New Zealand Work Visa Rejected? Common Reasons for Indian Applicants

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) does not publish a ranked list of decline reasons for Indian work-visa applicants. It does publish the AEWV requirements, and each one is a point where a file can fail. This guide walks through them in the order an INZ officer meets them, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Use it as an audit before you lodge, or as a diagnosis if you have already been declined.

Does INZ publish how many Indian work visas it declines?

No. INZ publishes decision data by nationality only for offshore student visas. For Indian nationals applying from outside New Zealand, 39% of student visa applications decided in calendar year 2025 were declined (2,838 of 7,235 decided applications), against 15% for all nationalities, according to INZ data as of 16 February 2026. That number covers student visas only. No visitor or work visa approval or decline rate for Indian applicants was found, so treat any 'AEWV success rate' quoted by an agent as unverified.

Was the job offer acceptable in the first place?

The AEWV is employer-led. The employer must be AEWV-accredited and hold an approved job check, and the offer must be for at least 30 hours a week, paid at least the market rate. The employer then sends you a link to apply online. If any of these is missing, a perfect personal file still cannot succeed.

• The AEWV is not available for horticulture or viticulture crop work, fishing crew or self-employment.
• Confirm the employer's accreditation and job check before you resign in India or book anything.
• Keep a copy of the job offer: INZ notes that AEWV holders may need to show evidence of it on arrival in New Zealand.

Can you prove the experience or qualification INZ expects?

INZ asks for at least 2 years of relevant work experience or a qualification at NZQCF level 4 or higher in the same field. A bachelor's degree or higher can be in any field. The test does not apply if the job is on the Green List, if you hold the occupational registration the job requires, or if you are paid at least NZD 67.12 an hour.

Evidence is where many Indian files are thin. INZ wants third-party proof of experience, such as employment certificates, payslips and tax certificates, and states that a CV alone is not enough. Practically, that means experience letters on company letterhead with dates and duties, salary slips, and tax records (for example Form 16) covering the period you claim. Gaps between what your CV says and what your documents prove invite questions.

Two more checks catch people out. If your overseas qualification is below a bachelor's degree, you need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA. If the job requires occupational registration in New Zealand, you must hold it.

Did you meet the English rule for your skill level?

Jobs at ANZSCO/NOL skill level 3 to 5 need English evidence: citizenship or study evidence, or a test result no more than 2 years old. Skill level 1 and 2 jobs are exempt. From 1 June 2026 the minimum English requirement (IELTS 4.0 or equivalent) was extended from skill level 4 and 5 roles to skill level 3 roles, according to the New Zealand Government. An applicant in a skill level 3 job who lodges on or after that date without English evidence does not meet the rule. A test taken more than 2 years ago also fails the time limit.

Did anyone charge you for the job?

Employers and agents cannot charge you for a job or for recruitment costs. INZ declines applications where money was offered for a job offer, and it warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia. If an agent in India asks for a 'placement fee' or promises a guaranteed job in exchange for payment, walk away. Paying does not just risk your money; it can be the reason your visa is declined.

Are your health and character documents in order?

These checks apply to most temporary visas, including the AEWV:

• Police certificates if you are aged 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer.
• A chest X-ray if you will stay more than 6 months, because India is not a low-TB country.
• Limits on time: the maximum continuous stay on AEWVs is 5 years for most jobs and 3 years for skill level 4 and 5 jobs, after which you normally spend 12 months outside New Zealand.
• Your partner and children cannot be included in your AEWV; they may get visitor, work or student visas depending on your pay and skill level.

What can you do after an AEWV is declined?

INZ's reconsideration route costs NZD 220 and INZ decides 80% of requests within 5 weeks, but it is only available if you applied while in New Zealand, are still there on a valid or interim visa, and ask within 14 calendar days of the decline. You cannot ask for a second reconsideration. Applicants refused from India must make a new application instead.

A new application means paying the AEWV fee again: NZD 1,540, made up of an NZD 480 application fee and an NZD 1,060 immigration levy (the AEWV is exempt from the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy). INZ's headline timeframe is 80% of AEWV applications decided within 5.5 weeks, and applications for Green List roles are prioritised without an escalation request. Read the decline letter line by line, fix the specific gap, and confirm the employer's job check still supports your role before you lodge again. Our New Zealand visa guide for Indians covers the other INZ routes, and the requirements above come from the INZ Accredited Employer Work Visa page.

If you need supporting travel paperwork, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). You can reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Immigration New Zealand take to decide an AEWV?

INZ's headline timeframe for the Accredited Employer Work Visa is 80% of applications decided within 5.5 weeks. Applications for Green List roles are prioritised without an escalation request.

Can my spouse be added to my New Zealand work visa application?

No. Your partner and children cannot be included in an AEWV. They may qualify for visitor, work or student visas of their own, depending on your pay and skill level.

Does a Green List job reduce the chance of a decline?

A Green List job removes the 2-year experience or level 4 qualification test and gives your application priority processing. The other requirements, such as an accredited employer, English evidence where required and character checks, still apply.

Do I have to send my passport to VFS Global for an AEWV?

Applications are made online to INZ. VFS Global runs centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai that handle passport submission for online applications only if INZ asks for the passport; the passport handling fee is INR 1,460.