Can I apply for a work visa in New Zealand, specifically the Accredited Employer Work Visa, even though I'm over 40 years old?

Age simply is not a criterion Immigration New Zealand applies to the Accredited Employer Work Visa itself, so being over 40 changes nothing about your eligibility for this particular route.

What Actually Determines Your Eligibility

• A genuine job offer: full time, meaning at least 30 hours a week, from a New Zealand employer that holds accreditation to hire migrants.
• Meeting the job's skill requirements: relevant work experience and or qualifications matched to the role's skill level.
• Health and character requirements: standard checks applied to all visa applicants regardless of age.
• English language evidence: required if your occupation's skill level calls for it.

Where Age Can Matter Later

While the Accredited Employer Work Visa itself has no age ceiling, some residence pathways further down the line do apply age related requirements, most notably the Skilled Migrant Category, which uses a points system where age affects your score. This is a separate consideration from applying for the work visa itself, so it should not stop you from pursuing the AEWV now, but it is worth understanding if permanent residence is your longer term goal.

My Advice

Focus your energy on securing a genuine job offer from an accredited employer first, since that is the actual gatekeeping requirement, not your date of birth. If residence is part of your longer plan, research the Skilled Migrant Category's current points requirements separately and early, so you understand how your age factors into that later step rather than being surprised by it after you have already relocated on the work visa.