have lived in more than one country or who are renewing their visa. Planning ahead will help avoid delays and reduce the risk of additional costs.

If you are unsure whether you need a new police certificate or how these changes apply to your situation, our licensed advisers can guide you through the process and help ensure your application is complete before it is submitted.